Sponsors (6)
The bill increases national‑security protections and public transparency by banning foreign‑directed lobbying and expanding spouse disclosures, but does so at the cost of restricting former officials' employment, imposing recurring reporting and privacy burdens on spouses, and giving enforcement and designation powers that may be politically contentious.
All Americans benefit from reduced foreign influence because former Members and senior appointees are barred from lobbying on behalf of hostile foreign states, with DOJ enforcement and a mechanism for the Secretary of State to add countries so the rule can adapt to evolving threats.
Taxpayers and the public get greater transparency into advocacy by spouses of high-ranking officials because spouses must register and file standardized, electronic quarterly disclosures of advocacy contacts, clients, issues, agencies contacted, and foreign interests.
Members of Congress and the public face fewer conflicts of interest because spouses are barred from serving as for‑profit officers or board members going forward, with grandfathering and reporting for existing roles to ease transition.
Former legislators and senior appointees face reduced post‑public‑service employment opportunities and earnings because of a lifetime ban on lobbying for hostile foreign states.
Former officials could self‑censor or face legal uncertainty because the lobbying prohibition uses a broad, intent‑based standard that may chill lawful speech and advice to foreign entities.
Giving the Secretary of State unilateral authority to add countries could produce politically driven or inconsistent designations that expand who is covered for non‑security reasons.
Based on analysis of 6 sections of legislative text.
Bans former Members from representing/ advising certain foreign countries, requires spouses to register and file quarterly advocacy disclosures, prohibits Members/spouses from serving on for‑profit boards (narrow grandfathering), and expands spouse gift reporting.
Introduced March 5, 2026 by Haley Stevens · Last progress March 5, 2026
Prohibits former Members of Congress and certain high-level appointees from representing or advising designated foreign “countries of concern” before U.S. government officials at any time after leaving office. Requires spouses of covered federal officials to register and file quarterly electronic disclosures about advocacy, clients, contacts, and foreign interests, and expands public reporting of spouses’ gifts. Also bars Members and their spouses from serving as officers or board members of for‑profit companies with a narrow, time-limited grandfathering exception for existing board terms and requires additional public disclosure about those board roles. The bill creates enforcement paths including civil penalties, criminal penalties for knowing and corrupt failures to comply, public posting of filings by House and Senate offices, and referral mechanisms to the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia; it also directs the Secretary of State to designate additional countries of concern for the lifetime representation ban.