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Foreign Agents Disclosure and Registration Enhancement Act of 2023

USA118th CongressS-1364| Senate 
| Updated: 4/27/2023
Chuck Grassley

Chuck Grassley

Republican Senator

Iowa

Cosponsors (5)
Todd Young (Republican)Lindsey Graham (Republican)Sheldon Whitehouse (Democratic)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 2023 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. Agents of a foreign principal must 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 of certain foreign agents from FARA-registration if the agent has engaged in lobbying activities and has registered under the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995.
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Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

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

Bill from Previous Congress

S 117-1724
Foreign Agents Disclosure and Registration Enhancement Act of 2021
Apr 27, 2023
Introduced in Senate
Apr 27, 2023
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

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


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 117-1724
    Foreign Agents Disclosure and Registration Enhancement Act of 2021


  • April 27, 2023
    Introduced in Senate


  • April 27, 2023
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

International Affairs

Foreign Agents Disclosure and Registration Enhancement Act of 2023

USA118th CongressS-1364| Senate 
| Updated: 4/27/2023
Foreign Agents Disclosure and Registration Enhancement Act of 2023 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. Agents of a foreign principal must 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 of certain foreign agents from FARA-registration if the agent has engaged in lobbying activities and has registered under the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995.
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

Bill from Previous Congress

S 117-1724
Foreign Agents Disclosure and Registration Enhancement Act of 2021
Apr 27, 2023
Introduced in Senate
Apr 27, 2023
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

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


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 117-1724
    Foreign Agents Disclosure and Registration Enhancement Act of 2021


  • April 27, 2023
    Introduced in Senate


  • April 27, 2023
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
Chuck Grassley

Chuck Grassley

Republican Senator

Iowa

Cosponsors (5)
Todd Young (Republican)Lindsey Graham (Republican)Sheldon Whitehouse (Democratic)John Cornyn (Republican)Marco Rubio (Republican)

Foreign Relations Committee

International Affairs

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted