Today, Congressman Ted W. Lieu (D | Los Angeles County) issued the following statement after introducing the Stop Waste And Misuse by the President Act of 2017, otherwise known as the SWAMP Act.  This legislation compels President Trump and the First Family to reimburse the American taxpayer for federal funds spent at commercial properties that he or his family own or have a financial interest in.

“President Trump ran for office to ‘drain the swamp.’ Since January, he has traveled to his Mar-a-Lago resort seven times, costing the U.S. taxpayer more than $25 million dollars. Every time he travels to a commercial property in which he has a financial interest, he forces the American people to deposit funds directly into his pockets. Most of us don’t know what it’s like to own or even visit multi-million dollar commercial properties – but every American is paying for them. Meanwhile, President Trump wants to cut programs like the Interagency Council on Homelessness, which could meet its annual funding requirements if Trump passed on just one Mar-a-Lago trip.”

“In addition, the President is spreading local law enforcement thin, depriving towns of revenue by cutting off traffic routes near his resorts, and housing security and staff at his own properties – all on the taxpayer’s dime. The Office of the President should never be used for personal gain or enrichment. That is why I am proud to introduce the SWAMP Act, which would ensure the President reimburses the Treasury Department for costs pertaining to trips to his own properties. Congress has a strong role to play in protecting the American people from fraud and abuse and this bill is a key part of that effort.”