HR-5209 : Still Just a Bill

Counter-Kleptocracy Act

This bill addresses prevention and elimination of corruption globally.

The Department of State must (1) annually rank, using specified standards, foreign countries based on their efforts to eliminate corruption; and (2) designate an anti-corruption contact in the diplomatic mission of any country that does not meet the standards. The State Department must also evaluate whether to sanction foreign persons engaged in significant corruption (1) in countries that make de minimis or no efforts to meet the standards, or (2) connected to a designated Russian pipeline project.

The President may temporarily sanction foreign persons engaging in public corruption activities (e.g. bribery).

The bill makes it a federal crime for foreign officials to demand or accept bribes to influence the performance of an official act or otherwise confer an improper advantage. Officials who engage in this conduct are subject to a fine, a prison term, or both. Funds recovered by prosecuting this crime shall be deposited into a new fund in the Treasury for anti-corruption initiatives.

The Department of Justice must make publicly available an accounting of property relating to foreign government corruption that is forfeited to the United States.

The bill addresses issues concerning U.S. visas, including related to (1) abuse of investor visas by corrupt foreign officials or criminals, and (2) foreign individuals denied admission to the United States because of adverse foreign policy consequences.

The bill also prohibits extraditions based solely on, and otherwise addresses, International Criminal Police Organization communications.

Action Timeline

Action DateTypeTextSource
2022-11-01CommitteeReferred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.House committee actions
2022-11-01CommitteeReferred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.House committee actions
2021-09-10IntroReferralReferred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.House floor actions
2021-09-10IntroReferralReferred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.House floor actions
2021-09-10IntroReferralIntroduced in HouseLibrary of Congress

Policy Area :

International Affairs
See Subjects
  • Accounting and auditing
  • Congressional oversight
  • Crime prevention
  • Crime victims
  • Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
  • Criminal justice information and records
  • Criminal procedure and sentencing
  • Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
  • Employment discrimination and employee rights
  • Energy storage, supplies, demand
  • Europe
  • Foreign aid and international relief
  • Foreign property
  • Fraud offenses and financial crimes
  • Germany
  • Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
  • Government information and archives
  • Government trust funds
  • Human rights
  • International law and treaties
  • International organizations and cooperation
  • Judicial procedure and administration
  • Oil and gas
  • Organized crime
  • Pipelines
  • Russia
  • Sanctions
  • Sovereignty, recognition, national governance and status
  • U.S. and foreign investments
  • United Nations