No official summary available for this bill.
[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9393 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
118th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 9393
To amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to treat certain
foreign-owned corporations and business organizations as foreign
nationals for purposes of the ban on campaign activity, to prohibit
foreign-affiliated section 501(c)(4) organizations from making
contributions to super PACs or disbursing funds for independent
expenditures or electioneering communications, to amend the Foreign
Agents Registration Act of 1938 to reform the procedures for the
registration of agents of foreign principals under such Act, and for
other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
August 20, 2024
Ms. Porter (for herself and Ms. Norton) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition
to the Committee on House Administration, for a period to be
subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration
of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee
concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to treat certain
foreign-owned corporations and business organizations as foreign
nationals for purposes of the ban on campaign activity, to prohibit
foreign-affiliated section 501(c)(4) organizations from making
contributions to super PACs or disbursing funds for independent
expenditures or electioneering communications, to amend the Foreign
Agents Registration Act of 1938 to reform the procedures for the
registration of agents of foreign principals under such Act, and for
other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Foreign Political
Influence Elimination Act of 2024''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act is as
follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
TITLE I--RESTRICT FOREIGN AND DARK MONEY IN ELECTIONS
Sec. 101. Treatment of certain foreign-owned corporations and
associations as foreign nationals for
purposes of ban on campaign activity.
Sec. 102. Prohibiting foreign-affiliated section 501(c) organizations
from making certain election-related
disbursements.
Sec. 103. Activities subject to ban.
Sec. 104. Prohibiting acceptance of contributions from foreign agents.
Sec. 105. Effective date.
TITLE II--REFORM OF FOREIGN AGENTS REGISTRATION ACT OF 1938
Sec. 201. Repealing exemption from registration under Foreign Agents
Registration Act of 1938 for persons filing
disclosure reports under Lobbying
Disclosure Act of 1995.
Sec. 202. Conditions for exemption for persons providing legal
representation.
Sec. 203. Treatment of informational materials.
Sec. 204. Foreign agents registration civil enforcement.
Sec. 205. Authorizing imposition and collection of registration fees.
Sec. 206. Establishment of FARA investigation and enforcement unit
within Department of Justice.
Sec. 207. Comprehensive strategy to improve enforcement and
administration.
Sec. 208. Analysis by Government Accountability Office.
Sec. 209. Definition.
Sec. 210. Effective date.
TITLE I--RESTRICT FOREIGN AND DARK MONEY IN ELECTIONS
SEC. 101. TREATMENT OF CERTAIN FOREIGN-OWNED CORPORATIONS AND
ASSOCIATIONS AS FOREIGN NATIONALS FOR PURPOSES OF BAN ON
CAMPAIGN ACTIVITY.
Section 319(b) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (52
U.S.C. 30121(b)) is amended to read as follows:
``(b) Definition.--
``(1) In general.--As used in this section, the term
`foreign national' means--
``(A) an individual who is not a citizen of the
United States or a national of the United States, as
defined in section 101(a)(22) of the Immigration and
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(22)), and who is not
lawfully admitted for permanent residence, as defined
by section 101(a)(20) of such Act (8 U.S.C.
1101(a)(20);
``(B) a person outside of the United States, unless
it is established that such person is an individual who
is a citizen of the United States, or that such person
is not an individual and is organized under or created
by the laws of the United States or of any State or
other place subject to the jurisdiction of the United
States and has its principal place of business within
the United States;
``(C) a government of a foreign country or an
official of the government of a foreign country, as
defined in section 1(e) of the Foreign Agents
Registration Act of 1938 (22 U.S.C. 611(e)), a foreign
political party, as defined in section 1(f) of such Act
(22 U.S.C. 611(f)), or a corporation principally owned
or controlled by the government of a foreign country or
an official of the government of a foreign country,
including a separate segregated fund of such a
corporation under section 316;
``(D) a corporation (other than a corporation
described in subparagraph (C)), partnership,
association, organization, or other combination of
persons organized under the laws of or having its
principal place of business in a foreign country,
including a separate segregated fund of such a
corporation under section 316;
``(E) a corporation, partnership, association, or
other business organization or entity in which one or
more foreign nationals described in subparagraph (C)
holds, owns, controls, or otherwise has directly or
indirectly acquired beneficial ownership of equity or
voting shares in an aggregate amount equal to or
greater than 5 percent of total equity or outstanding
voting shares (as determined by excluding any equity or
shares owned by a mutual fund), including a separate
segregated fund of such a corporation under section
316; or
``(F) a corporation, partnership, association, or
other business organization or entity in which one or
more foreign nationals (other than those described in
subparagraph (C)) holds, owns, controls, or otherwise
has directly or indirectly acquired beneficial
ownership of equity or voting shares in an aggregate
amount equal to or greater than 20 percent of total
equity or outstanding voting shares (as determined by
excluding any equity or shares owned by a mutual fund),
including a separate segregated fund of such a
corporation.
