On the recordMarch 2, 2021
Americans want to know that government officials don't have conflicts of interest swaying their decisions. For example, did they fundraise from an industry that they will regulate? Might they take it easy on that industry as a result? H.R. 1 requires high-level officials to disclose if they have solicited or made political contributions to PACs, political nonprofits, or industry trade associations. I thank Congressman Deutch for authoring this provision. My amendment expands this piece to cover chiefs of mission to ensure that officials representing our country abroad, such as ambassadors, are free from conflicts of interest, too. We should feel confident that people entrusted to represent the United States are there not because of political donations, but because they are the best person for the job. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment, the en bloc, and H.R. 1.
