Foreign Political Influence Elimination Act of 2021
Bill: H.R.4847 | Sponsor: Rep. Porter, Katie (D-CA)
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics

Summary:
Foreign Political Influence Elimination Act of 2021
This bill expands the prohibition on campaign spending by foreign nationals. It also revises foreign-agent disclosure requirements.
Specifically, the bill expands the ban on campaign spending by foreign nationals to include corporations that are subject to specified levels of ownership or control by foreign nationals or governments.
The bill prohibits certain types of tax-exempt, foreign-affiliated organizations from taking certain campaign-related actions, such as contributing to a super political action committee.
Further, the bill prohibits foreign nationals from (1) participating in the decision-making process regarding an election expenditure, or (2) making contributions in connection with state or local ballot initiatives or referenda.
The bill prohibits political committees from accepting direct or bundled contributions from registered foreign agents.
Next, the bill makes various changes to the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938 (FARA), such as by (1) repealing an exemption from FARA requirements for individuals registered as lobbyists, and (2) expanding filing and labeling requirements related to the transmission of informational materials in the interests of a foreign principal.
In addition, the bill provides the Department of Justice (DOJ) with a mechanism to demand evidence for investigating compliance with FARA.
Further, the bill provides for various civil penalties for failing to meet agent registration requirements. The foreign principal of a penalized agent may not pay the imposed fines.
DOJ must establish a unit for the investigation and enforcement of FARA.
The Government Accountability Office must analyze the effectiveness of FARA enforcement.

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 2021''.
    (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)(4) 
                            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. Filing and labeling of political propaganda.
Sec. 204. Treatment of informational materials.
Sec. 205. Promoting enforcement of registration requirements for 
                            foreign agents by authorizing Attorney 
                            General to issue civil investigative 
                            demands.
Sec. 206. Foreign agents registration civil enforcement.
Sec. 207. Authorizing imposition and collection of registration fees.
Sec. 208. Establishment of FARA investigation and enforcement unit 
                            within Department of Justice.
Sec. 209. Comprehensive strategy to improve enforcement and 
                            administration.
Sec. 210. Analysis by Government Accountability Office.
Sec. 211. Definition.
Sec. 212. 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 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 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 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 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)(4) 
              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)(4) ORGANIZATIONS.

    ``(a) Prohibition.--It is unlawful for a foreign-affiliated section 
501(c)(4) 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.
    ``(c) Definition of Foreign-Affiliated Section 501(c)(4) 
Organization.--In this section, a `foreign-affiliated section 501(c)(4) 
organization' is a section 501(c)(4) 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) 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)(4) organization' means an 
        organization described in section 501(c)(4) 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.--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;''.
    (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 decisionmaking process of any 
person with regard to such person's Federal or non-Federal election-
related activities, such as decisions concerning the making of 
contributions or expenditures in connection with elections for any 
local, State, or Federal office 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 2021.

      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 
described in section 1(b)(2) or an entity described in section 1(b)(3) 
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. FILING AND LABELING OF POLITICAL PROPAGANDA.

    Section 4(a) of the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938 (22 
U.S.C. 614(a)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``or circulated among two or more persons'' 
        and inserting ``to any other person''; and
            (2) by striking the period at the end and inserting the 
        following: ``, together with the name of each original 
        recipient of the materials and the date on which the materials 
        were transmitted.''.

SEC. 204. 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; 
Preservation of Disclaimers by Certain Social Media Platforms.--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) An online platform on which informational materials described 
in paragraph (2) are posted shall ensure that the conspicuous statement 
described in such paragraph (or, if applicable, the abbreviated 
statement described in paragraph (3)) is maintained with such materials 
at all times, including after the material is shared in a social media 
post on the platform, but only if the platform has 50,000,000 or more 
unique monthly United States visitors or users for a majority of months 
during the 12 months preceding the dissemination of the materials.''.

SEC. 205. PROMOTING ENFORCEMENT OF REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS FOR 
              FOREIGN AGENTS BY AUTHORIZING ATTORNEY GENERAL TO ISSUE 
              CIVIL INVESTIGATIVE DEMANDS.

