119-sres244

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 244 Introduced in Senate

    (IS) ]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
S. RES. 244

Affirming that the underlying purpose of the Foreign Emoluments Clause 
 renders the acceptance and transfer of a plane from the Government of 
Qatar, without the explicit consent of Congress, an illegal emolument, 
withholding the consent of the Senate to the acceptance and transfer of 
 plane from the Government of Qatar, and demanding the transfer of any 
 plane received by President Donald J. Trump or entities under his 
 control from the Government of Qatar to the permanent control of the 
 United States Government.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

 May 21, 2025

 Mr. Blumenthal submitted the following resolution; which was referred 
 to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

 RESOLUTION

Affirming that the underlying purpose of the Foreign Emoluments Clause 
 renders the acceptance and transfer of a plane from the Government of 
Qatar, without the explicit consent of Congress, an illegal emolument, 
withholding the consent of the Senate to the acceptance and transfer of 
 plane from the Government of Qatar, and demanding the transfer of any 
 plane received by President Donald J. Trump or entities under his 
 control from the Government of Qatar to the permanent control of the 
 United States Government.

Whereas President Donald J. Trump reportedly plans to--

    (1) accept a Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet from the Government of Qatar for 
United States Government use as Air Force One during the Trump 
Administration; and

    (2) transfer that plane nominally to the Donald J. Trump Presidential 
Library shortly before the expiration of the term of office of President 
Trump but continue personal use of the plane after the Presidency of 
President Trump;

Whereas the estimated value of the plane is $400,000,000, making the plane one 
 of the biggest gifts to the United States from a foreign government, if 
 accepted;
Whereas Air Force One is equipped with advanced, specialized communications 
 technologies, so that Air Force One may transmit highly classified 
 national security information and serve as a mobile command center in 
 the event of an attack on the United States;
Whereas accepting a plane from a foreign government poses counterintelligence 
 and other national security concerns, such as the insertion of listening 
 devices on the plane;
Whereas ensuring the plane is free from all security risks, including listening 
 devices, could require stripping the plane down to its parts;
Whereas retrofitting the Qatari plane to serve as Air Force One also requires 
 the installation of multiple top-secret systems that enable secure 
 Government communications, midair refueling, and missile defense and 
 that protect against electronic jamming and electromagnetic pulse 
 attacks;
Whereas such a process could cost taxpayers more than $1,000,000,000 and take 
 years to complete;
Whereas the only means of speeding up such work requires relaxing current Air 
 Force One security rules;
Whereas, even if such work is sped up, the Qatari plane may only be ready near 
 the end of the term of office of President Trump, at which time the 
 plane will be turned over to the Donald J. Trump Presidential Library;
Whereas all fees related to the transfer of the plane to the Donald J. Trump 
 Presidential Library reportedly will be paid by the United States Air 
 Force, rather than by President Trump himself;
Whereas the acceptance of a substantial gift from a foreign government could 
 unduly influence the foreign policies of the United States;
Whereas the Foreign Emoluments Clause contained in clause 8 of 

section 9 of 
 article I of the Constitution of the United States provides that no 
 present, emolument, office, or title, of any kind, may be accepted by 
 the President of the United States from a king, prince, or foreign state 
 without the consent of Congress;
Whereas the Founders included the Foreign Emoluments Clause in the Constitution 
 of the United States, by unanimous agreement of the State delegations, 
 to ensure the President would remain loyal to the Nation and the public 
 interest;
Whereas the Foreign Emoluments Clause has long been understood to be ```directed 
 against every kind of influence by foreign governments upon officers of 
 the United States,' in the absence of consent by Congress'';
Whereas the President of the United States has a constitutional and statutory 
 obligation to uphold the public trust; and
Whereas the violation of the Foreign Emoluments Clause of the Constitution of 
 the United States undermines public trust and the integrity of public 
 office in the United States: Now, therefore, be it
 Resolved, That the Senate--

    (1) affirms that the underlying purpose of the Foreign 
 Emoluments Clause of the Constitution of the United States 
 renders the acceptance and transfer of a plane from the 
 Government of Qatar, without the explicit consent of Congress, 
 an illegal emolument, regardless of the legal technicalities of 
 ownership;

    (2) withholds the consent of the Senate to the acceptance 
 and transfer of any plane from the Government of Qatar, as such 
 acceptance and transfer poses unacceptable potential costs to 
 taxpayers in the United States as well as grave risks to 
 national security and of foreign corruption; and

    (3) demands the transfer of any plane received by President 
 Donald J. Trump or entities under the control of President 
 Trump from the Government of Qatar, in violation of the Foreign 
 Emoluments Clause contained in clause 8 of 

section 9 of article 
 I of the Constitution of the United States, to the permanent 
 control of the United States Government.
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