[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 3 (Thursday, January 8, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E41]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY DONATION REFORM ACT OF 2009

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                               speech of

                           HON. FRANK R. WOLF

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, January 7, 2009

  Mr. WOLF. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the Presidential 
Library Donation Reform Act.
  I have long been troubled by the fact that fund-raising for 
Presidential libraries is completely unregulated and therefore ripe for 
corruption.
  By making information about donations publicly accessible--including 
the amount, date of the contribution and the name of the contributor--
through a free, searchable, database managed by National Archives, we 
take an important first step toward the accountability due these 
national landmarks.
  However, I do not think that this legislation goes far enough as it 
does not limit donations in any way, it only discloses them.
  While the majority of people who contribute to Presidential libraries 
do so for the right reason, there are some who do not, including those 
who do not share our national interests.
  In fact, while donations to Presidential election campaigns are 
limited in amount, and restricted altogether from foreign governments, 
amazingly, foreign individuals and foreign corporations can donate to 
Presidential libraries even when the President is still in office.
  In November I wrote to President Bush urging him not to accept any 
money from the Chinese government to help fund his Presidential 
library.
  I did not want his library to be tainted by contributions from a 
government with such a deplorable human rights record. I am similarly 
concerned by the $41 million that former President Clinton's foundation 
has collected from foreign nations including the likes of Saudi Arabia, 
which is widely known to promote the radical Wahhabi interpretation of 
Islam within its own borders and in schools and madrassas around the 
world.
  Transparency in government builds accountability. And accountability 
is good for our democracy. It is long overdue for the American public 
to know who is contributing to these libraries, and how much, 
especially when it involves sitting Presidents. This legislation will 
help--but we must do more.

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