    The Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938 (22 U.S.C. 611 et seq.) 
is amended by redesignating sections 12 through 14 as sections 13 
through 15 and by inserting after section 11 the following new section:

``SEC. 12. CIVIL INVESTIGATIVE DEMANDS.

    ``(a) Authority of Attorney General.--
            ``(1) Authority described.--Whenever the Attorney General 
        or the Attorney General's designee has reason to believe that 
        any person may be in possession, custody, or control of any 
        documentary material, or may have any information, relevant to 
        an investigation under this Act, the Attorney General or 
        designee may, prior to the institution of a civil or criminal 
        proceeding by the United States thereon, issue in writing, and 
        cause to be served upon such person, a civil investigative 
        demand requiring such person to produce such documentary 
        material for inspection and copying or reproduction, to answer 
        in writing written interrogatories with respect to such 
        documentary material or information, to give oral testimony 
        concerning such documentary material or information, or to 
        furnish any combination of such material, answers, or 
        testimony. Whenever a civil investigative demand is an express 
        demand for any product of discovery, the Attorney General or 
        designee shall cause to be served, in any manner authorized by 
        this section, a copy of such demand upon the person from whom 
        the discovery was obtained and notify the person to whom such 
        demand is issued of the date on which such copy was served.
            ``(2) Limiting individuals who may serve as designees.--The 
        Attorney General may not designate any individual other than 
        the Assistant Attorney General for National Security or a 
        Deputy Attorney General to carry out the authority provided 
        under this section.
    ``(b) Contents and Deadlines.--
            ``(1) In general.--Each demand issued under subsection (a) 
        shall--
                    ``(A) state the nature of the conduct constituting 
                the alleged violation of this Act which is under 
                investigation and the provision of this Act alleged to 
                be violated;
                    ``(B) if such demand is for the production of 
                documentary material--
                            ``(i) describe each class of documentary 
                        material to be produced with such definiteness 
                        and certainty as to permit such material to be 
                        fairly identified;
                            ``(ii) prescribe a return date for each 
                        such class which will provide a reasonable 
                        period of time within which the material so 
                        demanded may be assembled and made available 
                        for inspection and copying or reproduction; and
                            ``(iii) identify the custodian to whom such 
                        material shall be made available;
                    ``(C) if such demand is for answers to written 
                interrogatories--
                            ``(i) set forth with specificity the 
                        written interrogatories to be answered;
                            ``(ii) prescribe dates at which time 
                        answers to written interrogatories shall be 
                        submitted; and
                            ``(iii) identify the custodian to whom such 
                        answers shall be submitted; and
                    ``(D) if such demand is for the giving of oral 
                testimony--
                            ``(i) prescribe a date, time, and place at 
                        which oral testimony shall be commenced;
                            ``(ii) identify an investigator who shall 
                        conduct the examination and the custodian to 
                        whom the transcript of such examination shall 
                        be submitted;
                            ``(iii) specify that such attendance and 
                        testimony are necessary to the conduct of the 
                        investigation;
                            ``(iv) notify the person receiving the 
                        demand of the right to be accompanied by an 
                        attorney and any other representative; and
                            ``(v) describe the general purpose for 
                        which the demand is being issued and the 
                        general nature of the testimony, including the 
                        primary areas of inquiry, which will be taken 
                        pursuant to the demand.
            ``(2) Product of discovery.--Any civil investigative demand 
        issued under this section which is an express demand for any 
        product of discovery shall not be returned or returnable until 
        20 days after a copy of such demand has been served upon the 
        person from whom the discovery was obtained.
            ``(3) Date.--The date prescribed for the commencement of 
        oral testimony pursuant to a civil investigative demand issued 
        under subsection (a) shall be a date which is not less than 7 
        days after the date on which demand is received, unless the 
        Attorney General or the Attorney General's designee determines 
        that exceptional circumstances are present which warrant the 
        commencement of such testimony within a lesser period of time.
            ``(4) Notification.--The Attorney General shall not 
        authorize the issuance under this section of more than one 
        civil investigative demand for oral testimony by the same 
        person unless the person requests otherwise or unless the 
        Attorney General, after investigation, notifies that person in 
        writing that an additional demand for oral testimony is 
        necessary.
