I 

115TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 530 

To expose and deter unlawful and subversive foreign interference in elections 

for Federal office, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JANUARY 13, 2017 

Mr. ENGEL (for himself, Mr. CONNOLLY, Mr. SOTO, Mr. KEATING, Mr. 

SIRES, Ms. KELLY of Illinois, Ms. FRANKEL of Florida, Ms. NORTON, 

Mr. TED LIEU of California, Mr. DESAULNIER, Mr. CICILLINE, Mrs. 

WATSON COLEMAN, Ms. JACKSON LEE, Mrs. LAWRENCE, Mr. BRENDAN

F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania, Ms. SHEA-PORTER, Mr. CASTRO of Texas, 

Mr. ESPAILLAT, Mr. SHERMAN, Mr. SMITH of Washington, Mr. CONYERS, Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi, Ms. TITUS, Mr. BERA, Mr. 

DEUTCH, Mr. GARAMENDI, Mr. WELCH, Mr. MCGOVERN, Mr. SCHNEIDER, Mr. CROWLEY, Ms. MENG, Mr. LOWENTHAL, Mr. MEEKS, Ms. 

PLASKETT, Mr. CUMMINGS, Ms. MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM of New 

Mexico, Mr. CLAY, Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia, Mr. DELANEY, Mr. RUSH, 

Mr. PERLMUTTER, Ms. GABBARD, Mrs. TORRES, Ms. PINGREE, Mrs. 

LOWEY, Mr. HIGGINS of New York, Mr. COURTNEY, Ms. BASS, Mr. 

SUOZZI, Mr. NADLER, Mr. CRIST, Ms. ESTY, Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York, Mr. LYNCH, Mr. MOULTON, Mr. SCHIFF, Ms. CLARKE

of New York, Ms. WILSON of Florida, Ms. BONAMICI, Mr. HASTINGS, 

Mr. COHEN, Mrs. BUSTOS, Mr. KIND, Mr. QUIGLEY, and Ms. 

VELA ́ZQUEZ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 

Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on the 

Judiciary, and Financial Services, 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 expose and deter unlawful and subversive foreign interference in elections for Federal office, and for other 

purposes. 


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1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Safeguard our Elec5 tions and Combat Unlawful Interference in Our Democ6 racy Act’’ or the ‘‘SECURE Our Democracy Act’’. 

7 SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 

8 In this Act: 

9 (1) ADMITTED; ALIEN.—The terms ‘‘admitted’’ 

10 and ‘‘alien’’ have the meanings given such terms in 

11 section 101 of the Immigration and Nationality Act 

12 (8 U.S.C. 1101). 

13 (2) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMIT14 TEES.—The term ‘‘appropriate congressional com15 mittees’’ means— 

16 (A) in the House of Representatives— 

17 (i) the Committee on Foreign Affairs; 

18 (ii) the Committee on Homeland Se19 curity; 

20 (iii) the Committee on Financial Serv21 ices; 

22 (iv) the Committee on the Judiciary; 

23 and 

24 (v) the Permanent Select Committee 

25 on Intelligence; and 


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1 (B) in the Senate— 

2 (i) the Committee on Foreign Rela3 tions; 

4 (ii) the Committee on Homeland Se5 curity and Governmental Affairs; 

6 (iii) the Committee on Banking, 

7 Housing, and Urban Affairs; 

8 (iv) the Committee on the Judiciary; 

9 and 

10 (v) the Select Committee on Intel11 ligence. 

12 (3) FINANCIAL INSTITUTION.—The term ‘‘fi13 nancial institution’’ has the meaning given such 

14 term in section 5312 of title 31, United States Code. 

15 (4) FOREIGN PERSON.—The term ‘‘foreign per16 son’’ means— 

17 (A) a natural person who is not a United 

18 States person under paragraph (5)(A); or 

19 (B) a foreign entity or foreign government. 

20 (5) UNITED STATES PERSON.—The term 

21 ‘‘United States person’’ means— 

22 (A) a United States citizen or an alien law23 fully admitted for permanent residence to the 

24 United States; or 


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1 (B) an entity organized under the laws of 

2 the United States or of any jurisdiction within 

3 the United States, including a foreign branch of 

4 such an entity. 

5 SEC. 3. IDENTIFICATION OF FOREIGN PERSONS RESPON6 SIBLE FOR ACTIONS TO UNLAWFULLY AC7 CESS, DISRUPT, INFLUENCE, OR IN ANY WAY 

8 ALTER INFORMATION OR INFORMATION SYS9 TEMS RELATED TO UNITED STATES POLIT10 ICAL PARTIES OR ELECTIONS FOR FEDERAL 

11 OFFICE. 

12 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 120 days after the 

13 date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State 

14 shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees 

15 a list of each foreign person that the Secretary, in con16 sultation with the heads of other relevant Federal agen17 cies, determines— 

18 (1) was, at any time since January 1, 2015, in19 volved in actions to unlawfully access, disrupt, mis20 appropriate, influence, or in any way alter informa21 tion or information systems related to United States 

22 political parties, candidates in elections for Federal 

23 office, or the administration of elections for Federal 

24 office; or 


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1 (2) worked or acted as an agent or instrumen2 tality of or on behalf of or was otherwise associated 

3 with such a foreign person in a matter relating to 

4 an action described in paragraph (1). 