``(2) Use of quarterly sec reports.--In the case of a
corporation or other entity which is required to file quarterly
reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission under
section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C.
78m), the determination as to whether a corporation or entity
is described in subparagraph (D), (E), or (F) shall be based on
the most recent such report.''.
SEC. 102. PROHIBITING FOREIGN-AFFILIATED SECTION 501(C) ORGANIZATIONS
FROM MAKING CERTAIN ELECTION-RELATED DISBURSEMENTS.
Title III of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (52 U.S.C.
30101 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new
section:
``SEC. 325. PROHIBITION ON CERTAIN ELECTION-RELATED DISBURSEMENTS BY
FOREIGN-AFFILIATED SECTION 501(C) ORGANIZATIONS.
``(a) Prohibition.--It is unlawful for a foreign-affiliated section
501(c) organization to make an election-related disbursement described
in subsection (b).
``(b) Election-Related Disbursement Described.--An election-related
disbursement described in this subsection is any of the following:
``(1) A contribution to a super PAC.
``(2) An independent expenditure.
``(3) The disbursement of funds for the dissemination of an
electioneering communication.
``(4) A covered transfer.
``(c) Definition of Foreign-Affiliated Section 501(c)
Organization.--In this section, a `foreign-affiliated section 501(c)
organization' is a section 501(c) organization with respect to which--
``(1) the amount of contributions provided to the
organization by foreign nationals described in subparagraph (C)
of section 319(b)(1) was equal to or greater than 5 percent of
the gross receipts of the organization, as determined on the
basis of the most recent taxable year for which information on
the gross receipts of the organization is available or, in the
case of an organization which is required to file quarterly
reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission under
section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C.
78m), the most recent such report, or
``(2) the amount of contributions provided to the
organization by all foreign nationals described in section
319(b) was equal to or greater than 20 percent of the gross
receipts of the organization, as determined on the basis of the
most recent taxable year for which information on the gross
receipts of the organization is available or, in the case of an
organization which is required to file quarterly reports with
the Securities and Exchange Commission under section 13 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78m), the most
recent such report.
``(d) Definition of Covered Transfer.--
``(1) In general.--In this section, the term `covered
transfer' means any transfer or payment of funds by a foreign-
affiliated section 501(c) organization to another person if the
foreign-affiliated section 501(c) organization--
``(A) designates, requests, or suggests that the
amounts be used for--
``(i) election-related disbursements (other
than covered transfers); or
``(ii) making a transfer to another person
for the purpose of making or paying for such
election-related disbursements;
``(B) made such transfer or payment in response to
a solicitation or other request for a donation or
payment for--
``(i) the making of or paying for election-
related disbursements (other than covered
transfers); or
``(ii) making a transfer to another person
for the purpose of making or paying for such
election-related disbursements;
``(C) engaged in discussions with the recipient of
the transfer or payment regarding--
``(i) the making of or paying for election-
related disbursements (other than covered
transfers); or
``(ii) donating or transferring any amount
of such transfer or payment to another person
for the purpose of making or paying for such
election-related disbursements; or
``(D) knew or had reason to know that the person
receiving the transfer or payment would make election-
related disbursements in an aggregate amount of
$123,900 or more during the 2-year period beginning on
the date of the transfer or payment.
``(2) Exclusions.--The term `covered transfer' does not
include any of the following:
``(A) A disbursement made by a foreign-affiliated
section 501(c) organization in a commercial transaction
in the ordinary course of any trade or business
conducted by the organization or in the form of
investments made by the organization.
