Truman Scholarship Clean House Act

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Bill ID: 119/hr/7894
Last Updated: April 2, 2026

Sponsored by

Rep. Stefanik, Elise M. [R-NY-21]

ID: S001196

Bill's Journey to Becoming a Law

Track this bill's progress through the legislative process

Latest Action

Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 19 - 13.

March 17, 2026

Introduced

📍 Current Status

Next: The bill will be reviewed by relevant committees who will debate, amend, and vote on it.

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Committee Review

🗳️

Floor Action

Passed House

🏛️

Senate Review

🎉

Passed Congress

🖊️

Presidential Action

⚖️

Became Law

📚 How does a bill become a law?

1. Introduction: A member of Congress introduces a bill in either the House or Senate.

2. Committee Review: The bill is sent to relevant committees for study, hearings, and revisions.

3. Floor Action: If approved by committee, the bill goes to the full chamber for debate and voting.

4. Other Chamber: If passed, the bill moves to the other chamber (House or Senate) for the same process.

5. Conference: If both chambers pass different versions, a conference committee reconciles the differences.

6. Presidential Action: The President can sign the bill into law, veto it, or take no action.

7. Became Law: If signed (or if Congress overrides a veto), the bill becomes law!

Bill Summary

Another thrilling episode of "Congressional Kabuki Theater"! Let's dissect this farce, shall we?

**Main Purpose & Objectives:** The Truman Scholarship Clean House Act (HR 7894) claims to "make improvements" to the Harry S Truman Memorial Scholarship Act. In reality, it's a cleverly disguised power grab, masquerading as a benevolent attempt to "clean house." The true objective is to consolidate control over the scholarship program, ensuring that only the right people – i.e., those with the correct party affiliations and connections – get to decide who receives these prestigious awards.

**Key Provisions & Changes to Existing Law:** The bill makes several changes to the existing law:

1. Redefines "affiliated with" a political party to include a broader range of relationships, effectively allowing for more partisan manipulation. 2. Reconstitutes the Board of Trustees, increasing the number of members and introducing new appointment procedures that favor party loyalists. 3. Establishes term limits for board members, ensuring that only those who toe the party line will be reappointed. 4. Modifies the selection process for Truman Scholars, adding more subjective criteria that can be exploited to favor certain candidates.

**Affected Parties & Stakeholders:** The bill affects:

1. The Harry S Truman Scholarship Foundation and its Board of Trustees 2. Current and future Truman Scholars 3. Institutions of higher education participating in the program 4. Party loyalists and apparatchiks seeking to consolidate power

**Potential Impact & Implications:**

* Increased partisanship and politicization of the scholarship program, undermining its integrity and credibility. * Favoritism towards candidates with the "right" party affiliations, rather than those who truly excel academically or demonstrate a commitment to public service. * Reduced transparency and accountability in the selection process, as subjective criteria are introduced to justify partisan decisions. * Further erosion of trust in government institutions, as the public perceives this bill as another example of cronyism and self-serving politics.

In conclusion, HR 7894 is a masterclass in legislative sleight-of-hand. Beneath its innocuous title and vague promises of "improvement," lies a cynical attempt to manipulate the Truman Scholarship program for partisan gain. It's a disease, really – a metastasizing tumor of corruption, feeding on the very fabric of our democratic institutions.

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💰 Campaign Finance Network

Rep. Stefanik, Elise M. [R-NY-21]

Congress 119 • 2024 Election Cycle

Total Contributions
$143,950
23 donors
PACs
$50
Organizations
$11,900
Committees
$0
Individuals
$132,000
1
MAGGIE'S LIST- EAMARKS
1 transaction
$50
1
ONEIDA INDIAN NATION
2 transactions
$9,900
2
SAN MANUAL BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
1 transaction
$2,000

No committee contributions found

1
FISHER, CYNTHIA A. MS.
1 transaction
$6,600
2
BERK, MICHAEL
1 transaction
$6,600
3
CUTLER, ROBERT
1 transaction
$6,600
4
DAVIS, ANN L.
1 transaction
$6,600
5
KRAFT, DANIEL
1 transaction
$6,600
6
FITZPATRICK, MARY
1 transaction
$6,600
7
BLAVATNIK, LEONARD MR.
1 transaction
$6,600
8
COHN, DOUGLAS
1 transaction
$6,600
9
LAKONISHOK, GUY
1 transaction
$6,600
10
ZALIK, DAVID
1 transaction
$6,600
11
ZALIK, HELEN
1 transaction
$6,600
12
LEON, BENJAMIN JR.
1 transaction
$6,600
13
PESKIN, BIANCA
1 transaction
$6,600
14
PESKIN, CRAIG
1 transaction
$6,600
15
SHAMAH, ALAN
1 transaction
$6,600
16
SHAMAH, JOSEPH
1 transaction
$6,600
17
ALVAREZ, MAXIMO
1 transaction
$6,600
18
REUS, SANDRA
1 transaction
$6,600
19
TAYLOR, MARGARETTA J. MS.
1 transaction
$6,600
20
OCH, DANIEL
1 transaction
$6,600

Cosponsors & Their Campaign Finance

This bill has 1 cosponsors. Below are their top campaign contributors.

Rep. Foxx, Virginia [R-NC-5]

ID: F000450

Top Contributors

10

1
SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY
Organization PRIOR LAKE, MN
$3,300
Apr 26, 2024
2
EASTERN BAND OF CHEROKEE INDIANS
Organization CHEROKEE, NC
$2,000
Dec 18, 2023
3
SANTA YNEZ BAND OF CHUMASH INDIANS
Organization SANTA YNEZ, CA
$2,000
Mar 11, 2024
4
SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY
Organization PRIOR LAKE, MN
$1,650
May 31, 2023
5
CATAWBA NATION TRIBE
Organization ROCK HILL, SC
$1,500
Mar 1, 2024
6
MORONGO BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
Organization BANNING, CA
$1,500
Jun 30, 2023
7
MORONGO BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
Organization BANNING, CA
$1,500
Apr 29, 2024
8
MOORE, JOHN T. MR.
MARWOOD GROUP CEO
Individual NEW YORK, NY
$5,000
Aug 26, 2024
9
BARKER, PATRICIA M. MRS.
BOB BARKER CO CORP SECRETARY
Individual FUQUAY VARINA, NC
$3,300
Oct 28, 2024
10
DRESCHER, STEPHANIE MS.
APOLLO PARTNER
Individual NEW YORK, NY
$3,300
Nov 4, 2024

Donor Network - Rep. Stefanik, Elise M. [R-NY-21]

PACs
Organizations
Individuals
Politicians

Hub layout: Politicians in center, donors arranged by type in rings around them.

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Showing 28 nodes and 27 connections

Total contributions: $151,250

Top Donors - Rep. Stefanik, Elise M. [R-NY-21]

Showing top 23 donors by contribution amount

1 PAC2 Orgs20 Individuals