House of Representatives ·
Stop Foreign Funds in Elections Act
“I want the House to pass this bill. It stops people from other countries from donating money to state and local ballot measures. The Federal Election Commission asked Congress to pass this rule. We should also pass other laws to keep hidden money out of our elections.”
“Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, this bipartisan bill, the Stop Foreign Funds in Elections Act, will close a loophole, as my colleague and friend, Mr. Steil, the chairman of the Committee on House Administration, has indicated, that currently allows foreign nationals to contribute to State and local ballot initiatives, as well as recall referenda. This change is needed because the Federal Elections Commission previously determined that the Federal Election Campaign Act’s foreign national prohibition does not actually reach ballot initiatives that do not appear to be linked to an office-seeking candidate at the Federal, State, or local level. The FEC often sends legislative recommendations to Congress, adopted on a bipartisan basis, to update and strengthen our campaign finance regime. This very bill has been included in their recent recommendations. In fact, this bill is among the highest priority legislative recommendations from the FEC. I thank the bill’s sponsor, Congressman Fitzpatrick, as well as the bill’s co-lead, Congressman Golden, for their important work on this issue. I am glad to see the House taking seriously the risk of foreign interference in domestic elections. In that spirit, I encourage my colleagues to consider other comprehensive democracy reforms to close loopholes. House Democrats’ Freedom to Vote Act, which includes the DISCLOSE Act, would crack down on foreign campaign spending, and I think it is well past time for Congress to do something to stem the tide of dark money, including foreign money, in American elections. This bill is a start, and I think I would continue to urge us to do more. Madam Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support the bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.”
Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, this bipartisan bill, the Stop Foreign Funds in Elections Act, will close a loophole, as my colleague and friend, Mr. Steil, the chairman of the Committee on House Administration, has indicated, that currently allows foreign nationals to contribute to State and local ballot initiatives, as well as recall referenda. This change is needed because the Federal Elections Commission previously determined that the Federal Election Campaign Act’s foreign national prohibition does not actually reach ballot initiatives that do not appear to be linked to an office-seeking candidate at the Federal, State, or local level. The FEC often sends legislative recommendations to Congress, adopted on a bipartisan basis, to update and strengthen our campaign finance regime. This very bill has been included in their recent recommendations. In fact, this bill is among the highest priority legislative recommendations from the FEC. I thank the bill’s sponsor, Congressman Fitzpatrick, as well as the bill’s co-lead, Congressman Golden, for their important work on this issue. I am glad to see the House taking seriously the risk of foreign interference in domestic elections. In that spirit, I encourage my colleagues to consider other comprehensive democracy reforms to close loopholes. House Democrats’ Freedom to Vote Act, which includes the DISCLOSE Act, would crack down on foreign campaign spending, and I think it is well past time for Congress to do something to stem the tide of dark money, including foreign money, in American elections. This bill is a start, and I think I would continue to urge us to do more. Madam Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support the bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.