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Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act

USA116th CongressS-945| Senate 
| Updated: 12/18/2020
John Kennedy

John Kennedy

Republican Senator

Louisiana

Cosponsors (4)
Rick Scott (Republican)Tom Cotton (Republican)Chris Van Hollen (Democratic)Kevin Cramer (Republican)

Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act This bill requires certain issuers of securities to establish that they are not owned or controlled by a foreign government. Specifically, an issuer must make this certification if the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board is unable to audit specified reports because the issuer has retained a foreign public accounting firm not subject to inspection by the board. Furthermore, if the board is unable to inspect the issuer's public accounting firm for three consecutive years, the issuer's securities are banned from trade on a national exchange or through other methods. Foreign issuers of securities that use such a firm to prepare an audit report must disclose for each non-inspection year the percentage of shares owned by governmental entities where the issuer is incorporated, whether these governmental entities have a controlling financial interest, information related to any board members who are officials of the Chinese Communist Party, and whether the articles of incorporation of the issuer contain any charter of the Chinese Communist Party.

Bill Text Versions

View Text
4 versions available

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Timeline
Mar 28, 2019
Introduced in Senate
Mar 28, 2019
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
Jun 4, 2019
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 116-41.
Dec 10, 2019
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 116-272.
May 20, 2020
Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S2520)
May 20, 2020
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.(text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S2520)
May 20, 2020
Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S2519-2520)
May 20, 2020
Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.
May 22, 2020

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 116-7000
Introduced in House
May 22, 2020
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
May 22, 2020
Received in the House.
May 22, 2020
Held at the desk.
Dec 2, 2020
Mr. Clay moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
Dec 2, 2020
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H6031-6035)
Dec 2, 2020
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 945.
Dec 2, 2020
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H6031-6032)
Dec 2, 2020
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H6031-6032)
Dec 2, 2020
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Dec 8, 2020
Presented to President.
Dec 18, 2020
Signed by President.
Dec 18, 2020
Became Public Law No: 116-222.
  • March 28, 2019
    Introduced in Senate


  • March 28, 2019
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.


  • June 4, 2019
    Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 116-41.


  • December 10, 2019
    Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 116-272.


  • May 20, 2020
    Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S2520)


  • May 20, 2020
    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.(text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S2520)


  • May 20, 2020
    Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S2519-2520)


  • May 20, 2020
    Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.


  • May 22, 2020

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 116-7000
    Introduced in House


  • May 22, 2020
    Message on Senate action sent to the House.


  • May 22, 2020
    Received in the House.


  • May 22, 2020
    Held at the desk.


  • December 2, 2020
    Mr. Clay moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.


  • December 2, 2020
    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H6031-6035)


  • December 2, 2020
    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 945.


  • December 2, 2020
    Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H6031-6032)


  • December 2, 2020
    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H6031-6032)


  • December 2, 2020
    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.


  • December 8, 2020
    Presented to President.


  • December 18, 2020
    Signed by President.


  • December 18, 2020
    Became Public Law No: 116-222.

Finance and Financial Sector

Related Bills

  • S 116-4629: America LEADS Act
  • HR 116-7000: Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act
Accounting and auditingAdministrative law and regulatory proceduresAsiaChinaCorporate finance and managementForeign and international corporationsGovernment information and archivesSecuritiesSecurities and Exchange Commission (SEC)

Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act

USA116th CongressS-945| Senate 
| Updated: 12/18/2020
Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act This bill requires certain issuers of securities to establish that they are not owned or controlled by a foreign government. Specifically, an issuer must make this certification if the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board is unable to audit specified reports because the issuer has retained a foreign public accounting firm not subject to inspection by the board. Furthermore, if the board is unable to inspect the issuer's public accounting firm for three consecutive years, the issuer's securities are banned from trade on a national exchange or through other methods. Foreign issuers of securities that use such a firm to prepare an audit report must disclose for each non-inspection year the percentage of shares owned by governmental entities where the issuer is incorporated, whether these governmental entities have a controlling financial interest, information related to any board members who are officials of the Chinese Communist Party, and whether the articles of incorporation of the issuer contain any charter of the Chinese Communist Party.

Bill Text Versions

View Text
4 versions available

Suggested Questions

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

Timeline
Mar 28, 2019
Introduced in Senate
Mar 28, 2019
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
Jun 4, 2019
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 116-41.
Dec 10, 2019
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 116-272.
May 20, 2020
Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S2520)
May 20, 2020
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.(text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S2520)
May 20, 2020
Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S2519-2520)
May 20, 2020
Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.
May 22, 2020

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 116-7000
Introduced in House
May 22, 2020
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
May 22, 2020
Received in the House.
May 22, 2020
Held at the desk.
Dec 2, 2020
Mr. Clay moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
Dec 2, 2020
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H6031-6035)
Dec 2, 2020
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 945.
Dec 2, 2020
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H6031-6032)
Dec 2, 2020
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H6031-6032)
Dec 2, 2020
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Dec 8, 2020
Presented to President.
Dec 18, 2020
Signed by President.
Dec 18, 2020
Became Public Law No: 116-222.
  • March 28, 2019
    Introduced in Senate


  • March 28, 2019
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.


  • June 4, 2019
    Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 116-41.


  • December 10, 2019
    Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 116-272.


  • May 20, 2020
    Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S2520)


  • May 20, 2020
    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.(text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S2520)


  • May 20, 2020
    Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S2519-2520)


  • May 20, 2020
    Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.


  • May 22, 2020

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 116-7000
    Introduced in House


  • May 22, 2020
    Message on Senate action sent to the House.


  • May 22, 2020
    Received in the House.


  • May 22, 2020
    Held at the desk.


  • December 2, 2020
    Mr. Clay moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.


  • December 2, 2020
    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H6031-6035)


  • December 2, 2020
    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 945.


  • December 2, 2020
    Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H6031-6032)


  • December 2, 2020
    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H6031-6032)


  • December 2, 2020
    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.


  • December 8, 2020
    Presented to President.


  • December 18, 2020
    Signed by President.


  • December 18, 2020
    Became Public Law No: 116-222.
John Kennedy

John Kennedy

Republican Senator

Louisiana

Cosponsors (4)
Rick Scott (Republican)Tom Cotton (Republican)Chris Van Hollen (Democratic)Kevin Cramer (Republican)

Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee

Finance and Financial Sector

Related Bills

  • S 116-4629: America LEADS Act
  • HR 116-7000: Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Accounting and auditingAdministrative law and regulatory proceduresAsiaChinaCorporate finance and managementForeign and international corporationsGovernment information and archivesSecuritiesSecurities and Exchange Commission (SEC)