    ``(c) Protected Material or Information.--
            ``(1) In general.--A civil investigative demand issued 
        under subsection (a) may not require the production of any 
        documentary material, the submission of any answers to written 
        interrogatories, or the giving of any oral testimony if such 
        material, answers, or testimony would be protected from 
        disclosure under--
                    ``(A) the standards applicable to subpoenas or 
                subpoenas duces tecum issued by a court of the United 
                States in aid of a grand jury investigation; or
                    ``(B) the standards applicable to discovery 
                requests under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, to 
                the extent that the application of such standards to 
                any such demand is appropriate and consistent with the 
                provisions and purposes of this Act.
            ``(2) Effect on other orders, rules, and laws.--Any such 
        demand which is an express demand for any product of discovery 
        supersedes any inconsistent order, rule, or provision of law 
        (other than this Act) preventing or restraining disclosure of 
        such product of discovery to any person. Disclosure of any 
        product of discovery pursuant to any such express demand does 
        not constitute a waiver of any right or privilege, including 
        without limitation any right or privilege which may be invoked 
        to resist discovery of trial preparation materials, to which 
        the person making such disclosure may be entitled.
    ``(d) Service; Jurisdiction.--
            ``(1) By whom served.--Any civil investigative demand 
        issued under subsection (a) may be served by an appropriate 
        investigator, or by a United States marshal or deputy marshal, 
        at any place within the territorial jurisdiction of any court 
        of the United States.
            ``(2) Service in foreign nations.--Any such demand or 
        petition filed under subsection (k) may be served upon any 
        person who is not to be found within the territorial 
        jurisdiction of any court of the United States, in such manner 
        as the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure prescribe for service 
        in a foreign country. To the extent that the courts of the 
        United States can assert jurisdiction over any such person 
        consistent with due process, the United States District Court 
        for the District of Columbia shall have the same jurisdiction 
        to take any action respecting compliance with this Act by any 
        such person that such court would have if such person were 
        personally within the jurisdiction of such court.
    ``(e) Service Upon Legal Entities and Natural Persons.--
            ``(1) Legal entities.--Service of any civil investigative 
        demand issued under subsection (a) or of any petition filed 
        under subsection (k) may be made upon a partnership, 
        corporation, association, or other legal entity by--
                    ``(A) delivering a duly executed copy of such 
                demand or petition to any partner, executive officer, 
                managing agent, or general agent of the partnership, 
                corporation, association, or entity, or to any agent 
                thereof authorized by appointment or by law to receive 
                service of process on behalf of such partnership, 
                corporation, association, or entity;
                    ``(B) delivering a duly executed copy of such 
                demand or petition to the principal office or place of 
                business of the partnership, corporation, association, 
                or entity to be served; or
                    ``(C) depositing an executed copy of such demand or 
                petition in the United States mails by registered or 
                certified mail, with a return receipt requested, duly 
                addressed to such partnership, corporation, 
                association, or entity at its principal office or place 
                of business.
            ``(2) Natural persons.--Service of any such demand or 
        petition may be made upon any natural person by--
                    ``(A) delivering a duly executed copy of such 
                demand or petition to the person to be served; or
                    ``(B) depositing an executed copy of such demand or 
                petition in the United States mails by registered or 
                certified mail, with a return receipt requested, duly 
                addressed to such person at the person's residence or 
                principal office or place of business.
    ``(f) Proof of Service.--A verified return by the individual 
serving any civil investigative demand under subsection (a) or any 
petition filed under subsection (k) setting forth the manner of such 
service shall be proof of such service. In the case of service by 
registered or certified mail, such return shall be accompanied by the 
return post office receipt of delivery of such demand.
    ``(g) Documentary Material.--
            ``(1) Sworn certificates.--The production of documentary 
        material in response to a civil investigative demand served 
        pursuant to this section shall be made under a sworn 
        certificate, in such form as the demand designates, by--
                    ``(A) in the case of a natural person, the person 
                to whom the demand is directed; or
                    ``(B) in the case of a person other than a natural 
                person, a person having knowledge of the facts and 
                circumstances relating to such production and 
                authorized to act on behalf of such person,
        to the effect that all of the documentary material required by 
        the demand and in the possession, custody, or control of the 
        person to whom the demand is directed has been produced and 
        made available to the custodian.
