Foreign Extortion Prevention Technical Corrections Act

Bill: 118-s-4548
Sponsor: Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]
Introduced: 2024-06-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Civil actions and liability
Congressional oversight
Criminal procedure and sentencing
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Government information and archives
Jurisdiction and venue

Summary:
action_date: 2024-07-30
text: 

Foreign Extortion Prevention Technical Corrections Act

This act makes technical corrections and substantive changes to the Foreign Extortion Prevention Act (FEPA), which was enacted as part of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024.

As originally enacted, FEPA established a new federal criminal offense involving bribery by foreign officials. Also, FEPA explicitly granted extraterritorial jurisdiction over offenses and established criminal penalties for violations. 

This act narrows the scope of individuals who are foreign officials subject to the federal criminal provisions. Specifically, it redefines 
foreign official
 so that it does not include an individual acting in an unofficial capacity on behalf of a foreign government or international organization. 

Additionally, this act broadens the scope of conduct that is prohibited. As originally enacted, FEPA generally prohibited conduct to solicit or accept a bribe in return for influence in the performance of any official act. This act broadens the scope of the prohibited conduct to include the solicitation or acceptance of a bribe in return for influence in the performance of any act or decision. 

Finally, this act specifies that extraterritorial jurisdiction applies if the foreign official soliciting or accepting the bribe is in the United States. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2024-07-30
text: Became Public Law No: 118-78.
action_date: 2024-07-30
text: Became Public Law No: 118-78.
action_date: 2024-07-30
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2024-07-30
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2024-07-25
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2024-07-25
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2024-07-22
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2024-07-22
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4656-4657)
action_date: 2024-07-22
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4656-4657)
action_date: 2024-07-22
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 4548.
action_date: 2024-07-22
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4656-4658)
action_date: 2024-07-22
text: Mr. Issa moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
action_date: 2024-06-18
text: Held at the desk.
action_date: 2024-06-18
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2024-06-17
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2024-06-13
text: Introduced in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S4096-4097; text: CR S4096-4097)
action_date: 2024-06-13
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Introduced in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S4096-4097; text: CR S4096-4097)
action_date: 2024-06-13
text: Introduced in Senate

Enacted as: number: 118-78