[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1370 Introduced in House (IH)]







106th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1370

 To amend the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 to prevent persons 
doing business in interstate commerce from providing financial support 
to the International Olympic Committee until the International Olympic 
                Committee adopts institutional reforms.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 12, 1999

  Mr. Waxman introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                         Committee on Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To amend the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 to prevent persons 
doing business in interstate commerce from providing financial support 
to the International Olympic Committee until the International Olympic 
                Committee adopts institutional reforms.

    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 ``International Olympic Committee 
Reform Act of 1999''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

    (a) Findings.--The Congress finds the following:
            (1) The International Olympic Committee has been beset by 
        allegations of illegal and improper gifts made to IOC members 
        during the bid process in which cities compete to host the 
        Olympic games.
            (2) In order to maintain the integrity of the Olympic 
        games, reforms are necessary to ensure that future Olympic 
        games are awarded to host cities in an impartial manner.
            (3) Financial sponsorship by American corporations 
        comprises a significant source of revenues for the IOC and the 
        Olympic games.
    (b) Purpose.--The purpose of this Act is to prevent persons doing 
business in interstate commerce from providing financial support to the 
IOC until the IOC adopts institutional reforms to ensure that future 
Olympic games are awarded to host cities in an impartial manner.

SEC. 3. AMERICAN CORPORATE SPONSORSHIP OF THE INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC 
              COMMITTEE.

    The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 (15 U.S.C. 78dd-2) is 
amended by adding the following new section after section 104:

``SEC. 104A. PROHIBITION AGAINST AMERICAN CORPORATE SPONSORSHIP OF THE 
              INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE.

    ``(a) Reforms To Be Implemented by the IOC.--No person doing 
business in interstate commerce in the United States may knowingly 
provide financial support to the IOC, unless and until the Secretary of 
Commerce certifies to Congress that the IOC has implemented the 
recommendations contained in the March 1, 1999, Report of the Special 
Bid Oversight Commission established by the United States Olympic 
Committee, including the following:
            ``(1) Establishing a policy that IOC members may not accept 
        gifts of more than nominal value from any city bidding to host 
        the Olympic games, or any representative of such city.
            ``(2) Prohibiting IOC members from receiving any money for 
        travel expenses directly from any city bidding to host the 
        Olympic games, or any representative of such city.
            ``(3) Establishing an independent office to monitor, 
        investigate, and enforce violations of its gift giving and 
        travel expense rules by any city bidding to host the Olympic 
        games, any representative of such city, or any IOC member.
            ``(4) Establishing a procedure by which a majority of IOC 
        members are elected by national Olympic committees or by other 
        constituent organizations.
            ``(5) Subjecting IOC members and leaders to periodic 
        reelection.
    ``(b) Savings Provisions.--
            ``(1) Nothing in this section shall restrict the first 
        amendment rights of any person.
            ``(2) Nothing in this section shall prohibit a person from 
        providing financial support to the United States Olympic 
        Committee, any United States sports governing body, or any 
        organizing committee for any Olympic games already awarded by 
        the IOC at the date of enactment of this section.
    (c) Civil Penalty.--An action may be brought by the Secretary of 
Commerce in an appropriate United States district court to enjoin any 
failure or refusal to comply with this section or to impose a civil 
penalty for such failure or refusal of not more than $25,000 per day.
    ``(d) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Person.--The term `person' means--
                    ``(A) any United States citizen; or
                    ``(B) any other legal entity which is organized 
                under the laws of the United States, or of any State, 
                the District of Columbia, or any commonwealth, 
                territory, or possession of the United States, and 
                which has its principal place of business in the United 
                States.
            ``(2) Financial support.--The term `financial support' 
        means any direct or indirect transfer of funds, property, or 
        benefits, including, but not limited to, loans, credits, 
        financing, investment, sponsorship, or in-kind contribution.
            ``(3) IOC.--The term `IOC' means the International Olympic 
        Committee.''.

SEC. 4. EFFECTIVE DATE.

    The amendments made by this Act shall take effect with respect to 
the providing of financial support after the date of enactment of this 
Act.
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