            ``(2) Production of materials.--Any person upon whom any 
        civil investigative demand for the production of documentary 
        material has been served under this section shall make such 
        material available for inspection and copying to the 
        investigator identified in such demand at the principal place 
        of business of such person, or at such other place as the 
        investigator and the person thereafter may agree and prescribe 
        in writing, or as the court may direct under subsection (k)(1). 
        Such material shall be made so available on the return date 
        specified in such demand, or on such later date as the 
        investigator may prescribe in writing. Such person may, upon 
        written agreement between the person and the investigator, 
        substitute copies for originals of all or any part of such 
        material.
    ``(h) Interrogatories.--
            ``(1) Answers.--Each interrogatory in a civil investigative 
        demand served pursuant to this section shall be answered 
        separately and fully in writing under oath, and it shall be 
        submitted under a sworn certificate, in such form as the demand 
        designates, by--
                    ``(A) in the case of a natural person, the person 
                to whom the demand is directed; or
                    ``(B) in the case of a person other than a natural 
                person, the person or persons responsible for answering 
                each interrogatory.
            ``(2) Contents of certificates.--The certificate submitted 
        under paragraph (1) shall state that all information required 
        by the demand and in the possession, custody, control, or 
        knowledge of the person to whom the demand is directed has been 
        submitted. To the extent that any information is not furnished, 
        the information shall be identified and reasons set forth with 
        particularity regarding the reasons why the information was not 
        furnished.
            ``(3) Objections.--If any interrogatory is objected to, the 
        reasons for the objection shall be stated in the certificate 
        instead of an answer.
    ``(i) Oral Examinations.--
            ``(1) Procedures.--The examination of any person pursuant 
        to a civil investigative demand for oral testimony served under 
        this section shall be taken before an officer authorized to 
        administer oaths and affirmations by the laws of the United 
        States or of the place where the examination is held. The 
        officer before whom the testimony is to be taken shall put the 
        witness on oath or affirmation and shall personally, or by 
        someone acting under the direction of the officer and in the 
        officer's presence, record the testimony of the witness. The 
        testimony shall be taken stenographically and transcribed. When 
        the testimony is fully transcribed, the officer before whom the 
        testimony is taken shall promptly transmit a copy of the 
        transcript of the testimony to the custodian. This subsection 
        shall not preclude the taking of testimony by any means 
        authorized by, and in a manner consistent with, the Federal 
        Rules of Civil Procedure.
            ``(2) Persons present.--The investigator conducting the 
        examination shall exclude from the place where the examination 
        is held all persons except the person giving the testimony, the 
        attorney for and any other representative of the person giving 
        the testimony, the attorney for the Government, any person who 
        may be agreed upon by the attorney for the Government and the 
        person giving the testimony, the officer before whom the 
        testimony is to be taken, and any stenographer taking such 
        testimony.
            ``(3) Where testimony taken.--The oral testimony of any 
        person taken pursuant to a civil investigative demand served 
        under this section shall be taken in the judicial district of 
        the United States within which such person resides, is found, 
        or transacts business, or in such other place as may be agreed 
        upon by the investigator conducting the examination and such 
        person.
            ``(4) Transcript of testimony.--When the testimony is fully 
        transcribed, the investigator or the officer before whom the 
        testimony is taken shall afford the witness (who may be 
        accompanied by counsel) a reasonable opportunity to examine and 
        read the transcript, unless such examination and reading are 
        waived by the witness. Any changes in form or substance which 
        the witness desires to make shall be entered and identified 
        upon the transcript by the officer or the investigator with a 
        statement of the reasons given by the witness for making such 
        changes. The transcript shall then be signed by the witness, 
        unless the witness in writing waives the signing, is ill, 
        cannot be found, or refuses to sign. If the transcript is not 
        signed by the witness within 30 days after being afforded a 
        reasonable opportunity to examine it, the officer or the 
        investigator shall sign it and state on the record the fact of 
        the waiver, illness, absence of the witness, or the refusal to 
        sign, together with the reason, if any, given therefor.
