[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3521 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






115th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 3521

To require reimbursement for costs associated with Presidential travel, 
                        and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 27, 2017

 Mrs. Watson Coleman introduced the following bill; which was referred 
to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to 
    the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently 
   determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such 
 provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To require reimbursement for costs associated with Presidential travel, 
                        and for other purposes.

    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 ``Stop Padding Presidential Pockets 
Act of 2017''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) On January 11, 2017, President-Elect Trump announced 
        that management control of his investments and business assets, 
        commonly known as the ``Trump Organization,'' would be assumed 
        by two of his sons, Donald Trump, Jr., and Eric Trump prior to 
        the Presidential Inauguration.
            (2) On January 19, 2017, President-Elect Trump transferred 
        all his investments and business assets to the ``Donald J. 
        Trump Revocable Trust'' whose purpose is to hold assets ``for 
        the exclusive benefit of Donald J. Trump'', and as such has not 
        divested his interest in his investments and holdings.
            (3) Donald Trump, Jr., is a trustee of the trust and, like 
        his brother Eric Trump, serves as an Executive Vice President 
        for the Trump Organization which is held in the trust.
            (4) Donald Trump, Jr., and Eric Trump and other members of 
        President Trump's family receive physical protection at all 
        times from the U.S. Secret Service pursuant to section 3056, 
        title 18, United States Code.
            (5) Since President Trump's election, Donald Trump, Jr., 
        and Eric Trump have regularly traveled domestically and 
        overseas in pursuit of the Trump Organization's business 
        interests and to promote the Trump brand.
            (6) Each overseas trip taken by a U.S. Secret Service 
        protectee requires the Service to incur significant costs, 
        including travel, lodging, and costs associated with 
        coordinating with local security entities, embassies, and other 
        overseas partners.
            (7) Each such overseas trip may require other Government 
        agencies, such as the Department of State, to incur significant 
        additional costs associated with security and logistics.
            (8) In January 2017, Eric Trump, on behalf of the Trump 
        Organization, traveled to Uruguay to attend meetings and a 
        party.
            (9) In February 2017, Eric Trump, on behalf of the Trump 
        Organization, traveled to the Dominican Republic to visit a 
        resort project.
            (10) In February 2017, Donald Trump, Jr., and Eric Trump, 
        on behalf of the Trump Organization, traveled to the United 
        Arab Emirates to attend a golf course ribbon-cutting ceremony.
            (11) In February 2017, Donald Trump, Jr., and Eric Trump, 
        on behalf of the Trump Organization, traveled to Canada to 
        attend a hotel grand opening.
            (12) In April 2017, Eric Trump, on behalf of the Trump 
        Organization, traveled to the United Kingdom and the Republic 
        of Ireland to attend business meetings at a golf course.
            (13) Additionally, since receiving Secret Service 
        protection, Donald Trump, Jr., and Eric Trump have traveled 
        domestically on a frequent and regular basis on behalf of the 
        Trump Organization.
            (14) On February 3, 2017, the Washington Post reported that 
        for just Eric Trump's January 2017 Uruguayan trip, hotel costs 
        to the Federal Government were $97,830.
            (15) On July 12, 2017, the Washington Post reported that 
        for the Trump family's February 2017 trip to Canada, the 
        Department of State alone spent more than $15,000 to book hotel 
        rooms at the Trump Hotel in Vancouver.
            (16) The Federal Government does not receive reimbursement 
        for costs incurred to the Federal Government associated with 
        protecting members of the President's immediate family while on 
        domestic or overseas travel on behalf of the Trump 
        Organization.

SEC. 3. REIMBURSEMENT REQUIRED.

    Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in the case of a person 
whom the United States Secret Service is authorized to protect under 
paragraph (1) or (2) of section 3056(a) of title 18, United States 
Code, if that person travels domestically or internationally in 
furtherance of the business interests of an entity owned by or 
controlled by the President of the United States, or from which the 
President of the United States receives any financial benefit, that 
person shall reimburse to the Treasury--
            (1) amount expended by the United States Secret Service for 
        the provision of such protection; and
            (2) any amount expended for other costs incurred by the 
        Government pertaining to that travel.
                                 <all>