FARM Act of 2021
Bill: H.R.5859 | Sponsor: Rep. Buck, Ken (R-CO)
Policy area: International Affairs

Summary:
Foreign Agents Registration Modernization Act of 2021 or the FARM Act of 2021
This bill modifies requirements related to the electronic database that contains the registrations that an agent of a foreign principal must file with the Department of Justice (DOJ).
Specifically, DOJ must establish and maintain the free and publicly accessible National Foreign Agents Database, which must make such foreign agent registrations searchable, sortable, and downloadable. The database must also make updated or filed registrations immediately available for public inspection. (Currently, DOJ is required maintain a database with these features, but only to the extent that the features are technically practicable.)
The database must also meet federal standards for making digital information accessible to individuals with disabilities.

To amend the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938 to require 
     registration statements filed under such Act to be filed in a 
structured data format which enables the statements to be digitized for 
purposes of the publicly available electronic database maintained 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.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Foreign Agents Registration 
Modernization Act of 2021'' or the ``FARM Act of 2021''.

SEC. 2. FORMAT FOR REGISTRATION STATEMENTS FILED UNDER FOREIGN AGENTS 
              REGISTRATION ACT OF 1938.

    (a) Requiring Registration Statements To Be in Structured Data 
Format.--Section 2(g) of the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938, 
as amended (22 U.S.C. 612(g)) is amended by striking ``in electronic 
form'' and inserting ``in an electronic, structured data format under 
which the statement or supplement shall be published in a publicly-
available, machine-processable digital format for purposes of the 
National Foreign Agents Database under section 6(d)''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall 
apply with respect to statements filed on or after the expiration of 
the 180-day period which begins on the date of the enactment of this 
Act.

SEC. 3. REQUIREMENTS FOR ELECTRONIC DATABASE OF REGISTRATION 
              STATEMENTS.

    (a) Requiring Database To Be Searchable and Sortable by Public; 
Designation of Database as ``National Foreign Agents Database''.--
Section 6(d)(1) of the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938, as 
amended (22 U.S.C. 616(d)(1)) is amended--
            (1) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking 
        ``to the extent technically practicable,'';
            (2) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking 
        ``an electronic database'' and inserting ``an electronic 
        database to be known as the `National Foreign Agents 
        Database'''; and
            (3) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``includes the 
        information'' and inserting ``includes in a digitized format 
        meeting digital accessibility standards as outlined in section 
        508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794d) the 
        information''.
    (b) Requiring Immediate Posting of Statements Upon Receipt.--
Section 6(d)(2) of such Act (22 U.S.C. 616(d)(2)) is amended by 
striking ``as soon as technically practicable'' and inserting 
``immediately''.
    (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall take 
effect upon the expiration of the 180-day period which begins on the 
date of the enactment of this Act.
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