            ``(5) Certification and delivery to custodian.--The officer 
        before whom the testimony is taken shall certify on the 
        transcript that the witness was duly sworn by the officer and 
        that the transcript is a true record of the testimony given by 
        the witness, and the officer or investigator shall promptly 
        deliver it or send it by registered or certified mail to the 
        custodian.
            ``(6) Furnishing or inspection of transcript by witness.--
        Upon payment of reasonable charges therefor, the investigator 
        shall furnish a copy of the transcript to the witness only, 
        except that the Attorney General, or the Attorney General's 
        designee in accordance with this Act, may for good cause limit 
        such witness to inspection of the official transcript of the 
        witness's testimony.
            ``(7) Conduct of oral testimony.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Any person compelled to appear 
                for oral testimony under a civil investigative demand 
                issued under subsection (a) may be accompanied, 
                represented, and advised by counsel. Counsel may advise 
                such person, in confidence, with respect to any 
                question asked of such person. Such person or counsel 
                may object on the record to any question, in whole or 
                in part, and shall briefly state for the record the 
                reason for the objection. An objection may be made, 
                received, and entered upon the record when it is 
                claimed that such person is entitled to refuse to 
                answer the question on the grounds of any 
                constitutional or other legal right or privilege, 
                including the privilege against self-incrimination. 
                Such person may not otherwise object to or refuse to 
                answer any question, and may not directly or through 
                counsel otherwise interrupt the oral examination. If 
                such person refuses to answer any question, a petition 
                may be filed in the district court of the United States 
                under subsection (k)(1) for an order compelling such 
                person to answer such question.
                    ``(B) Compelled testimony.--If such person refuses 
                to answer any question on the grounds of the privilege 
                against self-incrimination, the testimony of such 
                person may be compelled in accordance with the 
                provisions of part V of title 18, United States Code.
            ``(8) Witness fees and allowances.--Any person appearing 
        for oral testimony under a civil investigative demand issued 
        under subsection (a) shall be entitled to the same fees and 
        allowances which are paid to witnesses in the district courts 
        of the United States.
    ``(j) Custodians of Documents, Answers, and Transcripts.--
            ``(1) Designation.--The Attorney General, or designee in 
        accordance with this Act, shall designate an investigator to 
        serve as custodian of documentary material, answers to 
        interrogatories, and transcripts of oral testimony received 
        under this section, and shall designate such additional 
        investigators as the Attorney General determines from time to 
        time to be necessary to serve as deputies of the custodian.
            ``(2) Responsibility for materials; disclosure.--
                    ``(A) In general.--An investigator who receives any 
                documentary material, answers to interrogatories, or 
                transcripts of oral testimony under this section shall 
                transmit them to the custodian. The custodian shall 
                take physical possession of such material, answers, or 
                transcripts and shall be responsible for the use made 
                of them and for the return of documentary material 
                under paragraph (4).
                    ``(B) Preparation.--The custodian may cause the 
                preparation of such copies of such documentary 
                material, answers to interrogatories, or transcripts of 
                oral testimony as may be required for official use by 
                any investigator, or other officer or employee of the 
                Department of Justice. Such material, answers, and 
                transcripts may be used by any such authorized 
                investigator or other officer or employee in connection 
                with the taking of oral testimony under this section.
                    ``(C) No examination.--Except as otherwise provided 
                in this subsection, no documentary material, answers to 
                interrogatories, or transcripts of oral testimony, or 
                copies thereof, while in the possession of the 
                custodian, shall be available for examination by any 
                individual other than an investigator or other officer 
                or employee of the Department of Justice authorized 
                under subparagraph (B). The prohibition in the 
                preceding sentence on the availability of material, 
                answers, or transcripts shall not apply if consent is 
                given by the person who produced such material, 
                answers, or transcripts, or, in the case of any product 
                of discovery produced pursuant to an express demand for 
                such material, consent is given by the person from whom 
                the discovery was obtained. Nothing in this 
                subparagraph is intended to prevent disclosure to the 
                Congress, including any committee or subcommittee of 
                the Congress, or to any other agency of the United 
                States for use by such agency in furtherance of its 
                statutory responsibilities.
