West Florida News

U.S. Representatives Greg Steube (R-Fla.) and Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.) introduced bipartisan legislation today aimed at increasing transparency in the funding of presidential libraries. The proposed law mandates the disclosure of donors contributing $200 or more and establishes penalties for false reporting and non-compliance.

"Presidents are permitted under current law to seek unlimited library donations while they are still in office. Further, donors may remain anonymous, and can even include foreign governments. Americans deserve assurance that presidents won’t be ‘bought and sold’ before leaving office, particularly as they still hold immense international power and influence over U.S. policy," said Rep. Steube. "My bipartisan legislation establishes transparency for presidential library donations by requiring donor disclosures. I thank my Florida colleague, Rep. Moskowitz, for joining me in an effort that will hold presidents of both political parties to the highest ethical standards, as demanded by the American people."

"Presidential libraries are excellent resources for our communities to learn about America’s greatest leaders, but it’s important we also know how they’re funded. Because Presidents can solicit unlimited donations for their libraries while still in office, the American people should know the source of those donations. I’m proud to reintroduce this bipartisan bill with Rep. Steube, as I think it’s a necessary congressional check on the presidency and a commonsense proposal that increases transparency," said Congressman Moskowitz.

The Presidential Library Donation Reform Act requires each presidential library fundraising organization to submit quarterly reports to the Archivist in an electronic searchable and sortable format detailing every contributor who gave $200 or more during that period.

Modern presidential libraries cost hundreds of millions of dollars to build. The William J. Clinton Presidential Library and Museum cost $165 million to build in 2001; the George W. Bush Presidential Center cost an estimated $250 million in 2010; and the Barack Obama Presidential Center is reported to cost $482 million, with an expected opening in 2026.

This legislation has been introduced in previous Congresses and passed the House twice: once in 2016 after introduction by former Representative John Duncan Jr. (R-Tenn.), and again in 2019 after introduction by former Representative Elijah Cummings (D-Md.).