U.S. Representatives Greg Steube (R-Fla.) and Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.) have introduced bipartisan legislation aimed at increasing transparency around donations to presidential libraries. The bill would require disclosure of donors who contribute $200 or more, and establish penalties for false reporting or non-compliance.
“Currently, presidents can seek unlimited donations for their libraries while still in office, and donors—who may even include foreign governments—can remain anonymous. The American public deserves assurance that presidents are not being influenced by large, undisclosed donations while still holding immense power,” said Rep. Steube. “This bipartisan bill ensures transparency by requiring donor disclosures. I thank my colleague, Rep. Moskowitz, for joining me in holding presidents of both parties to the highest ethical standards.”
Rep. Moskowitz added, “Presidential libraries serve as important resources for our communities, but it’s crucial to know how they are funded. Given that presidents can solicit donations while in office, the public should be informed about the source of those contributions. I’m proud to reintroduce this commonsense, bipartisan proposal with Rep. Steube to enhance transparency and accountability.”
The Presidential Library Donation Reform Act mandates that each presidential library fundraising organization must submit quarterly reports to the Archivist of the United States. These reports must include detailed information on all donors who contributed $200 or more, in a searchable and sortable format.
The costs of modern presidential libraries can reach hundreds of millions of dollars. For example, the William J. Clinton Presidential Library cost $165 million in 2001, the George W. Bush Presidential Center cost an estimated $250 million in 2010, and the Barack Obama Presidential Center is projected to cost $482 million, with an opening expected in 2026.
This legislation has been introduced in previous Congresses and has passed the House twice—once in 2016, introduced by former Rep. John Duncan Jr. (R-Tenn.), and again in 2019, introduced by former Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.).
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