                    ``(D) Examination by certain persons.--While in the 
                possession of the custodian and under such reasonable 
                terms and conditions as the Attorney General shall 
                prescribe--
                            ``(i) documentary material and answers to 
                        interrogatories shall be available for 
                        examination by the person who produced such 
                        material or answers, or by a representative of 
                        that person authorized by that person to 
                        examine such material and answers; and
                            ``(ii) transcripts of oral testimony shall 
                        be available for examination by the person who 
                        produced such testimony, or by a representative 
                        of that person authorized by that person to 
                        examine such transcripts.
            ``(3) Use of material, answers, or transcripts in other 
        proceedings.--Whenever any attorney of the Department of 
        Justice has been designated to appear before any court, grand 
        jury, or Federal agency in any case or proceeding, the 
        custodian of any documentary material, answers to 
        interrogatories, or transcripts of oral testimony received 
        under this section may deliver to such attorney such material, 
        answers, or transcripts for official use in connection with any 
        such case or proceeding as such attorney determines to be 
        required. Upon the completion of any such case or proceeding, 
        such attorney shall return to the custodian any such material, 
        answers, or transcripts so delivered which have not passed into 
        the control of such court, grand jury, or agency through the 
        introduction thereof into the record of such case or 
        proceeding.
            ``(4) Conditions for return of material.--If any 
        documentary material has been produced by any person in the 
        course of any investigation pursuant to a civil investigative 
        demand under this section, and--
                    ``(A) any case or proceeding before the court or 
                grand jury arising out of such investigation, or any 
                proceeding before any Federal agency involving such 
                material, has been completed; or
                    ``(B) no case or proceeding in which such material 
                may be used has been commenced within a reasonable time 
                after completion of the examination and analysis of all 
                documentary material and other information assembled in 
                the course of such investigation,
        the custodian shall, upon written request of the person who 
        produced such material, return to such person any such material 
        (other than copies furnished to the investigator under 
        subsection (g)(2) or made for the Department of Justice under 
        paragraph (2)(B)) which has not passed into the control of any 
        court, grand jury, or agency through introduction into the 
        record of such case or proceeding.
            ``(5) Appointment of successor custodians.--
                    ``(A) In general.--In the event of the death, 
                disability, or separation from service in the 
                Department of Justice of the custodian of any 
                documentary material, answers to interrogatories, or 
                transcripts of oral testimony produced pursuant to a 
                civil investigative demand under this section, or in 
                the event of the official relief of such custodian from 
                responsibility for the custody and control of such 
                material, answers, or transcripts, the Attorney General 
                or the Attorney General's designee in accordance with 
                this Act shall promptly--
                            ``(i) designate another investigator to 
                        serve as custodian of such material, answers, 
                        or transcripts; and
                            ``(ii) transmit in writing to the person 
                        who produced such material, answers, or 
                        testimony notice of the identity and address of 
                        the successor so designated.
                    ``(B) Successor.--Any person who is designated to 
                be a successor under this paragraph shall have, with 
                regard to such material, answers, or transcripts, the 
                same duties and responsibilities as were imposed by 
                this section upon that person's predecessor in office, 
                except that the successor shall not be held responsible 
                for any default or dereliction which occurred before 
                that designation.
    ``(k) Judicial Proceedings.--
            ``(1) Petition for enforcement.--Whenever any person fails 
        to comply with any civil investigative demand issued under 
        subsection (a), or whenever satisfactory copying or 
        reproduction of any material requested in such demand cannot be 
        done and such person refuses to surrender such material, the 
        Attorney General may file, in the district court of the United 
        States for any judicial district in which such person resides, 
        is found, or transacts business, and serve upon such person a 
        petition for an order of such court for the enforcement of the 
        civil investigative demand.
