S. 3191 — Stop Ballroom Bribery Act

This section establishes restrictions on donations for covered projects, defined as maintenance, acquisition, enhancement, improvement, alteration, demolition, or construction of public property (including real property), buildings, or fixtures on or adjacent to White House grounds, Number One Observatory Circle (Vice Presidential residence), or other property dedicated to the sitting President, Vice President, or their spouse or child; Federal monuments or structures honoring a living current or former President, Vice President, or presidential appointee; or events hosted on such grounds. Donations—which include any gift, bequest, or devise of value, including services, made directly or indirectly—may be accepted or used only pursuant to existing gift authorities and after a written determination by the Senate-confirmed Director of the National Park Service, concurred in by the Senate-confirmed Director of the Office of Government Ethics, that the donation complies with specified restrictions; such determination must be submitted to the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and published in the Federal Register. Donations are prohibited if the ultimate source is a person who, at the time of donation or since the sitting President assumed office, (1) is involved in litigation with the federal government; (2) is the subject or target of a federal administrative investigation or enforcement action; (3) is seeking or has a federal contract or business relationship; (4) is seeking a federal grant or has an unexpended grant; (5) is engaged in lobbying activities targeting the executive branch (as defined in the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995); (6) is seeking a presidential pardon; or (7) is seeking a presidential appointment. Additional prohibitions apply to donations conditioned on federal benefits, coerced, or appearing to influence executive branch duties or compromise its integrity. Executive Office of the President officers or employees, including the President and Vice President, and spouses or children of the President or Vice President, are barred from soliciting such donations. Donations from foreign governments (as defined in 5 U.S.C. 7342) require congressional approval.