CLEAR Path Act
Senate Passes CLEAR Path Act to Ban Top Officials From Lobbying for Foreign Adversaries
The CLEAR Path Act has been approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee and is now waiting for a vote by the full Senate. It is currently placed on the legislative calendar and is actively moving through the process. There are no other scheduled actions at this time.
Legislative Progress
Since the bill already passed the Senate with clear language, it has strong momentum to move through the House and become law.
Key Points
Impact Analysis
Personal Impact
Former Senate-confirmed officials in the executive branch face a lifetime ban on representing, aiding, or advising foreign governments of countries of concern with intent to influence U.S. decisions. This restricts their post-government career options, particularly in lobbying, consulting, and advisory roles tied to adversarial foreign governments. The restriction only applies to people appointed after the law takes effect and sunsets for new appointees after five years.
“Any person who serves in a position requiring appointment by the President as head or deputy head of, or serves in any other Senate-confirmed position in, a department or agency of the executive branch of the United States, and who, at any time after the termination of the person's service in that position, knowingly represents, aids, or advises a foreign governmental entity of a country of concern”
Milestones
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Held at the desk.
Received in the House.
The House has received the Senate-passed bill and will decide whether to take it up.
Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.
The Senate voted to approve this bill. If the House already passed it, it goes to the President.
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.
The Senate voted to approve this bill. If the House already passed it, it goes to the President.
Votes
No votes have been recorded for this legislation yet.
Related News
3 articles
Package of House bills aims to counter foreign influence
The CLEAR Path Act aims to extend existing post-government restrictions on U.S. State Department employees to cover more employees, imposing a lifetime ban for agency heads, deputies and Senate-confirmed employees from lobbying on behalf of countries of concern, including Iran, China and Russia.
Bill Introduced to Mitigate Foreign Influence on U.S. Policymaking
Senators John Cornyn, Peter Welch, and Jim Risch introduced the CLEAR Path Act to prohibit former government employees from lobbying for countries of concern. The bill includes a mechanism to add or remove countries via joint resolution with concurrence from the Secretary of State.
Rep. Pfluger introduces legislation targeting lobbying ties with U.S. adversarial nations
The CLEAR Path Act extends post-government employment restrictions to agency heads and deputies by imposing a lifetime ban on lobbying for designated countries. Congressman August Pfluger and Senator John Cornyn lead the bipartisan, bicameral effort to root out malign foreign interference.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
CLEAR Path Act
Data Sources
Sponsor
Cosponsors
(4)Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.