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Foreign Agents Disclosure and Registration Enhancement Act of 2021

USA117th CongressS-1724| Senate 
| Updated: 5/20/2021
Chuck Grassley

Chuck Grassley

Republican Senator

Iowa

Cosponsors (4)
Todd Young (Republican)Lindsey Graham (Republican)John Cornyn (Republican)Marco Rubio (Republican)

Foreign Relations Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Foreign Agents Disclosure and Registration Enhancement Act of 2021 This bill provides the Department of Justice (DOJ) with a mechanism to demand evidence for investigating compliance with foreign-agent disclosure requirements and increases penalties relating to such requirements. DOJ may issue civil investigative demands to a person who may have information relevant to an investigation related to the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938 (FARA). Such demands may be for documents, written answers to questions, or oral testimony. The bill prescribes various procedures and requirements, such as minimum notice periods when seeking oral testimony. Investigative demands may be enforced or challenged in district court. Such investigative demands may not require the production of information that would be protected from disclosure under (1) the rules governing grand jury subpoenas, or (2) the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure to the extent the rules are consistent with this bill. The bill increases the maximum criminal fine for certain FARA violations from $10,000 to $200,000. It shall be unlawful for an agent of a foreign principal to willfully fail to disclose being a FARA-registered agent before or during a meeting with a Member of Congress (or with staff of a Member or congressional committee). The bill provides for various civil penalties for failing to meet agent registration requirements. The foreign principal of a penalized agent may not pay the imposed fines. The Government Accountability Office shall (1) analyze the effectiveness of FARA enforcement, and (2) audit the exemption to the Lobbying Disclosure Act for FARA-registered agents.
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Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 116-1762
Foreign Agents Disclosure and Registration Enhancement Act of 2019
May 20, 2021
Introduced in Senate
May 20, 2021
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S3196)
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 116-1762
    Foreign Agents Disclosure and Registration Enhancement Act of 2019


  • May 20, 2021
    Introduced in Senate


  • May 20, 2021
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S3196)

International Affairs

Related Bills

  • HR 117-4847: Foreign Political Influence Elimination Act of 2021
Civil actions and liabilityCongressional oversightCriminal investigation, prosecution, interrogationEvidence and witnessesGovernment information and archivesGovernment studies and investigationsLicensing and registrationsPublic participation and lobbying

Foreign Agents Disclosure and Registration Enhancement Act of 2021

USA117th CongressS-1724| Senate 
| Updated: 5/20/2021
Foreign Agents Disclosure and Registration Enhancement Act of 2021 This bill provides the Department of Justice (DOJ) with a mechanism to demand evidence for investigating compliance with foreign-agent disclosure requirements and increases penalties relating to such requirements. DOJ may issue civil investigative demands to a person who may have information relevant to an investigation related to the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938 (FARA). Such demands may be for documents, written answers to questions, or oral testimony. The bill prescribes various procedures and requirements, such as minimum notice periods when seeking oral testimony. Investigative demands may be enforced or challenged in district court. Such investigative demands may not require the production of information that would be protected from disclosure under (1) the rules governing grand jury subpoenas, or (2) the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure to the extent the rules are consistent with this bill. The bill increases the maximum criminal fine for certain FARA violations from $10,000 to $200,000. It shall be unlawful for an agent of a foreign principal to willfully fail to disclose being a FARA-registered agent before or during a meeting with a Member of Congress (or with staff of a Member or congressional committee). The bill provides for various civil penalties for failing to meet agent registration requirements. The foreign principal of a penalized agent may not pay the imposed fines. The Government Accountability Office shall (1) analyze the effectiveness of FARA enforcement, and (2) audit the exemption to the Lobbying Disclosure Act for FARA-registered agents.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

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

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 116-1762
Foreign Agents Disclosure and Registration Enhancement Act of 2019
May 20, 2021
Introduced in Senate
May 20, 2021
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S3196)
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 116-1762
    Foreign Agents Disclosure and Registration Enhancement Act of 2019


  • May 20, 2021
    Introduced in Senate


  • May 20, 2021
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S3196)
Chuck Grassley

Chuck Grassley

Republican Senator

Iowa

Cosponsors (4)
Todd Young (Republican)Lindsey Graham (Republican)John Cornyn (Republican)Marco Rubio (Republican)

Foreign Relations Committee

International Affairs

Related Bills

  • HR 117-4847: Foreign Political Influence Elimination Act of 2021
  • 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