This bill changes parts of the Federal Election Campaign Act to try to prevent foreign interference in U.S. elections. It expands the existing ban on foreign contributions to cover funds used for voter registration, ballot collection, voter identification, get-out-the-vote activity, public communications that refer to a clearly identified political party, and the administration of an election. The bill also makes it a violation to knowingly aid or facilitate such foreign-funded activity and defines "indirect contributions" that flow through intermediaries.
The bill adds enforcement rules that let a person submit a certification under penalty of perjury that no violation occurred and requires the Federal Election Commission (FEC) to consider that certification. It limits FEC investigations to the facts needed to decide whether a violation happened and lets a person ask a federal court to quash subpoenas or orders that are broader than that scope. The bill adds reporting and certification requirements for political committees, parties, independent spenders, and electioneering communications saying, under penalty of perjury, that contributions or expenditures do not violate the expanded foreign-money ban.
The bill also restricts federal collection and public disclosure of the identities of donors to tax-exempt organizations (defined as 501(c) organizations). Exceptions include the IRS acting under tax law, the Secretary of the Senate and Clerk of the House under the Lobbying Disclosure Act, the FEC when acting under its legal authority, disclosures ordered by a court or authorized by the organization. The bill makes willful unauthorized disclosure of donor identities by a federal officer or employee a felony punishable by up to $250,000, up to 5 years in prison, or both, and removal from office or employment on conviction.
The effective date section says most of the changes apply to donations or amounts provided on or after enactment; the reporting changes apply to reports filed on or after enactment; the donor privacy section applies to donations made on or after enactment.
No publicly available information on the bill's costs or budgetary effects in the provided text.
The bill's stated purpose is to prevent foreign interference in United States elections. Its provisions expand the foreign-money ban, add enforcement and reporting rules, and protect the privacy of donors to 501(c) organizations as described in the bill text.
No publicly available information.