DISCLOSE Act of 2022

Bill: 117-s-4822
Sponsor: Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]
Introduced: 2022-09-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Accounting and auditing
Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Broadcasting, cable, digital technologies
Civil actions and liability
Congressional oversight
Constitution and constitutional amendments
Corporate finance and management
Elections, voting, political campaign regulation
Federal Election Commission (FEC)
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Judges
Judicial review and appeals
Members of Congress
Political advertising
Public participation and lobbying
Supreme Court
Tax-exempt organizations
Telephone and wireless communication

Summary:
action_date: 2022-09-12
text: 

Democracy Is Strengthened by Casting Light On Spending in Elections Act of 2022 or the DISCLOSE Act of 

2022

 
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. 
 
Specifically, 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 Government Accountability Office must, for each four-year election cycle, study and report on the incidence of illicit foreign money in federal elections.
 
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 Federal Election Commission to disclose campaign expenditures of more than $10,000 during an election cycle.
 
The bill also 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: 2022-09-22
text: Cloture on the motion to proceed to the measure not invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 49 - 49. Record Vote Number: 346. (CR S4949-4950)
action_date: 2022-09-22
text: Motion to proceed to measure considered in Senate. (CR S4941)
action_date: 2022-09-19
text: Cloture motion on the motion to proceed to the measure presented in Senate. (CR S4815-4816)
action_date: 2022-09-19
text: Motion to proceed to consideration of measure made in Senate. (CR S4815-4816)
action_date: 2022-09-13
text: Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 484.
action_date: 2022-09-12
text: Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
action_date: 2022-09-12
text: Introduced in Senate