H.R. 2291 — GARD Act

This section revises federal regulations on receipt and disposition of foreign gifts and decorations (5 U.S.C. 7342) as follows: (1) expands the definition of "employee" to include candidates for nomination or election to President, Vice President, or Member of Congress and replaces "dependent" (per 26 U.S.C. 152) with "relative" (per 5 U.S.C. 13101) for spouses and family covered; (2) expands "foreign government" to include any individual or entity that is not a U.S. citizen, permanent resident alien, or organized under U.S. law; (3) adds the Federal Election Commission, Senate Select Committee on Ethics, and House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct as "employing agencies" for certain candidates; (4) prohibits acceptance of gifts from a "country of concern" designated by the Secretary of State; (5) requires more detailed annual reports by May 15 (from January 31), including estimated fair market value, a Personal Property Management Foreign Gift Inventory Control Number, and specific disposition categories (e.g., purchased by recipient, deposited with National Archives); (6) directs the Office of Government Ethics to coordinate with the Secretary of State on reports and guidance; (7) imposes a $200 late fee for reports filed more than 30 days late (waivable for good cause); and (8) requires public access to listings similar to financial disclosure reports under 5 U.S.C. ch. 131 within 120 days of enactment. (Thus, the changes expand coverage to political candidates, tighten prohibitions and reporting, and enhance transparency and enforcement for gifts from foreign sources exceeding minimal value, currently $100 adjusted triennially for inflation.)