On the recordJuly 11, 2019
I thank the chairman for his leadership on this package. My amendment in this package would help curb the corrupt influence of foreign money in our politics. The Emoluments Clause of the Constitution already requires retired military officers who want to work for a foreign government to first receive permission from their service in the State Department and to disclose the nature of their work. My amendment would make the approved activities available to Congress and to the public. We still have a long way to go to constrain foreign influence peddling and corruption in Washington. We saw this with General Flynn, who concealed his work lobbying for the Turkish Government in a dispute with the United States in the 2016 Presidential election. We trust our retired military officials to speak in the best interest of the United States, and when they are being paid to further another country's agenda, we deserve to know. Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment package.
