I 112th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 3549 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES December 2, 2011 Mr. Bachus (for himself and Mr. Duffy) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on House Administration A BILL To amend the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 to require Members of Congress to place their stocks, bonds, commodities futures, and other forms of securities in a blind trust.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Congressional Blind Trust Act of 2011.

2.

Requirement of Members of Congress to use blind trust

The Ethics in Government Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.) is amended by inserting after section 101 the following new section:

101A.

Members of Congress required to establish a blind trust

(a)

Requirement

Each Member of Congress shall place all of such person’s stocks, bonds, commodities futures, and other forms of securities, including securities held jointly with such person’s spouse, in a qualified blind trust (as defined in section 102(f)(3)). (b)

Exclusion

Subsection (a) shall not apply to the financial interests or benefits described under section 102(i). (c)

Timing and extension

(1)

In general

Each Member of Congress shall comply with subsection (a) not later than 30 days after taking office, or in the case of a person who is a Member of Congress on the date of enactment of the Congressional Blind Trust Act of 2011, not later than 30 days after such date of enactment. (2)

Extension

A Member of Congress may file, with the Clerk of the House of Representatives in the case of a Representative or Delegate of Congress and the Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico, and with the Secretary of the Senate, in the case of a Senator, for an additional 30-day extension to comply with subsection (a). (d)

Civil penalty for failure To comply

The Attorney General may bring a civil action in any appropriate United States district court against any Member of Congress who knowingly and willfully fails to comply with subsection (a) by the end of the time period specified in subsection (c). The court in which such action is brought may assess against such person a civil penalty not to exceed $50,000.

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