Us Congress Senate Bill SB53

Us Congress 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/24/23
• Refer: 1/24/23

Caption

Combating Global Corruption Act of 2023 This bill requires the Department of State to address corruption in foreign governments. The State Department must annually publish a tiered ranking of foreign countries based on their government's efforts to eliminate corruption. The bill outlines the minimum standards that the State Department must consider when creating the ranking, such as whether a country has criminalized corruption, adopted measures to prevent corruption, and complied with the United Nations Convention Against Corruption and other relevant international agreements. Tier one countries meet the standards; tier two countries make some efforts to meet the standards; tier three countries make de minimis or no efforts to meet the standards. If a country is ranked in the second or third tier, the State Department must designate an anti-corruption contact at the U.S. diplomatic post in that country to promote good governance and combat corruption. The State Department must report annually to Congress a list of foreign persons (individuals or entities) (1) who have engaged in significant corruption in a tier three country, and (2) upon whom the President has imposed sanctions pursuant to this bill.

Impact

The implementation of SB53 is expected to influence how the United States engages with foreign nations on issues of governance and transparency. By publicly ranking countries based on their anti-corruption efforts, the bill aims to hold governments accountable and encourage adherence to global governance standards. The establishment of anti-corruption points of contact within U.S. embassies in tier two and three countries will facilitate targeted diplomatic efforts to promote good governance and the combat against corruption in these regions.

Summary

SB53, known as the Combating Global Corruption Act of 2023, mandates that the Department of State annually produce a tiered ranking of foreign countries based on their efforts to combat corruption. This ranking will categorize countries into three tiers: those complying with minimum standards to eliminate corruption, those making efforts but not reaching the required level, and those making negligible or no efforts. The bill aims to foster accountability and incentivize governments to improve their anti-corruption measures while aligning with international agreements like the United Nations Convention Against Corruption.

Contention

One of the notable points of contention surrounding SB53 is the potential geopolitical impact of publicly labeling countries as tier two or three. Some stakeholders argue that such classifications could strain diplomatic relations, particularly with countries that may perceive the U.S. ranking as a unilateral imposition of values. Additionally, the bill's efficacy will rely significantly on how the Secretary of State interprets and enforces the criteria for these ranks, which may lead to accusations of bias or selective application.