DISCLOSE Act of 2021

Bill: 117-hr-1334
Sponsor: Rep. Cicilline, David N. [D-RI-1]
Introduced: 2021-02-25 in the House
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Accounting and auditing
Broadcasting, cable, digital technologies
Civil actions and liability
Congressional oversight
Constitution and constitutional amendments
Corporate finance and management
Criminal justice information and records
Elections, voting, political campaign regulation
Federal Election Commission (FEC)
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Government studies and investigations
Judges
Judicial review and appeals
Labor-management relations
Members of Congress
Political advertising
Political parties and affiliation
Public participation and lobbying
Supreme Court
Tax-exempt organizations
Telephone and wireless communication

Summary:
action_date: 2021-02-25
text: 

Democracy Is Strengthened by Casting Light On Spending in Elections Act of 2021 or the DISCLOSE Act of 2021

 
This bill addresses campaign finance, including by expanding the prohibition on campaign spending by foreign nationals, requiring additional disclosures of campaign expenditures, and requiring additional disclosures regarding certain political advertisements. 
 
 First, the bill prohibits foreign nationals from participating in the decision-making process regarding an election expenditure.
 
Additionally, the bill expands existing foreign money prohibitions to include disbursements for paid web-based or digital communications and federal judicial nomination communications. It also prohibits foreign nationals from contributing to campaigns related to ballot initiatives and referenda.
 
The Federal Election Commission (FEC) must conduct an audit after each federal election cycle to determine the incidence of illicit foreign money.
 
Next, the bill makes it unlawful to establish or use a corporation, company, or other entity with the intent to conceal an election contribution or donation by a foreign national. A violator is subject to criminal penalties&#8212;a fine, a prison term of up to five years, or both.
 
 Covered organizations (e.g., corporations, labor organizations, and political organizations) must, within 24 hours, file reports with the FEC to disclose campaign expenditures of more than $10,000 during an election cycle.
 
Finally, the bill requires organizations to provide additional disclosures regarding political advertisements, including the donors who contributed the most money to that organization in the last year.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-04-28
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.
action_date: 2021-02-25
text: Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and the Judiciary, 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.
action_date: 2021-02-25
text: Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and the Judiciary, 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.
action_date: 2021-02-25
text: Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and the Judiciary, 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.
action_date: 2021-02-25
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2021-02-25
text: Introduced in House