``(B) A disbursement made by a foreign-affiliated
section 501(c) organization if--
``(i) the organization prohibited, in
writing, the use of such disbursement for
election-related disbursements; and
``(ii) the recipient of the disbursement
agreed to follow the prohibition and deposited
the disbursement in an account which is
segregated from an election-related
disbursement segregated fund and any other
account used to make election-related
disbursements.
``(3) Special rule regarding transfers among affiliates.--
``(A) Special rule.--A transfer of an amount by one
foreign-affiliated section 501(c) organization to
another foreign-affiliated section 501(c) organization
which is treated as a transfer between affiliates under
subparagraph (C) shall be considered a covered transfer
by the organization which transfers the amount only if
the aggregate amount transferred during the year by
such organization to that same organization is equal to
or greater than $123,900.
``(B) Determination of amount of certain payments
among affiliates.--In determining the amount of a
transfer between affiliates for purposes of
subparagraph (A), to the extent that the transfer
consists of funds attributable to dues, fees, or
assessments which are paid by individuals on a regular,
periodic basis in accordance with a per-individual
calculation which is made on a regular basis, the
transfer shall be attributed to the individuals paying
the dues, fees, or assessments and shall not be
attributed to the foreign-affiliated section 501(c)
organization.
``(C) Description of transfers between
affiliates.--A transfer of amounts from one foreign-
affiliated section 501(c) organization to another
foreign-affiliated section 501(c) organization shall be
treated as a transfer between affiliates if--
``(i) one of the organizations is an
affiliate of the other organization; or
``(ii) each of the organizations is an
affiliate of the same organization,
except that the transfer shall not be treated as a
transfer between affiliates if one of the organizations
is established for the purpose of making election-
related disbursements.
``(D) Determination of affiliate status.--For
purposes of subparagraph (C), a foreign-affiliated
section 501(c) organization is an affiliate of another
foreign-affiliated section 501(c) organization if--
``(i) the governing instrument of the
organization requires it to be bound by
decisions of the other organization;
``(ii) the governing board of the
organization includes persons who are
specifically designated representatives of the
other organization or are members of the
governing board, officers, or paid executive
staff members of the other organization, or
whose service on the governing board is
contingent upon the approval of the other
organization; or
``(iii) the organization is chartered by
the other organization.
``(e) Other Definitions.--In this section--
``(1) the term `electioneering communication' has the
meaning given such term in section 304(f)(3);
``(2) the term `section 501(c) organization' means an
organization described in section 501(c) of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from taxation under section
501(a) of such Code; and
``(3) term `super PAC' means a political committee which
accepts donations or contributions that do not comply with the
limitations and prohibitions of this Act (or has an account
which is established for the purpose of accepting such
donations or contributions) and which makes only independent
expenditures (or has an account which is established for the
purpose of making only independent expenditures).''.
SEC. 103. ACTIVITIES SUBJECT TO BAN.
(a) Contributions and Donations in Connection With Ballot
Initiatives and Referenda and Recall Elections.--Section 319(a)(1)(A)
of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (52 U.S.C. 30121(a)(1)(A))
is amended by striking ``election;'' and inserting the following:
``election, including a State or local ballot initiative or referendum
or recall election;''.
(b) Coverage of Certain Election-Related Activities.--Section 319
of such Act (52 U.S.C. 30121) is amended by adding at the end the
following new subsection:
``(c) A foreign national shall not direct, dictate, control, or
directly or indirectly participate in the decision-making process of
any person, such as a corporation, labor organization, political
committee, or political organization with regard to such person's
Federal or non-Federal election-related activities, such as decisions
concerning the making of contributions, donations, expenditures, or
disbursements in connection with elections for any Federal, State, or
local office, including a State or local ballot initiative or
referendum or recall election, or decisions concerning the
administration of a political committee.''.
SEC. 104. PROHIBITING ACCEPTANCE OF CONTRIBUTIONS FROM FOREIGN AGENTS.
Section 315 of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (52 U.S.C.
30116) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(k) Prohibiting Acceptance of Contributions From Foreign
Agents.--
``(1) Direct contributions.--A political committee may not
accept any contribution from an individual who, at the time the
date the individual makes the contribution, is registered as
the agent of a foreign principal under the Foreign Agents
Registration Act of 1938 (22 U.S.C. 611 et seq.).
