Firewall Act

Bill: 116-hr-4612
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Phillips, Dean [D-MN-3]
Introduced: 2019-10-04
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Elections, voting, political campaign regulation

Internet and video services

Internet, web applications, social media

Political advertising

Subversive activities

Television and film
Latest action: action_date: 2019-10-04
text: Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.

Summaries:
action_date: 2019-10-04
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Firewall Act </b></p> <p>This bill prohibits foreign nationals from making disbursements for digital political advertising.</p>

tv_txt: I 116th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 4612 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES October 4, 2019 Mr. Phillips introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on House Administration A BILL To amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to prohibit foreign nationals from making disbursements for communications promoting, supporting, attacking, or opposing the election of a candidate for public office, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Firewall Act . 2. Prohibiting disbursements by foreign nationals for certain communications involving candidates (a) Disbursements described Section 319(a)(1) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 ( 52 U.S.C. 30121(a)(1) ) is amended— (1) by striking or at the end of subparagraph (B); and (2) by striking subparagraph (C) and inserting the following: (C) an expenditure; (D) an independent expenditure; (E) a disbursement for an electioneering communication (within the meaning of section 304(f)(3)); (F) a disbursement for a communication which is placed or promoted for a fee on a website, web application, or digital application that refers to a clearly identified candidate for election for Federal office and is disseminated within 60 days before a general, special or runoff election for the office sought by the candidate or 30 days before a primary or preference election, or a convention or caucus of a political party that has authority to nominate a candidate for the office sought by the candidate; or (G) a disbursement for a broadcast, cable or satellite communication, or for a communication which is placed or promoted for a fee on a website, web application, or digital application, that promotes, supports, attacks or opposes the election of a clearly identified candidate for Federal, State, or local office (regardless of whether the communication contains express advocacy or the functional equivalent of express advocacy); or . (b) Effective date The amendments made by this section shall apply with respect to disbursements made on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.