            ``(2) Petition to modify or set aside demand.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Any person who has received a 
                civil investigative demand issued under subsection (a) 
                may file, in the district court of the United States 
                for the judicial district within which such person 
                resides, is found, or transacts business, and serve 
                upon the investigator identified in such demand a 
                petition for an order of the court to modify or set 
                aside such demand. In the case of a petition addressed 
                to an express demand for any product of discovery, a 
                petition to modify or set aside such demand may be 
                brought only in the district court of the United States 
                for the judicial district in which the proceeding in 
                which such discovery was obtained is or was last 
                pending. Any petition under this subparagraph must be 
                filed--
                            ``(i) within 20 days after the date of 
                        service of the civil investigative demand, or 
                        at any time before the return date specified in 
                        the demand, whichever date is earlier; or
                            ``(ii) within such longer period as may be 
                        prescribed in writing by any investigator 
                        identified in the demand.
                    ``(B) Grounds for relief.--The petition shall 
                specify each ground upon which the petitioner relies in 
                seeking relief under subparagraph (A), and may be based 
                upon any failure of the demand to comply with the 
                provisions of this section or upon any constitutional 
                or other legal right or privilege of such person. 
                During the pendency of the petition in the court, the 
                court may stay, as it deems proper, the running of the 
                time allowed for compliance with the demand, in whole 
                or in part, except that the person filing the petition 
                shall comply with any portions of the demand not sought 
                to be modified or set aside.
            ``(3) Petition to modify or set aside demand for product of 
        discovery.--
                    ``(A) In general.--In the case of any civil 
                investigative demand issued under subsection (a) which 
                is an express demand for any product of discovery, the 
                person from whom such discovery was obtained may file, 
                in the district court of the United States for the 
                judicial district in which the proceeding in which such 
                discovery was obtained is or was last pending, and 
                serve upon any investigator identified in the demand 
                and upon the recipient of the demand, a petition for an 
                order of such court to modify or set aside those 
                portions of the demand requiring production of any such 
                product of discovery. Any petition under this 
                subparagraph must be filed--
                            ``(i) within 20 days after the date of 
                        service of the civil investigative demand, or 
                        at any time before the return date specified in 
                        the demand, whichever date is earlier; or
                            ``(ii) within such longer period as may be 
                        prescribed in writing by any investigator 
                        identified in the demand.
                    ``(B) Grounds for relief.--The petition shall 
                specify each ground upon which the petitioner relies in 
                seeking relief under subparagraph (A), and may be based 
                upon any failure of the portions of the demand from 
                which relief is sought to comply with the provisions of 
                this section, or upon any constitutional or other legal 
                right or privilege of the petitioner. During the 
                pendency of the petition, the court may stay, as it 
                deems proper, compliance with the demand and the 
                running of the time allowed for compliance with the 
                demand.
            ``(4) Petition to require performance by custodian of 
        duties.--At any time during which any custodian is in custody 
        or control of any documentary material or answers to 
        interrogatories produced, or transcripts of oral testimony 
        given, by any person in compliance with any civil investigative 
        demand issued under subsection (a), such person, and in the 
        case of an express demand for any product of discovery, the 
        person from whom such discovery was obtained, may file, in the 
        district court of the United States for the judicial district 
        within which the office of such custodian is situated, and 
        serve upon such custodian, a petition for an order of such 
        court to require the performance by the custodian of any duty 
        imposed upon the custodian by this section.
            ``(5) Jurisdiction.--Whenever any petition is filed in any 
        district court of the United States under this subsection, such 
        court shall have jurisdiction to hear and determine the matter 
        so presented, and to enter such order or orders as may be 
        required to carry out the provisions of this section. Any final 
        order so entered shall be subject to appeal under section 1291 
        of title 28, United States Code. Any disobedience of any final 
        order entered under this section by any court shall be punished 
        as a contempt of the court.
            ``(6) Applicability of federal rules of civil procedure.--
        The Federal Rules of Civil Procedure shall apply to any 
        petition under this subsection, to the extent that such rules 
        are not inconsistent with the provisions of this section.
    ``(l) Disclosure Exemption.--Any documentary material, answers to 
written interrogatories, or oral testimony provided under any civil 
investigative demand issued under subsection (a) shall be exempt from 
disclosure under section 552 of title 5, United States Code, as 
described in subsection (b)(3) of such section.
