[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 20 (Tuesday, February 13, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E166]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY DONOR IDENTITY DISCLOSURE

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                        HON. JOHN J. DUNCAN, JR.

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 13, 2001

  Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, today, I introduced legislation that would 
require organizers of presidential libraries to disclose the identity 
of donors and the amounts they give.
  I introduced this legislation in the 106th Congress as well because I 
felt the public should be made aware of possible conflicts of interest 
that sitting presidents can have while raising funds for their 
libraries.
  Mr. Speaker, we do not know who these donors are or what interests 
they may have on any pending policy decisions that are to be made. I 
think that our government needs to operate in the open--not behind 
closed doors.
  Recent news reports surrounding the pardon of billionaire fugitive 
Marc Rich have brought to light additional justification for this 
legislation. The Washington Post recently reported that Denise Rich, 
the former wife of financier Marc Rich, lobbied President Clinton to 
pardon her former husband by donating $450,000 to Clinton's 
presidential library fund starting in 1998.
  The Post also reported that, ``Clinton foundation attorney David 
Kendall said he would fight a subpoena for the library donor list.'' 
Mr. Speaker, I cannot think of one good reason why the organizers of 
any future presidential libraries would not be willing to release this 
information to the public. Even Richard Cohen, the very liberal 
columnist for the Washington Post said, ``But surely it would be 
anything from interesting to illustrative to just plain damning to see 
what names are on that list and for what amounts.''
  Our citizens have the right to know the details of these fundraising 
activities. The bill I have introduced will ensure this happens. Mr. 
Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation.

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