To preserve the integrity of American elections by providing the Attorney General with the investigative tools to identify and prosecute foreign agents who seek to circumvent Federal registration requirements and unlawfully influence the political process.
Crime and Federal Government Surveillance Subcommittee, Judiciary Committee, Constitution and Limited Government Subcommittee
Introduced
In Committee
On Floor
Passed Chamber
Enacted
Foreign Agents Registration Modernization and Enforcement Act This bill amends the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938 (FARA) to provide that whenever the Department of Justice (DOJ) has reason to believe that a person or enterprise may be in possession or control of documentary material relevant to an investigation under FARA, the DOJ, before initiating a civil or criminal proceeding with respect to the production of such material, may serve a written demand upon the entity to produce the material for examination. The bill includes social media communications under information that foreign agents must file with DOJ. Under certain circumstances, social media communications are exempted from the requirement for foreign agents to include a disclosure statement in informational materials. Informational materials disseminated by a foreign agent as part of an activity that would not require registration, need not be filed. The FARA Registration Unit shall submit a semiannual report to Congress regarding the administration of FARA, including the number of investigations initiated based upon a perceived violation and the number of such investigations that were referred to DOJ for prosecution.
Broadcasting, cable, digital technologiesCivil actions and liabilityCongressional oversightCriminal investigation, prosecution, interrogationEvidence and witnessesGovernment studies and investigationsInternet and video servicesInternet, web applications, social mediaLicensing and registrationsMarketing and advertisingNews media and reportingPublic participation and lobbyingTelevision and filmUser charges and fees
To preserve the integrity of American elections by providing the Attorney General with the investigative tools to identify and prosecute foreign agents who seek to circumvent Federal registration requirements and unlawfully influence the political process.
USA115th CongressHR-2811| House
| Updated: 7/12/2017
Foreign Agents Registration Modernization and Enforcement Act This bill amends the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938 (FARA) to provide that whenever the Department of Justice (DOJ) has reason to believe that a person or enterprise may be in possession or control of documentary material relevant to an investigation under FARA, the DOJ, before initiating a civil or criminal proceeding with respect to the production of such material, may serve a written demand upon the entity to produce the material for examination. The bill includes social media communications under information that foreign agents must file with DOJ. Under certain circumstances, social media communications are exempted from the requirement for foreign agents to include a disclosure statement in informational materials. Informational materials disseminated by a foreign agent as part of an activity that would not require registration, need not be filed. The FARA Registration Unit shall submit a semiannual report to Congress regarding the administration of FARA, including the number of investigations initiated based upon a perceived violation and the number of such investigations that were referred to DOJ for prosecution.
Broadcasting, cable, digital technologiesCivil actions and liabilityCongressional oversightCriminal investigation, prosecution, interrogationEvidence and witnessesGovernment studies and investigationsInternet and video servicesInternet, web applications, social mediaLicensing and registrationsMarketing and advertisingNews media and reportingPublic participation and lobbyingTelevision and filmUser charges and fees