    ``(m) Definitions.--In this section--
            ``(1) the term `custodian' means the custodian, or any 
        deputy custodian, designated by the Attorney General under 
        subsection (j)(1);
            ``(2) the term `documentary material' includes the original 
        or any copy of any book, record, report, memorandum, paper, 
        communication, tabulation, chart, or other document, or data 
        compilations stored in or accessible through computer or other 
        information retrieval systems, together with instructions and 
        all other materials necessary to use or interpret such data 
        compilations, and any product of discovery;
            ``(3) the term `investigation' means any inquiry conducted 
        for the purpose of ascertaining whether any person is or has 
        been engaged in any violation of this Act;
            ``(4) the term `investigator' means any attorney or 
        investigator employed by the Department of Justice who is 
        charged with the duty of enforcing or carrying into effect this 
        Act, or any officer or employee of the United States acting 
        under the direction and supervision of such attorney or 
        investigator in connection with an investigation;
            ``(5) the term `official use' means any use that is 
        consistent with the law, and the regulations and policies of 
        the Department of Justice, including use in connection with 
        internal Department of Justice memoranda and reports; 
        communications between the Department of Justice and a Federal, 
        State, or local government agency, or a contractor of a 
        Federal, State, or local government agency, undertaken in 
        furtherance of a Department of Justice investigation or 
        prosecution of a case; oral examinations; depositions; 
        preparation for and response to civil discovery requests; 
        introduction into the record of a case or proceeding; 
        applications, motions, memoranda and briefs submitted to a 
        court or other tribunal; and communications with Government 
        investigators, auditors, consultants and experts, the counsel 
        of other parties, arbitrators and mediators, concerning an 
        investigation, case or proceeding; and
            ``(6) the term `product of discovery' includes--
                    ``(A) the original or duplicate of any deposition, 
                interrogatory, document, thing, result of the 
                inspection of land or other property, examination, or 
                admission, which is obtained by any method of discovery 
                in any judicial or administrative proceeding of an 
                adversarial nature;
                    ``(B) any digest, analysis, selection, compilation, 
                or derivation of any item listed in subparagraph (A); 
                and
                    ``(C) any index or other manner of access to any 
                item listed in subparagraph (A).
    ``(n) Sunset.--The authority of the Attorney General to issue a 
civil investigative demand under this section shall expire upon the 
expiration of the 5-year period which begins on the date of the 
enactment of this section.''.

SEC. 206. 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. 207. 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. 208. 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 2021 and each succeeding fiscal year.''.

SEC. 209. 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; Reports to Congress.--
            (1) Review.--The Inspector General of the Department of 
        Justice shall carry out a review of--
                    (A) the extent to which the Attorney General has 
                implemented the comprehensive strategy described in 
                subsection (a); and
                    (B) the usage, effectiveness, and any potential 
                abuse of the authority granted to the Attorney General 
                by this Act to issue civil investigative demands.
            (2) Reports 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) Annual Reports to Congress.--Not later than 1 year after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the 
Attorney General, in consultation with the Assistant Attorney General 
for National Security, shall submit a report to the appropriate 
committees of Congress detailing the usage over the preceding year of 
the authority granted to the Attorney General by this Act and the 
amendments made by this title to issue civil investigative demands, 
including--
            (1) the number of civil investigative demands issued;
            (2) a description of the nature of the conduct constituting 
        the alleged violation of the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 
        1938 (22 U.S.C. 611 et seq.) which was under investigation and 
        the provision alleged to be violated;
            (3) a description of the nature of the documentary 
        materials, interrogatories, or oral testimony sought by the 
        civil investigative demand;
            (4) the number of times the Attorney General filed in a 
        district court of the United States a petition for an order for 
        the enforcement of a civil investigative demand and a detailed 
        description of the circumstances that led the Attorney General 
        to seek such an order;
            (5) a description of the results of civil investigative 
        demands issued, including whether the Attorney General 
        subsequently filed charges for an alleged violation of the 
        Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938 (22 U.S.C. 611 et 
        seq.), regardless of whether such charges were filed against 
        the recipient of the civil investigative demand or another 
        legal entity or natural person; and
            (6) any other information regarding the use of such 
        authority that the Attorney General deems relevant.
    (d) 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. 210. 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. 211. 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. 212. EFFECTIVE DATE.

    The amendments made by this title shall take effect 180 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act.
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