5 (b) UPDATES.—The Secretary of State shall submit 

6 to the appropriate congressional committees an update of 

7 the list required under subsection (a) as new information 

8 becomes available. 

9 (c) FORM.— 

10 (1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para11 graph (2), the list required under subsection (a) 

12 shall be submitted in unclassified form. 

13 (2) EXCEPTION.—The name of a foreign person 

14 to be included in the list required under subsection 

15 (a) may be submitted in a classified annex only if 

16 the Secretary of State— 

17 (A) determines that it is in the national se18 curity interests of the United States to do so; 

19 and 

20 (B) 15 days prior to submitting any such 

21 name in such a classified annex, provides to the 

22 appropriate congressional committees notice of, 

23 and a justification for, including or continuing 

24 to include any such foreign person in any such 

25 classified annex despite any publicly available 


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1 information indicating that such foreign person 

2 is described in paragraph (1) or (2) of such 

3 subsection. 

4 (3) PUBLIC AVAILABILITY; NONAPPLICABILITY

5 OF CONFIDENTIALITY REQUIREMENT WITH RESPECT

6 TO VISA RECORDS.—The unclassified portion of the 

7 list required under subsection (a) shall be made 

8 available to the public and published in the Federal 

9 Register, without regard to the requirements of sec10 tion 222(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act 

11 (8 U.S.C. 1202(f)) with respect to confidentiality of 

12 records pertaining to the issuance or refusal of visas 

13 or permits to enter the United States. 

14 SEC. 4. INADMISSIBILITY OF CERTAIN ALIENS. 

15 (a) INELIGIBILITY FOR VISAS.—An alien is ineligible 

16 to receive a visa to enter the United States and ineligible 

17 to be admitted to the United States if such alien is a for18 eign person on the list required under section 3(a). 

19 (b) CURRENT VISAS REVOKED.—The Secretary of 

20 State shall revoke, in accordance with section 221(i) of 

21 the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1201(i)), 

22 the visa or other documentation of any alien who is a for23 eign person on the list required under section 3(a) and 

24 who would therefore be ineligible to receive such a visa 

25 or documentation under subsection (a) of this section. 


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1 (c) APPLICABILITY TO FOREIGN ENTITIES AND FOR2 EIGN GOVERNMENTS.—Subsections (a) and (b) of this 

3 section shall apply to aliens who are officials of, agents 

4 or instrumentalities of, working or acting on behalf of, or 

5 otherwise associated with a foreign entity or foreign gov6 ernment that is a foreign person included on the list re7 quired under section 3(a) if such aliens are determined 

8 by the Secretary of State to have knowingly authorized, 

9 conspired to commit, been responsible for, engaged in, or 

10 otherwise assisted or facilitated the actions described in 

11 such section 3(a). 

12 (d) WAIVER FOR NATIONAL SECURITY INTERESTS.— 

13 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of State may 

14 waive the application of subsection (a) or (b) in the 

15 case of an alien if— 

16 (A) the Secretary determines that such a 

17 waiver— 

18 (i) is necessary to permit the United 

19 States to comply with the Agreement be20 tween the United Nations and the United 

21 States of America regarding the Head22 quarters of the United Nations, signed 

23 June 26, 1947, and entered into force No24 vember 21, 1947, or other applicable interVerDate Sep 11 2014 03:05 Jan 27, 2017 Jkt 069200 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H530.IH H530

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1 national obligations of the United States; 

2 or 

3 (ii) is in the national security interests 

4 of the United States; and 

5 (B) prior to granting such a waiver, the 

6 Secretary provides to the appropriate congres7 sional committees notice of, and a justification 

8 for, such waiver. 

9 (2) TIMING FOR CERTAIN WAIVERS.—Notifica10 tion under subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1) shall 

11 be made not later than 15 days prior to granting a 

12 waiver under such paragraph if the Secretary of 

13 State grants such waiver in the national security in14 terests of the United States in accordance with sub15 paragraph (A)(ii) of such paragraph. 

16 (e) REGULATORY AUTHORITY.—The Secretary of 

17 State shall prescribe such regulations as are necessary to 

18 carry out this section. 

