,,ii ,calendar ,no4 #faf #aafth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #bgbb ,report ,no4 #aaf-cac ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,october #bi1 #bjai,ms4 ,ernst 7for herself1 ,mr4 ,paul1 ,mr4 ,daines1 and ,mr4 ,scott of ,florida7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,homeland ,security and ,governmental ,affairs ,december #ad1 #bjbj,reported by ,mr4 ,johnson1 with an amendment,strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic ,a ,,bill ,to prohibit agencies from using ,federal funds for publicity or propaganda purposes1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,stop ,wasteful ,advertising by the ,government ,act or the ,,swag ,act4 #b4 ,definitions ,in this ,act-- 7#a7 the term advertising means the placement of messages in media that are intended to inform or persuade an audience1 including placement in television1 radio1 a magazine1 a newspaper1 digital media1 direct mail1 an exhibit1 and a billboard2 7#b7 the term agency has the meaning given the term in section #eea of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code2 7#c7 the term covert propaganda means propaganda communications by an agency that-- 7,a7 fail to disclose the role of the agency as the source of information2 or 7,b7 are misleading as to the origin of the communications2 7#d7 the term mascot-- 7,a7 means an individual1 animal1 or object adopted by an agency as a symbolic figure to represent the agency or the mission of the agency2 and 7,b7 includes a costumed character2 7#e7 the term public relations means communications by an agency that are directed to the public1 including activities dedicated to maintaining the image of the governmental unit or maintaining or promoting understanding and favorable relations with the community or the public2 7#f7 the term purely partisan materials means materials designed to aid a political party or candidate2 7#g7 the term self-aggrandizement means publicity of a nature tending to emphasize the importance of the agency or activity in question2 and 7#h7 the term swag-- 7,a7 means a product or merchandise distributed at no cost with the sole purpose of advertising or promoting an agency1 organization1 program1 or agenda2 7,b7 includes blankets1 buttons1 candy1 clothing1 coloring books1 cups1 fidget spinners1 hats1 holiday ornaments1 jar grip openers1 keychains1 koozies1 magnets1 neckties1 novelties1 snuggies1 stickers1 stress balls1 stuffed animals1 tchotchkes1 thermoses1 tote bags1 trading cards1 and writing utensils2 and 7,c7 does not include-- 7i7 an item presented as honorary or informal recognition award1 such as a challenge coin or medal issued for sacrifice or meritorious service2 7ii7 a brochure or pamphlet purchased or distributed for informational purchases2 or 7iii7 an item distributed for diplomatic purposes1 including a gift for a foreign leader4 #c4 ,prohibitions2 public relations and advertising spending 7a7 ,prohibitions ,except as provided in subsection 7c71 and unless otherwise expressly authorized by law-- 7#a7 an agency1 a contractor of the ,federal ,government1 or another entity of the ,federal ,government may not1 directly or indirectly1 use ,federal funds for publicity or propaganda purposes within the ,united ,states1 including the use of ,federal funds for self-aggrandizement1 covert propaganda1 or purely partisan materials2 7#b7 an agency or other entity of the ,federal ,government may not use ,federal funds to purchase or otherwise acquire or distribute swag2 and 7#c7 an agency or other entity of the ,federal ,government may not use ,federal funds to manufacture or use a mascot to promote an agency1 organization1 program1 or agenda4 7b7 ,public relations and advertising spending ,each agency shall1 as part of the annual budget justification submitted to ,congress1 report on the public relations and advertising spending of the agency for the preceding fiscal year4 7c7 ,exceptions ,subsection 7a7 shall not apply with respect to-- 7#a7 recruitment relating to-- 7,a7 enlistment or employment with the ,armed ,forces2 or 7,b7 employment with the ,federal ,government2 7#b7 a mascot that is declared the property of the ,united ,states under a provision of law1 including under section #b of ,public ,law #ic-cah 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #ehjp-#a72 7#c7 a mascot relating to the ,armed ,forces of the ,united ,states2 or 7#d7 an item distributed by the ,bureau of the ,census to assist the ,bureau in conducting a census of the population of the ,united ,states4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,stop ,wasteful ,advertising by the ,government ,act or the ,,swag ,act4 #b4 ,definitions ,in this ,act-- 7#a7 the term advertising means the placement of messages in media that are intended to inform or persuade an audience1 including placement in television1 radio1 a magazine1 a newspaper1 digital media1 direct mail1 a tangible product1 an exhibit1 or a billboard2 7#b7 the term agency has the meaning given the term in section #eea of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code2 7#c7 the term mascot-- 7,a7 means an individual1 animal1 or object adopted by an agency as a symbolic figure to represent the agency or the mission of the agency2 and 7,b7 includes a costumed character2 7#d7 the term public relations means communications by an agency that are directed to the public1 including activities dedicated to maintaining the image of the governmental unit or maintaining or promoting understanding and favorable relations with the community or the public2 7#e7 the term return on investment means1 with respect to the public relations and advertising spending by an agency1 a positive return in achieving agency or program goals relative to the investment in advertising and marketing materials2 and 7#f7 the term swag-- 7,a7 means a tangible product or merchandise distributed at no cost with the sole purpose of advertising or promoting an agency1 organization1 or program2 7,b7 includes blankets1 buttons1 candy1 clothing1 coloring books1 cups1 fidget spinners1 hats1 holiday ornaments1 jar grip openers1 keychains1 koozies1 magnets1 neckties1 snuggies1 stickers1 stress balls1 stuffed animals1 thermoses1 tote bags1 trading cards1 and writing utensils2 and 7,c7 does not include-- 7i7 an item presented as an honorary or informal recognition award related to the ,armed ,forces of the ,united ,states1 such as a challenge coin or medal issued for sacrifice or meritorious service2 7ii7 a brochure or pamphlet purchased or distributed for informational purposes2 or 7iii7 an item distributed for diplomatic purposes1 including a gift for a foreign leader4 #c4 ,prohibitions2 public relations and advertising spending 7a7 ,prohibitions ,except as provided in subsection 7c71 and unless otherwise expressly authorized by law-- 7#a7 an agency or other entity of the ,federal ,government may not use ,federal funds to purchase or otherwise acquire or distribute swag2 and 7#b7 an agency or other entity of the ,federal ,government may not use ,federal funds to manufacture or use a mascot to promote an agency1 organization1 program1 or agenda4 7b7 ,public relations and advertising spending ,each agency shall1 as part of the annual budget justification submitted to ,congress1 report on the public relations and advertising spending of the agency for the preceding fiscal year1 which may include an estimate of the return on investment for the agency4 7c7 ,exceptions 7#a7 ,swag ,subsection 7a77#a7 shall not apply with respect to-- 7,a7 an agency program that supports the mission and objectives of the agency that is initiating the public relations or advertising spending1 provided that the spending generates a positive return on investment for the agency2 7,b7 recruitment relating to-- 7i7 enlistment or employment with the ,armed ,forces2 or 7ii7 employment with the ,federal ,government2 or 7,c7 an item distributed by the ,bureau of the ,census to assist the ,bureau in conducting a census of the population of the ,united ,states4 7#b7 ,mascots ,subsection 7a77#b7 shall not apply with respect to-- 7,a7 a mascot that is declared the property of the ,united ,states under a provision of law1 including under section #b of ,public ,law #ic-cah 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #ehjp-#a72 or 7,b7 a mascot relating to the ,armed ,forces of the ,united ,states4 7d7 ,regulations ,not later than #ahj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,director of the ,office of ,management and ,budget shall issue regulations to carry out this ,act4 ,december #ad1 #bjbj,reported with an amendment