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A bill to amend the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938 to promote greater transparency in the registration of persons serving as the agents of foreign principals, to provide the Attorney General with greater authority to investigate alleged violations of such Act and bring criminal and civil actions against persons who commit such violations, and for other purposes.

USA115th CongressS-2039| Senate 
| Updated: 10/31/2017
Chuck Grassley

Chuck Grassley

Republican Senator

Iowa

Foreign Relations Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Disclosing Foreign Influence Act This bill amends the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938 (FARA): to repeal an exemption from registration under FARA for agents of foreign persons and entities in the private sector who register under the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (LDA); to require such agents, after initial registration under FARA, to file subsequent statements at the same time, and in the same frequency, as reports filed with Congress under the LDA; and to authorize the Department of Justice (DOJ) to issue civil investigative demands to compel the production of documents relevant to FARA investigations before initiating criminal or civil proceedings. DOJ must develop and implement a comprehensive strategy to improve FARA enforcement and administration. The DOJ Inspector General must review: (1) the development and implementation of a comprehensive strategy; and (2) the use, effectiveness, and potential abuse of DOJ's authority to issue civil investigative demands. The Government Accountability Office must analyze the effectiveness of FARA enforcement and administration.
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Timeline
Oct 31, 2017
Introduced in Senate
Oct 31, 2017
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. (text of measure as introduced: CR S6926-6929)
Jan 17, 2018

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 115-4170
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 15 - 6.
  • October 31, 2017
    Introduced in Senate


  • October 31, 2017
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. (text of measure as introduced: CR S6926-6929)


  • January 17, 2018

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 115-4170
    Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 15 - 6.

Crime and Law Enforcement

Related Bills

  • HR 115-6249: To amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to treat certain foreign-owned corporations and business organizations as foreign nationals for purposes of the ban on campaign activity, to prohibit foreign-affiliated section 501(c)(4) organizations from making contributions to super PACs or disbursing funds for independent expenditures or electioneering communications, to amend the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938 to reform the procedures for the registration of agents of foreign principals under such Act, and for other purposes.
  • HR 115-4170: To amend the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938 to promote greater transparency in the registration of persons serving as the agents of foreign principals, to provide the Attorney General with greater authority to investigate alleged violations of such Act and bring criminal and civil actions against persons who commit such violations, and for other purposes.
Civil actions and liabilityCongressional oversightCriminal investigation, prosecution, interrogationEvidence and witnessesGovernment information and archivesGovernment studies and investigationsLicensing and registrationsPublic participation and lobbying

A bill to amend the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938 to promote greater transparency in the registration of persons serving as the agents of foreign principals, to provide the Attorney General with greater authority to investigate alleged violations of such Act and bring criminal and civil actions against persons who commit such violations, and for other purposes.

USA115th CongressS-2039| Senate 
| Updated: 10/31/2017
Disclosing Foreign Influence Act This bill amends the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938 (FARA): to repeal an exemption from registration under FARA for agents of foreign persons and entities in the private sector who register under the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (LDA); to require such agents, after initial registration under FARA, to file subsequent statements at the same time, and in the same frequency, as reports filed with Congress under the LDA; and to authorize the Department of Justice (DOJ) to issue civil investigative demands to compel the production of documents relevant to FARA investigations before initiating criminal or civil proceedings. DOJ must develop and implement a comprehensive strategy to improve FARA enforcement and administration. The DOJ Inspector General must review: (1) the development and implementation of a comprehensive strategy; and (2) the use, effectiveness, and potential abuse of DOJ's authority to issue civil investigative demands. The Government Accountability Office must analyze the effectiveness of FARA enforcement and administration.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline
Oct 31, 2017
Introduced in Senate
Oct 31, 2017
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. (text of measure as introduced: CR S6926-6929)
Jan 17, 2018

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 115-4170
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 15 - 6.
  • October 31, 2017
    Introduced in Senate


  • October 31, 2017
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. (text of measure as introduced: CR S6926-6929)


  • January 17, 2018

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 115-4170
    Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 15 - 6.
Chuck Grassley

Chuck Grassley

Republican Senator

Iowa

Foreign Relations Committee

Crime and Law Enforcement

Related Bills

  • HR 115-6249: To amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to treat certain foreign-owned corporations and business organizations as foreign nationals for purposes of the ban on campaign activity, to prohibit foreign-affiliated section 501(c)(4) organizations from making contributions to super PACs or disbursing funds for independent expenditures or electioneering communications, to amend the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938 to reform the procedures for the registration of agents of foreign principals under such Act, and for other purposes.
  • HR 115-4170: To amend the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938 to promote greater transparency in the registration of persons serving as the agents of foreign principals, to provide the Attorney General with greater authority to investigate alleged violations of such Act and bring criminal and civil actions against persons who commit such violations, and for other purposes.
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Civil actions and liabilityCongressional oversightCriminal investigation, prosecution, interrogationEvidence and witnessesGovernment information and archivesGovernment studies and investigationsLicensing and registrationsPublic participation and lobbying