This bill, titled the Foreign Agents Transparency Act, significantly amends the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) to enhance transparency and enforcement regarding foreign influence. It clarifies that the obligation for individuals who formerly served as agents of foreign principals to register under FARA is continuing , specifically with respect to activities carried out previously on behalf of such principals. This amendment ensures that past actions remain subject to registration requirements, applying to individuals who served as agents within five years prior to the bill's enactment, on the enactment date, or thereafter. The legislation also strengthens the Attorney General's enforcement powers by permitting court orders requiring FARA compliance even after a person's activities as a foreign agent have ceased. This allows for retrospective enforcement of registration requirements. Furthermore, the bill mandates that the Attorney General submit annual, machine-readable reports to Congress detailing enforcement actions taken against covered individuals, including their names, the rationale for the action, and its current status, thereby increasing oversight and accountability.
This bill, titled the Foreign Agents Transparency Act, significantly amends the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) to enhance transparency and enforcement regarding foreign influence. It clarifies that the obligation for individuals who formerly served as agents of foreign principals to register under FARA is continuing , specifically with respect to activities carried out previously on behalf of such principals. This amendment ensures that past actions remain subject to registration requirements, applying to individuals who served as agents within five years prior to the bill's enactment, on the enactment date, or thereafter. The legislation also strengthens the Attorney General's enforcement powers by permitting court orders requiring FARA compliance even after a person's activities as a foreign agent have ceased. This allows for retrospective enforcement of registration requirements. Furthermore, the bill mandates that the Attorney General submit annual, machine-readable reports to Congress detailing enforcement actions taken against covered individuals, including their names, the rationale for the action, and its current status, thereby increasing oversight and accountability.