[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 199 Introduced in House (IH)]







105th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 199

   To provide for greater accountability for Presidential appointees.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 7, 1997

  Mr. Jones introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
              Committee on Government Reform and Oversight

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To provide for greater accountability for Presidential appointees.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Presidential Appointee 
Accountability Act of 1996''.

SEC. 2. REPORTING REQUIREMENT.

    (a) In General.--At the end of each fiscal year, and at the end of 
a term of appointment, each Presidential appointee shall submit to the 
Committee on Government Reform and Oversight of the United States House 
of Representatives, and to the office of the inspector general of the 
agency involved, a report listing the dates, events, and amounts of 
appropriated funds expended by the appointee for--
            (1) entertainment offered by the appointee;
            (2) travel and lodging of the appointee; and
            (3) limousine services for the appointee in the District of 
        Columbia and its environs.
    (b) Investigation by Inspector General.--The inspector general of 
an agency shall investigate the report required under subsection (a) 
for misappropriation of Government funds.
    (c) Reimbursement and Penalty.--If the inspector general of an 
agency finds that a political appointee misappropriated Government 
funds, such appointee shall--
            (1) repay the amount of such expenditure; and
            (2) pay a civil penalty of 20 percent, plus interest, of 
        the amount of such expenditure not to exceed $200,000.

SEC. 3. TRAVEL NOTIFICATION.

    (a) In General.--Except as provided in subsection (c), not later 
than 1 week prior to departure, a Presidential appointee shall submit 
to the Committee on Government Reform and Oversight of the United 
States House of Representatives, and to the office of the inspector 
general of the agency involved, a statement that describes the purpose 
of the travel.
    (b) Contents of Statement.--The statement required under subsection 
(a) shall contain--
            (1) an itinerary of the travel;
            (2) a list of--
                    (A) a Presidential appointee's guests travelling at 
                Government expense; and
                    (B) such appointee's guests to an event sponsored 
                by the Government during the course of the trip; and
            (3) an estimate of the cost of the travel to the 
        Government.
    (c) Exception.--In the case of emergency travel, the statement 
required under subsection (a) shall be submitted not later than 15 days 
after the conclusion of such travel.

SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.

    As used in this Act--
            (1) the term ``misappropriation'' with respect to 
        Government funds means an expenditure of agency funds--
                    (A) in violation of law;
                    (B) for the hire, on a contract basis, of a 
                consultant for media, press, or public relations; or
                    (C) for a gift for distribution to a person who 
                travels with a Presidential appointee at Government 
                expense;
            (2) the term ``Presidential appointee'' means a person 
        appointed by the President to perform official agency duties in 
        the service of the Government;
            (3) the term ``agency'' means an Executive agency as that 
        term is defined by section 105 of title 5, United States Code;
            (4) the term ``emergency travel'' means travel necessitated 
        by an event which--
                    (A) occurs less than 1 week prior to departure;
                    (B) gives rise to disaster relief assistance 
                provided by an agency; or
                    (C) poses a threat to the national security of the 
                United States;
            (5) the term ``entertainment'' means a reception or 
        representation activity, including any amusement, diversion, or 
        social activity and associated costs such as tickets, meals, 
        rentals, transportation, and gratuities; and
            (6) the term ``limousine service'' means luxury automobile 
        transportation, driven by a chauffeur, which seats fewer than 
        15 passengers, but does not include a taxicab.
                                 <all>