ML15281A180

10-07-15 Submission to State Department Listing Gifts of More than Minimal Value Given to Foreign Indiviudals During Fy 2015

ML15281A180
Person / Time
Issue date:	10/07/2015
From:	Kimberly Sargent Office of Congressional Affairs
To:
References
LTR-15-0496
Download: ML15281A180 (2)

Text

From: Sargent, Kimberly To: "Protocol Gift Officer" Cc: Belmore, Nancy; Casey, Brandon

Subject:

RE: Submission to State Department Listing Gifts of More than Minimal Value Given to Foreign Indiviudals During FY 2015 Date: Wednesday, October 07, 2015 11:37:58 AM Ms. Wham, the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission does not have any gifts to report.

If you require additional information, please find my contact information below.

Regards, Kim Sargent Director of Protocol Tel: 301-415-1698 Cell: 202-590-0096 kimberly.sargent@nrc.gov From: Wham, Jennifer L [1] On Behalf Of Protocol Gift Officer Sent: Monday, October 05, 2015 1:48 PM To: Protocol Gift Officer

Subject:

[External_Sender] Submission to State Department Listing Gifts of More than Minimal Value Given to Foreign Indiviudals During FY 2015 MEMORANDUM TO: Heads of all Departments, Independent Agencies, and Offices of the Executive, Legislative and Judicial Branches FROM: Peter A. Selfridge, Chief of Protocol

SUBJECT:

Submission to the Department of State of Listings of Gifts of More Than Minimal Value Given to Foreign Individuals during Fiscal Year 2015 All federal departments and agencies are required to submit to the Office of the Chief of Protocol a listing of all gifts given with more than minimal value. The current minimal value as defined by the General Services Administration is a gift with a U.S. fair market retail value of $375 or less. These gifts have been given by representatives of the United States Government to foreign individuals during Fiscal Year 2015 (the period of October 1, 2014 through September 30, 2015). This years submission deadline is Friday, October 23, 2015. See below for further instructions.

Section 515(b) of Public Law 95-105, 91 Stat. 866, 22 USC 2694, effective August 17, 1977, prohibits the use of appropriated funds, other than funds from the Emergencies in the Diplomatic and Consular Service account of the Department of State, to purchase any tangible gift of more than minimal value (currently defined by the General Services

Administration as a gift with a retail value of $375 or less) for any foreign individual unless such gift has been approved by Congress. In addition, Section 515(b) requires the Secretary of State to transmit a report annually to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the report contains the following details:

(1) any gifts of more than minimal value purchased with appropriated funds, which were given to foreign individuals during the previous fiscal year, and (2) any other gifts of more than minimal value given by the United States Government to a foreign individual which were not obtained using appropriated funds.

Please note that the second part of the report includes all official gifts of more than minimal value, regardless of their origin, e.g., donations, and the valuation of the gift must be based upon the fair market value in the United States. To ensure compliance with PL 95-105, each agency should:

• include the prohibition on purchase of gifts for foreign individuals of more than minimal value without Congressional approval in their fiscal regulations, and

• designate a central point of contact for reporting of all such gifts at the end of each fiscal year and advise the Office of the Chief of Protocol of this designation.

The Department of State requires each agency to transmit a compilation listing all gifts given to foreign individuals that fall under either category described above. Each agency should prepare its compilation for Fiscal Year 2015 in the format of the enclosed report sheet. Please submit the report via e-mail to Jennifer Wham at ProtocolGiftOfficer@state.gov by Friday, October 23, 2015. If your agency does not have any reportable gifts, you are required to indicate a negative response via e-mail. In submitting the report, please provide the name, telephone number, and e-mail address of the individual who may be contacted, if necessary, concerning its contents and future reports. Inquiries regarding this report should be directed to the Department of State, Office of the Chief of Protocol, Attn: Jennifer Wham at (202) 647-1297 or ProtocolGiftOfficer@state.gov.

Thank you, The Office of the Chief of Protocol Gift Unit This email is UNCLASSIFIED.