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H.R.964 / 116th Congress

Transition Team Ethics Improvement Act

Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 306.

Official summary

Version 07 · Reported to House · Jan 27, 2020

Transition Team Ethics Improvement Act

This bill establishes ethics requirements for a President-elect's transition team.

The bill requires each President-elect or Vice-President-elect, not later than 10 days after submitting an application for a security clearance for an individual and not later than 10 days after any such individual is granted a security clearance, to report to Congress with the name of such individual.

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The Federal Transition Coordinator must negotiate a memorandum of understanding with the transition representative of each eligible candidate by October 1 (currently November 1) of a year during which a presidential election occurs.

Each memorandum of understanding shall include an agreement that the eligible candidate will implement and enforce an ethics plan to guide the conduct of the transition beginning on the date on which the candidate becomes the President-elect.

The ethics plan shall include

a description of the ethics requirements that will apply to all transition team members;

a description of how the transition team will address the role on the team of registered lobbyists, former registered lobbyists, persons registered under the Foreign Agents Registration Act, foreign nationals, other foreign agents, and transition team members with sources of income or clients that are not disclosed to the public;

a Code of Ethical Conduct, to which each transition team member will sign and be subject to, that meets specified requirements; and

a description of how the transition team will enforce the Code of Ethical Conduct.

Read the summary on Congress.gov
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Who introduced it

Rep. Cummings, Elijah E. [D-MD-7] · D–MD

Committees

  • Oversight and Government Reform Committee
18 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Actions

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  1. Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 306.

  2. Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Oversight and Reform. H. Rept. 116-382.

  3. Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Oversight and Reform. H. Rept. 116-382.

  4. Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 18 - 12.

  5. Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

  6. Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Reform.

  7. Introduced in House

  8. Introduced in House

Bill text & related measures

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Related bills identified by Congress.gov

Source last updated: Dec 6, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Analyze H.R.964 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

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