``(2) Bundled contributions.--
``(A) Prohibition.--A political committee may not
accept any bundled contribution which is provided by an
individual who, at the time the individual provides the
bundled contribution, is registered as the agent of a
foreign principal under the Foreign Agents Registration
Act of 1938 (22 U.S.C. 611 et seq.).
``(B) Definition.--In this paragraph, the term
`bundled contribution' means, with respect to an
individual described in subparagraph (A), a
contribution which is--
``(i) forwarded from the contributor or
contributors to the committee by the
individual; or
``(ii) received by the committee from a
contributor or contributors, but credited by
the committee or candidate involved (or, in the
case of a leadership PAC described in
subparagraph (B) of subsection (j)(8), by the
individual referred to in such subparagraph) to
the individual through records, designations,
or other means of recognizing that a certain
amount of money has been raised by the
individual.''.
SEC. 105. EFFECTIVE DATE.
The amendments made by this title shall apply with respect to
elections occurring after January 2025.
TITLE II--REFORM OF FOREIGN AGENTS REGISTRATION ACT OF 1938
SEC. 201. REPEALING EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER FOREIGN AGENTS
REGISTRATION ACT OF 1938 FOR PERSONS FILING DISCLOSURE
REPORTS UNDER LOBBYING DISCLOSURE ACT OF 1995.
(a) Repeal of Exemption.--Section 3 of the Foreign Agents
Registration Act of 1938 (22 U.S.C. 613) is amended by striking
subsection (h).
(b) Timing of Filing of Registration Statements.--Section 2 of the
Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938 (22 U.S.C. 612) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a), in the matter preceding paragraph
(1), in the fourth sentence, by striking ``The registration
statement shall include'' and inserting ``Except as provided in
subsection (h), the registration statement shall include''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(h) Timing for Filing of Statements by Persons Registered Under
Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995.--In the case of an agent of a person
or an entity described in section 1(b) who has registered under the
Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.), after the
agent files the first registration required under subsection (a) in
connection with the agent's representation of such person or entity,
the agent shall file all subsequent statements required under this
section at the same time, and in the same frequency, as the reports
filed with the Clerk of the House of Representatives or the Secretary
of the Senate (as the case may be) under section 5 of the Lobbying
Disclosure Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1604) in connection with the agent's
representation of such person or entity.''.
SEC. 202. CONDITIONS FOR EXEMPTION FOR PERSONS PROVIDING LEGAL
REPRESENTATION.
Section 3(g) of the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938 (22
U.S.C. 613(g)) is amended by adding at the end the following: ``A
person may be exempt under this subsection only if the person files
with the Attorney General a request for such exemption and the Attorney
General approves the request.''.
SEC. 203. TREATMENT OF INFORMATIONAL MATERIALS.
(a) Definition.--Section 1 of the Foreign Agents Registration Act
of 1938 (22 U.S.C. 611) is amended--
(1) in subsection (c), in the matter preceding paragraph
(1), by striking ``Expect'' and inserting ``Except''; and
(2) by inserting after subsection (i) the following:
``(j) The term `informational materials' means any oral, visual,
graphic, written, or pictorial information or matter of any kind,
including matter published by means of advertising, books, periodicals,
newspapers, lectures, broadcasts, motion pictures, social media, or any
means or instrumentality of interstate or foreign commerce or
otherwise.''.
(b) Conforming Amendment Relating to Filing of Informational
Materials With Attorney General.--Section 4(a) of such Act (22 U.S.C.
614(a)) is amended by striking ``or foreign commerce'' and inserting
``or foreign commerce, including electronic mail and social media,''.
(c) Waiver of Filing Requirement for Unrelated Materials.--Section
4(a) of such Act (22 U.S.C. 614(a)) is amended--
(1) by striking ``Every person'' and inserting ``(1) Every
person''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply with respect to any
informational material which is disseminated by an agent of a foreign
principal as part of an activity that is exempt from registration under
this Act, or as part of an activity which by itself would not require
registration under this Act.''.
(d) Method and Form of Disclaimer for Materials Posted Online.--
Section 4(b) of such Act (22 U.S.C. 614(b)) is amended--
(1) by striking ``(b) It shall be unlawful'' and inserting
``(b)(1) It shall be unlawful''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(2) In the case of informational materials for or in the
interests of a foreign principal which are transmitted or caused to be
transmitted by an agent of a foreign principal by posting on an online
platform, the agent shall ensure that the conspicuous statement
required to be placed in such materials under this subsection is placed
directly with the material posted on the platform and is not accessible
only through a hyperlink or other reference to another source.
