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Combating Global Corruption Act of 2025

USA119th CongressHR-385| House 
| Updated: 1/14/2025
Steve Cohen

Steve Cohen

Democratic Representative

Tennessee

Cosponsors (3)
Maria Elvira Salazar (Republican)Joe Wilson (Republican)William R. Keating (Democratic)

Foreign Affairs Committee, Judiciary Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
The Combating Global Corruption Act of 2025 establishes a framework to identify and combat corruption worldwide. It mandates the Secretary of State to annually publish a tiered ranking of all foreign countries, categorizing them into Tier 1, Tier 2, or Tier 3 based on their government's compliance with minimum standards for eliminating corruption. Tier 1 countries meet these standards, Tier 2 countries are making efforts but not fully compliant, and Tier 3 countries demonstrate de minimis or no efforts. The bill defines minimum standards for corruption elimination, including enacting and enforcing laws, punishing offenders, and making serious and sustained efforts to address corruption. The Secretary of State must consider various factors when assessing these efforts, such as whether a government criminalizes and prosecutes corruption, prevents officials from facilitating it, protects whistleblowers, and implements financial transparency measures. Compliance with relevant international anti-corruption conventions is also a key consideration. For countries designated as Tier 3, the bill mandates that the Secretary of State evaluate foreign persons engaged in significant corruption for potential sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act . An annual report or briefing to Congress is required, detailing any sanctions imposed and the reasons behind them, aiming to hold corrupt actors accountable. To enhance anti-corruption efforts, the Act requires the Secretary of State to annually designate anti-corruption points of contact at U.S. diplomatic posts in Tier 2 and Tier 3 countries, or others as needed. These points of contact will coordinate a whole-of-government approach to promote good governance and enhance the host country's ability to combat public corruption, with appropriate training provided.
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Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 117-4322
Combating Global Corruption Act of 2021

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 118-457
Combating Global Corruption Act of 2023
Jan 14, 2025
Introduced in House
Jan 14, 2025
Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 117-4322
    Combating Global Corruption Act of 2021


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 118-457
    Combating Global Corruption Act of 2023


  • January 14, 2025
    Introduced in House


  • January 14, 2025
    Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

International Affairs

Congressional oversightCrime preventionCrime victimsCriminal investigation, prosecution, interrogationCriminal procedure and sentencingDiplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroadEmployment discrimination and employee rightsEnergy storage, supplies, demandEuropeForeign aid and international reliefGermanyGovernment ethics and transparency, public corruptionGovernment information and archivesHuman rightsInternational law and treatiesInternational organizations and cooperationJudicial procedure and administrationOil and gasOrganized crimePipelinesRussiaSanctionsSovereignty, recognition, national governance and statusUnited NationsU.S. and foreign investments

Combating Global Corruption Act of 2025

USA119th CongressHR-385| House 
| Updated: 1/14/2025
The Combating Global Corruption Act of 2025 establishes a framework to identify and combat corruption worldwide. It mandates the Secretary of State to annually publish a tiered ranking of all foreign countries, categorizing them into Tier 1, Tier 2, or Tier 3 based on their government's compliance with minimum standards for eliminating corruption. Tier 1 countries meet these standards, Tier 2 countries are making efforts but not fully compliant, and Tier 3 countries demonstrate de minimis or no efforts. The bill defines minimum standards for corruption elimination, including enacting and enforcing laws, punishing offenders, and making serious and sustained efforts to address corruption. The Secretary of State must consider various factors when assessing these efforts, such as whether a government criminalizes and prosecutes corruption, prevents officials from facilitating it, protects whistleblowers, and implements financial transparency measures. Compliance with relevant international anti-corruption conventions is also a key consideration. For countries designated as Tier 3, the bill mandates that the Secretary of State evaluate foreign persons engaged in significant corruption for potential sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act . An annual report or briefing to Congress is required, detailing any sanctions imposed and the reasons behind them, aiming to hold corrupt actors accountable. To enhance anti-corruption efforts, the Act requires the Secretary of State to annually designate anti-corruption points of contact at U.S. diplomatic posts in Tier 2 and Tier 3 countries, or others as needed. These points of contact will coordinate a whole-of-government approach to promote good governance and enhance the host country's ability to combat public corruption, with appropriate training provided.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 117-4322
Combating Global Corruption Act of 2021

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 118-457
Combating Global Corruption Act of 2023
Jan 14, 2025
Introduced in House
Jan 14, 2025
Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 117-4322
    Combating Global Corruption Act of 2021


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 118-457
    Combating Global Corruption Act of 2023


  • January 14, 2025
    Introduced in House


  • January 14, 2025
    Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Steve Cohen

Steve Cohen

Democratic Representative

Tennessee

Cosponsors (3)
Maria Elvira Salazar (Republican)Joe Wilson (Republican)William R. Keating (Democratic)

Foreign Affairs Committee, Judiciary Committee

International Affairs

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Congressional oversightCrime preventionCrime victimsCriminal investigation, prosecution, interrogationCriminal procedure and sentencingDiplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroadEmployment discrimination and employee rightsEnergy storage, supplies, demandEuropeForeign aid and international reliefGermanyGovernment ethics and transparency, public corruptionGovernment information and archivesHuman rightsInternational law and treatiesInternational organizations and cooperationJudicial procedure and administrationOil and gasOrganized crimePipelinesRussiaSanctionsSovereignty, recognition, national governance and statusUnited NationsU.S. and foreign investments