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Van Hollen Joins Cortez Masto, Colleagues in Reintroducing Legislation to Increase Transparency for Presidential Inaugural Committees

U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) in reintroducing legislation to provide increased oversight and accountability into presidential inaugural committees. The Inaugural Committee Transparency Act would require public disclosure of how presidential inaugural committees spend the millions of dollars they raise and help prevent the misuse of committee funds.

“We have seen nearly 200 million dollars in donations from billionaires and corporations flood into Washington to fund the upcoming inauguration,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “The American people deserve to know how these funds are being spent and exactly who they come from. The inauguration of a president from any party should not be used as an opportunity for personal enrichment or cronyism. My legislation will ensure that inaugural committees are held to appropriate standards of transparency and accountability.”

Senator Cortez Masto first introduced this legislation following reports that President Donald Trump’s first inaugural committee—which raised nearly $107 million—misused funds, and she has reintroduced it every Congress.

Under current law, there are few rules that govern inaugural committees. Donations to the committee of $200 or more must be disclosed 90 days after the inaugural period, but there are no disclosure requirements for committee expenditures. Additionally, there are no reporting requirements on how leftover funds are used after the inaugural period. Specifically, the Inaugural Committee Transparency Act would:

  • Require an inaugural committee to disclose to the FEC the name and address of every person to whom any disbursement of $200 or more is made and the purpose of the disbursement;
  • Prohibit donations on behalf of another person;
  • Prohibit converting donations to personal use;
  • Require that any remaining funds be donated within 90 days of the inaugural ceremony to a 501(c)(3) charity.

The legislation is also cosponsored by Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.). The full text of the legislation can be found here.