Legislation would ban former Senate-confirmed government employees from lobbying for countries of concern

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today celebrated the advancement of the Conflict-free Leaving Employment and Activity Restrictions (CLEAR) Path Act, bipartisan legislation introduced alongside Senators John Cornyn (R-Texas), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Jim Risch (R-Idaho), which would mitigate foreign influence on U.S. policymaking by prohibiting former Senate-confirmed government employees from lobbying on behalf of countries of concern. The bill advanced out of the Senate Judiciary Committee with bipartisan support. 

“Public trust in our democratic institutions is eroding. It’s vital we set higher standards against potential conflicts of interest for former government employees, particularly when it involves foreign adversaries that might be working to influence U.S. policy,” said Senator Welch. “I’m thankful for the support of my Judiciary Committee colleagues on our bipartisan legislation and look forward to bringing this bill to the Senate floor.” 

“Foreign adversaries with ill intentions should not wield influence on American policymaking, nor should they exploit our own citizens to intercede on their behalf,” said Senator Cornyn. “This commonsense legislation would root out attempts of malign foreign interference and ban high-level former U.S. government employees from lobbying for countries of concern like Russia and China.” 

“Corrupt foreign nations put their thumb on the scales of American policy through both secret and overt channels of influence. Senior U.S. government officials should not be allowed to sell their expertise and access to benefit America’s adversaries after they leave public service, and I’m pleased to partner with Senators Cornyn and Welch to clear this bipartisan measure through the Judiciary Committee,” said Senator Whitehouse.

“It isn’t right for senior government officials to turn their public service experience into a payout from malign foreign governments,” said Senator Risch. “This bill will help prevent corruption at the highest levels of our government, protect our national security, and ensure that our public servants do not abuse their power for the good of America’s adversaries.”

With attempts by foreign actors to manipulate the U.S. political and governing processes in recent years, the CLEAR Path Act would seek to mitigate foreign malign influence in our political system by: 

• Permanently banning Agency Heads, Deputies, and Senate-confirmed employees from lobbying the executive and legislative branches on behalf of countries of concern, including China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, and Cuba; and 

• Providing a mechanism to add or remove countries of concern via a Senate Foreign Relations Committee and House Judiciary Committee joint resolution and with the concurrence of the U.S. Secretary of State and U.S. Attorney General. 

Senator Welch has led bipartisan efforts to combat the influence of foreign entities in American government and elections. Last Congress, Senator Welch cosponsored the bicameral Get Foreign Money Out of U.S. Elections Act to close a campaign finance loophole created by the Citizens United v. FEC decision that allows foreign entities to contribute unlimited sums of money into American elections. 

Read and download the full text of the CLEAR Path Act. 

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