H.R. 6106

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6106 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 6106

To amend title 18, United States Code, to prevent and mitigate the 
potential for conflicts of interest following government service, and 
for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

November 18, 2025

Mr. Pfluger (for himself and Mr. Crow) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition 
to the Committees on the Judiciary, and Rules, 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

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To amend title 18, United States Code, to prevent and mitigate the 
potential for conflicts of interest following government service, and 
for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Conflict-free Leaving Employment and 
Activity Restrictions Path Act'' or the ``CLEAR Path Act''.

SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) Congress and the executive branch have recognized the 
importance of preventing and mitigating the potential for 
conflicts of interest following government service, including 
with respect to senior United States officials working on 
behalf of foreign governments; and
(2) Congress and the executive branch should jointly 
evaluate the status and scope of post-employment restrictions.

SEC. 3. POST-EMPLOYMENT RESTRICTIONS ON OFFICIALS IN POSITIONS SUBJECT 
TO SENATE CONFIRMATION.

(a) In General.--Section 207 of title 18, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following:
``(m) Extended Post-Employment Restrictions for Officials in 
Positions Subject to Senate Confirmation.--
``(1) Definitions.--In this subsection:
``(A) Country of concern.--The term `country of 
concern' has the meaning given the term in section 1(m) 
of the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 
(22 U.S.C. 2651a(m)), except that it does not include 
the country described in paragraph (1)(A)(vi) of that 
section, as in effect on the date of enactment of the 
Conflict-free Leaving Employment and Activity 
Restrictions Path Act.
``(B) Foreign governmental entity.--The term 
`foreign governmental entity' has the meaning given the 
term in section 1(m) of the State Department Basic 
Authorities Act of 1956 (22 U.S.C. 2651a(m)).
``(C) Represent.--The term `represent' does not 
include representation by an attorney, who is duly 
licensed and authorized to provide legal advice in a 
United States jurisdiction, of a person or entity in a 
legal capacity or for the purposes of rendering legal 
advice.
``(D) Senate-confirmed position.--The term `Senate-
confirmed position' means a position in a department or 
agency of the executive branch of the United States for 
which appointment is required to be made by the 
President, by and with the advice and consent of the 
Senate.
``(2) Agency heads, deputy heads, and other positions 
subject to senate confirmation.--Any person who serves in a 
position requiring appointment by the President as head or 
deputy head of, or serves in any other Senate-confirmed 
position in, a department or agency of the executive branch of 
the United States, and who, at any time after the termination 
of the person's service in that position, knowingly represents, 
aids, or advises a foreign governmental entity of a country of 
concern before an officer or employee of the executive or 
legislative branch of the United States with the intent to 
influence a decision of the officer or employee in carrying out 
his or her official duties shall be punished as provided in 
section 216.
``(3) Notice of restrictions.--Any person subject to the 
restrictions under this subsection shall be provided notice of 
these restrictions by the relevant department or agency--
``(A) upon appointment by the President; and
``(B) upon termination of service with the relevant 
department or agency.
``(4) Effective date.--
``(A) In general.--Except as provided in 
subparagraph (B), the restrictions under this 
subsection shall apply only to persons who are 
appointed by the President to the positions referenced 
in this subsection on or after the date of enactment of 
the Conflict-free Leaving Employment and Activity 
Restrictions Path Act.
``(B) Grace period for added countries of 
concern.--If the definition of the term `country of 
concern' under subsection (m) of section 1 of the State 
Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 (22 U.S.C. 
2651a) is modified in accordance with paragraph (7) of 
that subsection by adding a country to the list of 
countries described in paragraph (1)(A) of that 
subsection, in the case of any person who is appointed 
by the President to a position referenced in this 
subsection on or after the date of enactment of the 
Conflict-free Leaving Employment and Activity 
Restrictions Path Act and who knowingly represents, 
aids, or advises a foreign governmental entity of a 
country added to the list of countries described in 
paragraph (1)(A) of such subsection (m), the 
restrictions under this subsection shall apply to such 
person on and after the date that is 30 days after the 
date of enactment of a relevant joint resolution of 
approval as described in paragraph (7)(C) of such 
subsection (m) adding that country to the list of 
countries described in paragraph (1)(A) of such 
subsection (m).
``(5) Sunset.--
``(A) In general.--On and after the date that is 5 
years after the date of enactment of the Conflict-free 
Leaving Employment and Activity Restrictions Path Act, 
the restrictions under paragraph (2) shall not apply to 
any person appointed by the President, on or after such 
date of enactment, to a position referenced in this 
subsection, without regard to the date on which the 
service of such person in such position terminates.
``(B) No effect on conduct before sunset.--Nothing 
in subparagraph (A) shall be construed to limit the 
applicability of paragraph (2) with respect to any 
conduct by a person appointed by the President to a 
position referenced in this subsection that occurred 
before the date that is 5 years after the date of 
enactment of the Conflict-free Leaving Employment and 
Activity Restrictions Path Act.''.
(b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 1(m) of the State Department 
Basic Authorities Act of 1956 (22 U.S.C. 2651a(m)) is amended--
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (6) and (7) as paragraphs 
(8) and (9), respectively; and
(2) by inserting after paragraph (5) the following:
``(6) Relation to government-wide restrictions.--This 
subsection shall not apply to a person by reason of the 
person's service in a position referenced in this subsection if 
the person is subject to the restrictions under section 207(m) 
of title 18, United States Code, by reason of the same 
service.''.

SEC. 4. MECHANISM TO AMEND DEFINITION OF ``COUNTRY OF CONCERN''.

Section 1(m) of the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 
(22 U.S.C. 2651a(m)) is amended by inserting after paragraph (6), as 
added by section 3(b), the end the following:
``(7) Modification to definition of `country of concern'.--
``(A) In general.--The Secretary of State may, in 
consultation with the Attorney General, propose the 
addition or deletion of countries described in 
paragraph (1)(A).
``(B) Submission.--Any proposal described in 
subparagraph (A) shall--
``(i) be submitted to the Chairman and 
Ranking Member of the Committee on Foreign 
Relations of the Senate and the Chairman and 
Ranking Member of the Committee on the 
Judiciary of the House of Representatives; and
``(ii) become effective upon enactment of a 
joint resolution of approval as described in 
subparagraph (C).
``(C) Joint resolution of approval.--
``(i) In general.--For purposes of 
subparagraph (B)(ii), the term `joint 
resolution of approval' means only a joint 
resolution--
``(I) that does not have a 
preamble;
``(II) that includes in the matter 
after the resolving clause the 
following: `That Congress approves the 
modification of the definition of 
``country of concern'' under section 
1(m) of the State Department Basic 
Authorities Act of 1956, as submitted 
by the Secretary of State on ____; and 
section 1(m)(1)(A) of the State 
Department Basic Authorities Act of 
1956 (22 U.S.C. 2651a(m)(1)(A)) is 
amended by ______.', the blank spaces 
being appropriately filled in with the 
appropriate date and the amendatory 
language required to modify the list of 
countries in paragraph (1)(A) of this 
subsection by adding or deleting 1 or 
more countries; and
``(III) the title of which is as 
follows: `Joint resolution approving 
modifications to definition of 
``country of concern'' under section 
1(m) of the State Department Basic 
Authorities Act of 1956.'.
``(ii) Referral.--
``(I) Senate.--A resolution 
described in clause (i) that is 
introduced in the Senate shall be 
referred to the Committee on Foreign 
Relations of the Senate.
``(II) House of representatives.--A 
resolution described in clause (i) that 
is introduced in the House of 
Representatives shall be referred to 
the Committee on the Judiciary of the 
House of Representatives.''.
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