[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 141 (Wednesday, September 11, 2024)]
[House]
[Page H5164]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      CLOSING THE BRIBERY LOOPHOLE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
North Carolina (Mr. Jackson) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. JACKSON of North Carolina. Madam Speaker, 3 months ago, the 
Supreme Court opened a loophole in our bribery laws. They legalized, in 
effect, a certain kind of bribery. That is bribery where the payment to 
the politician comes after they do the thing they have been bribed to 
do.
  The Supreme Court said: That is not bribery, but that is a tip. That 
is a gratuity, and it is not against the law.
  Justice Kavanaugh said: If Congress wants this to be against the law, 
then they should pass a law saying so.
  Well, I agree. My office has filed a bill to close exactly that 
loophole, and nothing else. We consider this a completely nonpartisan 
effort. This is simply about making sure that you cannot bribe 
politicians. That was the state of the law 3 months ago as we all 
understood it, and now that has been changed by this court ruling.
  My office filed a bill. We are very grateful that a Member of the 
majority, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Crenshaw) has joined us on that 
bill.

  I am encouraging every Member of this body, regardless of party, to 
join us to make sure that we send a very simple statement to the 
country: You cannot bribe politicians. That should be against the law. 
Even if you come up with a somewhat creative way in which to do it 
straightforwardly, it is wrong. It should be illegal. If we pass this 
bill, it will be illegal once again.

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