``(3) If the Attorney General determines that the application of
paragraph (2) to materials posted on an online platform is not feasible
because the length of the conspicuous statement required to be placed
in materials under this subsection makes the inclusion of the entire
statement incompatible with the posting of the materials on that
platform, an agent may meet the requirements of paragraph (2) by
ensuring that an abbreviated version of the statement, stating that the
materials are distributed by a foreign agent on behalf of a clearly
identified foreign principal, is placed directly with the material
posted on the platform.
``(4)(A) For purposes of this subsection, subject to subparagraph
(B), the term `online platform' means any public-facing website, web
application, or digital application (including a social network, ad
network, or search engine) which--
``(i)(I) sells qualified political advertisements; and
``(II) has 50,000,000 or more unique monthly United States
visitors or users for a majority of months during the preceding
12 months; or
``(ii) is a third-party advertising vendor that has
50,000,000 or more unique monthly United States visitors in the
aggregate on any advertisement space that it has sold or bought
for a majority of months during the preceding 12 months, as
measured by an independent digital ratings service accredited
by the Media Ratings Council (or its successor).
``(B) Such term shall not include any online platform that is a
distribution facility of any broadcasting station or newspaper,
magazine, blog, publication, or periodical.
``(C) For purposes of this subsection, the term `third-party
advertising vendor' includes any third-party advertising vendor
network, advertising agency, advertiser, or third-party advertisement
serving company that buys and sells advertisement space on behalf of
unaffiliated third-party websites, search engines, digital
applications, or social media sites.''.
SEC. 204. FOREIGN AGENTS REGISTRATION CIVIL ENFORCEMENT.
Section 8 of the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938 (22 U.S.C.
618) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(i) Civil Enforcement.--
``(1) Civil penalties.--
``(A) Registration statements.--
``(i) In general.--Any person who is
required to register under this Act and fails
to file a timely or complete registration
statement required under section 2(a) shall be
subject to a civil fine of not more than
$10,000 for each violation, without regard to
the state of mind of the person.
``(ii) No fines paid by foreign
principals.--If a person is subject to a civil
fine under clause (i), the civil fine may not
be paid, directly or indirectly, by a foreign
principal.
``(B) Supplements.--Any person who is required to
file a supplement to a registration statement under
section 2(b) and fails to file a timely or complete
supplement required under that section shall be subject
to a civil fine of not more than $1,000 for each
violation, without regard to the state of mind of the
person.
``(C) Failure to remedy deficient filings.--Any
person who is required to file a registration statement
under this Act, receives notice under subsection (g)
that the registration statement filed by the person is
deficient, and knowingly fails to remedy the deficiency
within 60 days after receiving the notice shall, upon
proof by a preponderance of the evidence of such
knowing failure to remedy the deficiency, be subject to
a civil fine of not more than $200,000, depending on
the extent and gravity of the violation.
``(D) Other violations.--Any person who knowingly
fails to comply with any other provision of this Act
shall, upon proof by a preponderance of the evidence of
such knowing failure to comply, be subject to a civil
fine of not more than $200,000, depending on the extent
and gravity of the violation.
``(2) Use of fines.--All fines collected under this
subsection shall be used to defray the cost of enforcing this
Act.''.
SEC. 205. AUTHORIZING IMPOSITION AND COLLECTION OF REGISTRATION FEES.
(a) Authorization.--The Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938 (22
U.S.C. 611 et seq.), as amended by section 205, is further amended by
adding at the end the following new section:
``SEC. 16. FEES.
``The Attorney General shall establish and collect a registration
fee, as part of the initial filing requirement and at no other time, to
help defray the expenses of the Registration Unit, and shall credit
such fees to this appropriation, to remain available until expended.''.
(b) Conforming Amendment To Repeal Existing Authority.--The
Department of Justice and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1993
(title I of Public Law 102-395) is amended, under the heading
``salaries and expenses, general legal activities'', by striking ``In
addition, notwithstanding 31 U.S.C. 3302, for fiscal year 1993 and
thereafter, the Attorney General shall establish and collect fees to
recover necessary expenses of the Registration Unit (to include
salaries, supplies, equipment and training) pursuant to the Foreign
Agents Registration Act, and shall credit such fees to this
appropriation, to remain available until expended.''.
