Deluzio Announces New Anti-Corruption Legislation to Help Restore Trust in Federal Government

O’HARA TWP, PA — Today, Congressman Chris Deluzio (PA-17) announced his new anti-corruption legislation, the No Corporate Crooks Act. The bill would ban corporate executives who have been convicted of financial crimes or corruption from serving in the Executive Branch of our government—meaning any federal agency or White House offices.

Congressman Deluzio’s legislation is part of a broader package of bills recently introduced by Congressional Democrats to root out corruption from the federal government. The End Corruption Now legislative agenda includes six bills designed to put power back in the hands of the American people by preventing the President, Executive Branch officials, and Members of Congress from personally benefiting from their offices. He was joined at the press conference by Pennsylvania State Senator Lindsey Williams (SD-38). Photos from the press conference are available here.

“The American people are rightfully furious at corruption—things like Congressional stock trading—and the corporate rigging of our government. To restore the American Dream, we must root out this corruption and stop corporate criminals from using their inside access to our government to benefit themselves,” said Congressman Deluzio. “I’m introducing the No Corporate Crooks Act as a part of the End Corruption Now legislative agenda, because someone convicted of crimes like bribery, embezzlement, fraud, insider trading, and more shouldn’t be let anywhere near the levers of power in the executive branch.” 

Along with Congressman Deluzio, the sponsors of the End Corruption Now agenda include reformers Assistant Leader Rep. Joe Neguse (CO-02), Rep. Seth Magaziner (RI-02), Rep. Pat Ryan (NY-18), Rep. Emilia Sykes (OH-13), Rep. Hillary Scholten (MI-03), and Rep. Angie Craig (MN-02). 

The End Corruption Now legislative agenda targets conflicts of interest and would put a stop to the selling of access and influence, including banning Members of Congress from trading stocks or becoming lobbyists, and strengthening anti-corruption laws. It includes the following bills:   

• The No Corporate Crooks Act, introduced by Rep. Chris Deluzio, prohibits any chief executive officers, in either the public or private sector, convicted of covered financial crimes from serving in the executive branch. Read the bill text here.
• The Close the Revolving Door Act, introduced by Rep. Joe Neguse, places a lifetime ban on Members of Congress from serving as lobbyists. Read the bill text here.  
• The Transparent Representation Upholding Service and Trust (TRUST) in Congress Act, introduced by Rep. Seth Magaziner, effectively bans Members of Congress, their spouses, and dependent children from trading individual stocks by requiring them to either divest from individual stock holdings or move their investments into a qualified blind trust during their entire tenure in Congress. Read the bill text here.   
• The Millionaires Using Service for Kickbacks (MUSK) Act, introduced by Rep. Pat Ryan, requires government employees defined as Executive Schedule (I-IV) employees, Special Government Employees, and people in the Executive Office of the President to recuse themselves from any matters affecting the financial interests of their previous employers for the four-year period. Learn more about this bill here. 
• The Integrity in Government (IG) Act, introduced by Rep. Hillary Scholten, strengthens checks and balances by installing new oversight measures for the White House and its top offices and protecting independent watchdogs from political retaliation. Learn more about this bill here.  
• The Closing the Bribery Loopholes Act, introduced by Rep. Emilia Sykes, closes loopholes in the federal bribery statute by clarifying the definition of an “official act” by a public official. The bill expands the definition to prohibit public officials from improperly using their position for private gain. Read the bill text here.   
• The Restoring Integrity in Democracy Resolution, introduced by Rep. Angie Craig, would prohibit Members of Congress from serving on corporate boards. Read the bill text here. 

The End Corruption Now agenda is endorsed by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), Public Citizen, and the Project on Government Oversight (POGO). 

“When people who have been convicted of bribery, corruption or fraud are allowed to serve in the Executive Branch, it erodes public trust,” said Debra Perlin, Vice President for Policy for Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW). “The American people need to know that government officials are working to advance the public’s interest, not their personal profit. CREW applauds Rep. Deluzio’s efforts to prevent corrupt CEOs from serving as government appointees and urges Congress to pass the No Corporate Crooks Act expeditiously.” 

"Rep. Deluzio's No Corporate Crooks Act is heartly endorsed by Public Citizen. Serving key roles in the presidential administration should be off limits to those convicted of corporate crimes. It is in the same vein as the current lobbying laws that require lobbyists to declare any criminal convictions involving bribery or fraud. Americans deserve a clean and honest governmental process. A good place to start is to steer clear of corporate criminals" said Craig Holman, Ph.D., Public Citizen.

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