19 SEC. 5. FINANCIAL MEASURES. 

20 (a) FREEZING OF ASSETS.— 

21 (1) IN GENERAL.—The President, acting 

22 through the Secretary of the Treasury, shall exercise 

23 all powers granted by the International Emergency 

24 Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) (ex25 cept that the requirements of section 202 of such 


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1 Act (50 U.S.C. 1701) shall not apply) to the extent 

2 necessary to freeze and prohibit all transactions in 

3 all property and interests in property of a foreign 

4 person that is on the list required under section 3(a) 

5 of this Act if such property or interests in property 

6 are in the United States, are or come within the 

7 United States, or are or come within the possession 

8 or control of a United States person. 

9 (2) APPLICABILITY TO FOREIGN ENTITIES AND

10 FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS.—Paragraph (1) shall 

11 apply to aliens who are officials of, agents or instru12 mentalities of, working or acting on behalf of, or 

13 otherwise associated with a foreign entity or foreign 

14 government that is a foreign person included on the 

15 list required under section 3(a) if such aliens are de16 termined by the President, acting through the Sec17 retary of the Treasury, to have knowingly author18 ized, conspired to commit, been responsible for, en19 gaged in, or otherwise assisted or facilitated the ac20 tions described in such section 3(a). 

21 (b) WAIVER FOR NATIONAL SECURITY INTERESTS.— 

22 The Secretary of the Treasury may waive the application 

23 of subsection (a) if the Secretary determines that such a 

24 waiver is in the national security interests of the United 

25 States. Not less than 15 days prior to granting such a 


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1 waiver, the Secretary shall provide to the appropriate con2 gressional committees notice of, and a justification for, 

3 such waiver. 

4 (c) ENFORCEMENT.— 

5 (1) PENALTIES.—A foreign person that vio6 lates, attempts to violate, conspires to violate, or 

7 causes a violation of this section or any regulation, 

8 license, or order issued to carry out this section shall 

9 be subject to the penalties specified in subsections 

10 (b) and (c) of section 206 of the International 

11 Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1705) 

12 to the same extent as a person that commits an un13 lawful act described in subsection (a) of such sec14 tion. 

15 (2) APPLICABILITY TO FOREIGN ENTITIES AND

16 FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS.—Paragraph (1) shall 

17 apply to aliens who are officials of, agents or instru18 mentalities of, working or acting on behalf of, or 

19 otherwise associated with a foreign entity or foreign 

20 government that is a foreign person included on the 

21 list required under section 3(a) if such aliens are de22 termined by the President, acting through the Sec23 retary of the Treasury, to have knowingly author24 ized, conspired to commit, been responsible for, enVerDate Sep 11 2014 03:05 Jan 27, 2017 Jkt 069200 PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H530.IH H530

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1 gaged in, or otherwise assisted or facilitated the ac2 tions described in such section 3(a). 

3 (3) REQUIREMENTS FOR FINANCIAL INSTITU4 TIONS.—Not later than 120 days after the date of 

5 the enactment of this Act, the President, acting 

6 through the Secretary of the Treasury, shall pre7 scribe or amend regulations as needed to require 

8 each financial institution that is a United States 

9 person and has within its possession or control as10 sets that are property or interests in property of a 

11 foreign person that is on the list required under sec12 tion 3(a) if such property or interests in property 

13 are in the United States, are or come within the 

14 United States, or are or come within the possession 

15 or control of a United States person to certify to the 

16 Secretary that, to the best of the knowledge of such 

17 financial institution, such financial institution has 

18 frozen all assets within the possession or control of 

19 such financial institution that are required to be fro20 zen pursuant to subsection (a). 

21 (d) REGULATORY AUTHORITY.—The President, act22 ing through the Secretary of the Treasury, shall issue such 

23 regulations, licenses, and orders as are necessary to carry 

24 out this section. 


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1 SEC. 6. REPORTS TO CONGRESS. 

2 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of State, in con3 sultation with the heads of other relevant Federal agen4 cies, shall submit to the appropriate congressional commit5 tees a report on the actions taken to carry out this Act, 

6 including— 

7 (1) a description of each foreign person on the 

8 list required under section 3(a); 

9 (2) the dates on which such foreign persons 

10 were added to such list; and 

11 (3) a description of the actions described in 

12 such section that were undertaken by each such for13 eign person. 

14 (b) TIMING.—The Secretary of State shall submit the 

15 first report required under this section not later than one 

16 year after the date of the enactment of this Act. The Sec17 retary shall submit subsequent reports under this section 

18 not later than 60 days after the date of each regularly 

19 scheduled general election for Federal office, beginning 

20 with the election held in 2018. 

21 (c) FORM.—Each report required under subsection 

22 (a) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may in23 clude a classified annex if such is in the national security 

24 interests of the United States. If a classified annex is in25 cluded in any such report, the Secretary of State shall inVerDate Sep 11 2014 03:05 Jan 27, 2017 Jkt 069200 PO 00000 Frm 00012 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H530.IH H530

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1 clude in such report a specific national security justifica2 tion for such classified annex. 

Æ 


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