{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/to-fight-corruption-reed-backed-taboo-act-seeks-to-close-ethics-loopholes-for-special-envoys", "To Fight Corruption, Reed-Backed TABOO Act Seeks to Close Ethics Loopholes for \u2018Special Envoys\u2019", "2026-08-14", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "www.reed.senate.gov", "jackreed", "https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases", "scraper", "CRANSTON, RI -- In an effort to fight corruption and ensure that the people who represent the U.S. government overseas actually represent American interests -- not their own personal businesses, foreign governments, or potential future business deals \u2013 U.S. Senator Jack Reed is teaming up with U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and seven other colleagues in introducing the Transparency in the Administration's Business Opportunities Overseas (TABOO) Act (S.5357).\n\nThis new legislation mandates strong ethics requirements for every individual representing the United States government in negotiations with foreign governments and international multilateral organizations, including Special Envoys and other officials serving in similar roles as paid employees, volunteers, or in unpaid capacities.\n\nThese individuals representing the United States -- such as Jared Kushner, who is President Donald Trump\u2019s son-in-law, and Steve Witkoff, who is President Trump\u2019s friend, donor, and golfing buddy -- frequently exercise significant authority and speak for the U.S. on sensitive diplomatic and national security matters. Both Kushner and Witkoff have participated in sensitive Middle East diplomacy during Trump's second term while at the same time their families have reportedly been enriched by financial dealings with foreign backers. Congressional investigators are looking into reports that Kushner, Witkoff, and other Trump associates continued seeking billions of dollars from Middle Eastern sovereign funds while at the same time helping to conduct negotiations involving the same governments.\n\nCurrent gaps in federal law allow individuals serving in these roles to conduct high-stakes negotiations with foreign governments while holding undisclosed financial interests in those same countries, creating the risk-or at least impression-that personal profit, rather than the national interest, shapes American foreign policy.\n\n\u201cThere should be no question that officials representing the United States overseas are serving our national interests, not lining their own pockets,\u201d said Senator Merkley. \u201cThe TABOO Act closes the glaring loopholes that allow individuals representing the United States abroad\u2014including Special Envoys and others serving in similar roles\u2014to skirt the law, ensuring America\u2019s foreign policy is not shaped by personal profit.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe must prevent corruption, hold perpetrators accountable, and put a stop to the Trump Administration\u2019s misuse of public office for private gain. Americans deserve leaders who will prioritize our country\u2019s national security interests over their own personal financial interests. Unfortunately, under the Trump Administration, when it comes to high-stakes foreign negotiations, government authority often appears to mix with family business and private access \u2013 enriching a few families at the expense of American taxpayers,\u201d said Senator Reed. \u201cThe TABOO Act would close loopholes and crack down on corruption.\u201d\n\nIn addition to Kushner and Witkoff, other members of the Trump and Witkoff families are actively engaged in Middle East business ventures, ranging from real estate to cryptocurrency, that directly involve Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. Since Trump\u2019s second term started, his family has made over $4 billion according to news reports, with President Trump reporting earnings of at least $2.2 billion during his first year back in office in 2025.\n\nIn addition to Merkley and Reed, the TABOO Act is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Chris Coons (D-DE), Cory Booker (D-NJ).\n\nSpecifically, the TABOO Act would:\n\n\u2022 Deem all individuals in covered positions to be officers or employees for purposes of federal bribery, graft, and conflict of interest laws, regardless of employment, compensation, or volunteer status;\n\n\u2022 Designate individuals serving as Special Envoys or in similar positions as public financial disclosure filers;\n\n\u2022 Limit filing extensions for these individuals to no more than 30 days;\n\n\u2022 Require individuals, within 30 days of starting, to certify in writing that they hold no financial interest, including any interest held by a spouse or immediate family member, in the countries they will work with, to divest or place any pre-existing interest in a qualified blind trust within 60 days, and to commit to acquiring no new financial interest in those countries for one year after vacating the position;\n\n\u2022 Require the Executive Branch to provide a quarterly list of all individuals serving as Special Envoys or in similar positions, along with a brief description of their duties and the countries and organizations they are expected to engage with; and\n\n\u2022 Outline enforcement mechanisms to ensure compliance with the requirements set forth in the Act.", 1, "2026-08-17T05:33:43Z", "2026-08-17T05:34:34Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.reed.senate.gov/news/releases/to-fight-corruption-reed-backed-taboo-act-seeks-to-close-ethics-loopholes-for-special-envoys"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.612429041415453, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}