Stop Supporting Foreign Interference in Our Democracy Act
Bill: H.R.1237 | Sponsor: Rep. Houlahan, Chrissy (D-PA)
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics

Summary:
Stop Supporting Foreign Interference in Our Democracy Act
This bill provides statutory authority for the prohibition against a person knowingly providing substantial assistance regarding illegal political spending by a foreign national.

To amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to prohibit a person 
     from knowingly providing substantial assistance relating to a 
contribution or donation by a foreign national, 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 ``Stop Supporting Foreign Interference 
in Our Democracy Act''.

SEC. 2. PROHIBITION ON PROVISION OF SUBSTANTIAL ASSISTANCE RELATING TO 
              CONTRIBUTION OR DONATION BY FOREIGN NATIONALS.

    (a) In General.--Section 319 of the Federal Election Campaign Act 
of 1971 (52 U.S.C. 30121) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) by striking ``or'' at the end of paragraph 
                (1)(C);
                    (B) by striking the period at the end of paragraph 
                (2) and inserting ``; or''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(3) a person to knowingly provide substantial assistance 
        to another person in carrying out an activity described in 
        paragraph (1) or (2).''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following new subsections:
    ``(c) Knowingly Described.--
            ``(1) In general.--For purposes of subsection (a)(3), the 
        term `knowingly' means actual knowledge, awareness of pertinent 
        facts that would lead a reasonable person to conclude there is 
        a substantial probability, or awareness of pertinent facts that 
        would lead a reasonable person to conduct a reasonable inquiry 
        to establish--
                    ``(A) with respect to an activity described in 
                subsection (a)(1), that the contribution, donation, 
                expenditure, independent expenditure, or disbursement 
                is from a foreign national; and
                    ``(B) with respect to an activity described in 
                subsection (a)(2), that the contribution or donation 
                solicited, accepted, or received is from a foreign 
                national.
            ``(2) Pertinent facts.--For purposes of paragraph (1), 
        pertinent facts include, but are not limited to, that the 
        person making the contribution, donation, expenditure, 
        independent expenditure, or disbursement, or that the person 
        from whom the contribution or donation is solicited, accepted, 
        or received--
                    ``(A) uses a foreign passport or passport number 
                for identification purposes;
                    ``(B) provides a foreign address;
                    ``(C) uses a check or other written instrument 
                drawn on a foreign bank, or by a wire transfer from a 
                foreign bank, in carrying out the activity; or
                    ``(D) resides abroad.
    ``(d) Substantial Assistance Defined.--As used in this section, the 
term `substantial assistance' means, with respect to an activity 
prohibited by paragraph (1) or (2) of subsection (a), involvement with 
an intent to facilitate successful completion of the activity.''.
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