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HR 416 105th Congress House

Foreign Agents Compulsory Ethics in Trade Act of 1997

Official title: To amend section 207 of title 18, United States Code, to further restrict Federal officers and employees from representing or advising foreign entities after leaving Government service.

Introduced: January 9, 1997 Introduced by: Kaptur, Marcy Democratic · Ohio See on congress.gov
Government Operations and Politics Conflict of interestsCongressCongressional agenciesCongressional employees
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Crime and Law EnforcementEx-Members of CongressEx-presidentsFederal employeesFederal officialsFines (Penalties)Foreign Trade and International FinanceForeign agentsForeign corporationsGovernment ethicsInternational AffairsLobbyingPolitical partiesPresidential ethicsPublic corruption
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This bill died when the 105th Congress ended
It never became law before the 105th Congress (1997–1998) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jan 28, 1997
Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution.
Jan 9, 1997
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Jan 9, 1997
Introduced in House
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 Latest action January 28, 1997

Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Foreign Agents Compulsory Ethics in Trade Act of 1997 - Amends Federal criminal code restrictions on the activities of certain former officers, employees, and elected officials of the Federal Government (subject individuals) relating to foreign entities to make the following changes.

Makes the current one-year ban a permanent one where the subject individual, after his or her termination from service, knowingly acts as an agent or attorney for or otherwise represents or advises, for compensation, a foreign government or political party in a matter to which such representation or advice directly relates, and in which the United States is either a party or has a direct and substantial interest.

Replaces the current one-year post-Federal service ban with a five-year ban where the entity represented or advised for compensation would be: (1) a person outside the United States, unless such person is a U.S. citizen domiciled within the United States, or, if not an individual, is organized under or created by Federal or State law, or law of any other place under U.S. jurisdiction, with its principal place of business within the United States; or (2) a partnership, association, corporation, or similar organization formed under the laws of or having its principal place of business in a foreign country.

Subjects the President to both such bans.

Eliminates the special rule for trade representatives (which would extend the current one-year ban to three years).

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 416: Foreign Agents Compulsory Ethics in Trade Act of 1997. 105th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-416/
MLA
"H.R. 416: Foreign Agents Compulsory Ethics in Trade Act of 1997." 105th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-416/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 416, 105th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-416/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 416: Foreign Agents Compulsory Ethics in Trade Act of 1997](https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-416/)
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