Foreign Agents Registration Modernization Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-3172
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Lummis, Cynthia M. [R-WY]
Introduced: 2021-11-04
Policy area: International Affairs
Latest action: action_date: 2021-11-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

Summaries:
action_date: 2021-11-04
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><strong>Foreign Agents Registration Modernization Act of 2021 </strong></p> <p>This bill modifies requirements related to the electronic database that contains the registrations that an agent of a foreign principal must file with the Department of Justice (DOJ).</p> <p>Specifically, DOJ must establish and maintain the free and publicly accessible National Foreign Agents Database, which must make such foreign agent registrations searchable, sortable, and downloadable. The database must also make filed registrations and supplements immediately available for public inspection. (Currently, DOJ is required maintain a database with these features, but only to the extent that the features are technically practicable.)</p> <p>The database must also meet federal standards for making digital information accessible to individuals with disabilities.</p>

tv_txt: II 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 3172 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES November 4, 2021 Ms. Lummis (for herself and Mr. Whitehouse ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations A BILL To amend the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938, as amended, to require registration statements filed under that Act to be filed in a structured data format to enable the statements to be digitized for purposes of the publicly available electronic database maintained under that Act, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Foreign Agents Registration Modernization Act of 2021 . 2. Modifications relating to FARA registration statements (a) Format (1) In general Section 2(g) of the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938, as amended ( 22 U.S.C. 612(g) ), is amended— (A) in the subsection heading, by striking Electronic and inserting Format for ; and (B) by striking shall be filed and all that follows through the period at the end and inserting the following: shall be filed in— (1) an electronic, structured data format under which the statement or supplement shall be published in a publicly available, machine-processable digital format for purposes of the National Foreign Agents Database under section 6(d)(1); and (2) such other formats as the Attorney General may require. . (2) Effective date The amendments made by paragraph (1) shall apply with respect to statements and supplements filed under section 2 of the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938, as amended ( 22 U.S.C. 612 ), on or after the date that is 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act. (b) Electronic database (1) Searchability and sortability; designation Section 6(d) of the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938, as amended ( 22 U.S.C. 616(d) ), is amended— (A) in the subsection heading, by striking updates and inserting supplements ; and (B) in paragraph (1)— (i) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking to the extent technically practicable, an electronic database that and inserting an electronic database, to be known as the National Foreign Agents Database , that ; and (ii) in subparagraph (A), by striking includes the information contained in registration statements and updates and inserting includes, in a digitized format that achieves compliance with the applicable digital accessibility standards described in section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 ( 29 U.S.C. 794d ), the information contained in registration statements and supplements . (2) Posting on receipt Section 6(d)(2) of the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938, as amended ( 22 U.S.C. 616(d)(2) ), is amended— (A) by striking update each place it appears and inserting supplement ; and (B) by striking as soon as technically practicable and inserting immediately . (3) Effective date The amendments made by this subsection shall take effect on the date that is 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act.