SEC. 206. ESTABLISHMENT OF FARA INVESTIGATION AND ENFORCEMENT UNIT
WITHIN DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.
Section 8 of the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938, as
amended (22 U.S.C. 618), as amended by section 206, is further amended
by adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(j) Dedicated Enforcement Unit.--
``(1) Establishment.--Not later than 180 days after the
date of enactment of this subsection, the Attorney General
shall establish a unit within the counterespionage section of
the National Security Division of the Department of Justice
with responsibility for the enforcement of this Act.
``(2) Powers.--The unit established under this subsection
is authorized to--
``(A) take appropriate legal action against
individuals suspected of violating this Act; and
``(B) coordinate any such legal action with the
United States Attorney for the relevant jurisdiction.
``(3) Consultation.--In operating the unit established
under this subsection, the Attorney General shall, as
appropriate, consult with the Director of National
Intelligence, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the
Secretary of State.
``(4) Authorization of appropriations.--There are
authorized to be appropriated to carry out the activities of
the unit established under this subsection $10,000,000 for
fiscal year 2024 and each succeeding fiscal year.''.
SEC. 207. COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGY TO IMPROVE ENFORCEMENT AND
ADMINISTRATION.
(a) Implementation of Strategy.--Not later than 120 days after the
date of the enactment of this Act, the Attorney General shall
promulgate final regulations for the implementation of a comprehensive
strategy to improve the enforcement and administration of the Foreign
Agents Registration Act of 1938 (22 U.S.C. 611 et seq.) that addresses
the following issues:
(1) The coordination and integration of the work of the
agencies that perform investigations of alleged violations of
the Act and bring actions (including criminal prosecutions) to
enforce the Act with the overall national security efforts of
the Department of Justice.
(2) An assessment of the appropriateness of the exemptions
provided under the Act that permit persons who represent the
interests of foreign principals to avoid registering under the
Act.
(3) A formal cost-benefit analysis of the appropriateness
of the fee structure under the Act.
(4) An assessment of the value of making advisory opinions
under the Act available in whole as an informational resource.
(b) Review by Inspector General.--
(1) Review.--The Inspector General of the Department of
Justice shall carry out a review of the extent to which the
Attorney General has implemented the comprehensive strategy
described in subsection (a).
(2) Report to congress.--The Inspector General of the
Department of Justice shall submit a report to the appropriate
committees of Congress on the results of the review carried out
under paragraph (1) not later than 1 year after the date upon
which the comprehensive strategy described in subsection (a) is
implemented by the Attorney General.
(c) Ensuring Electronic Access to Reports Through Searchable
Website.--
(1) Report to congress.--The Attorney General, in
consultation with the Assistant Attorney General for National
Security, shall include in the second annual report submitted
to the appropriate committees of Congress under subsection (c)
a detailed description of methods to ensure that reports filed
under the Foreign Agents Registration Act are filed
electronically in a digitized format which will enable the
Foreign Agents Registration Unit website database to be fully
searchable, machine-readable, sortable, and downloadable.
(2) Implementation.--After submitting the report containing
the information described in paragraph (1), the Attorney
General shall implement the methods described in the report.
SEC. 208. ANALYSIS BY GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE.
Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the
Comptroller General of the United States shall--
(1) carry out an analysis of the effectiveness of the
enforcement and administration of the Foreign Agents
Registration Act of 1938 (22 U.S.C. 611 et seq.), including the
extent to which the amendments made by this title have improved
the enforcement and administration of such Act, and taking into
account the comprehensive strategy developed and implemented
under section 207; and
(2) submit the analysis to the Attorney General, the
Inspector General of the Department of Justice, and the
appropriate committees of Congress.
SEC. 209. DEFINITION.
In this title, the term ``appropriate committees of Congress''
means--
(1) the Committees on the Judiciary and Foreign Relations
of the Senate; and
(2) the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of
Representatives.
SEC. 210. EFFECTIVE DATE.
The amendments made by this title shall take effect 180 days after
the date of the enactment of this Act.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on House Administration, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on House Administration, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
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