Objective:
To safeguard U.S. political processes and national sovereignty by tightening regulations on foreign lobbying, financial contributions, and influence in domestic policy, ensuring that U.S. government decisions are made in the best interest of American citizens.
Key Provisions:
- Ban on Foreign Lobbying:
- Prohibit foreign governments, entities, and individuals from directly or indirectly hiring lobbyists to influence U.S. government policies or elections.
- Require U.S.-based subsidiaries of foreign companies or entities to disclose their ties to foreign governments and ban them from lobbying unless they are majority-owned by U.S. citizens or companies.
- Enhanced Foreign Agent Registration Act (FARA) Enforcement:
- Strengthen the enforcement of FARA by increasing the penalties for failing to register as a foreign agent, including substantial fines and potential criminal charges.
- Create a dedicated task force within the Department of Justice to actively investigate and prosecute violations of FARA.
- Mandate that all foreign agents disclose the full nature of their activities, including financial contributions, lobbying, and any influence on U.S. public officials.
- Ban on Foreign Campaign Contributions and Political Spending:
- Expand existing laws to prohibit foreign nationals, governments, corporations, and entities from making direct or indirect contributions to any U.S. political campaigns, political action committees (PACs), or issue advocacy groups.
- Close loopholes that allow foreign-owned or foreign-controlled entities operating in the U.S. to fund political activities, including super PACs and 501(c)(4) organizations.
- Implement strict auditing and oversight measures to trace and prevent foreign-linked financial contributions to U.S. political campaigns or causes.
- Tighter Scrutiny on Foreign Investments in Media:
- Impose strict limits on foreign ownership and investment in U.S. media companies, including news outlets, to prevent foreign influence on domestic information and public opinion.
- Establish a review board to evaluate potential media acquisitions or investments for national security risks, similar to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) for other industries.
- Require transparency in media ownership, including the disclosure of all foreign financial interests in media entities.
- Foreign Influence in Academia and Research:
- Require all U.S. universities and research institutions receiving federal funding to disclose any foreign financial support or partnerships, particularly from foreign governments or state-owned entities.
- Ban foreign governments or entities with adversarial interests (as identified by U.S. national security agencies) from funding or partnering with U.S. universities or research institutions in fields that impact national security or critical technologies.
- Strengthening Cybersecurity Against Foreign Interference:
- Increase funding for cybersecurity programs aimed at protecting critical U.S. infrastructure, elections, and government communications from foreign interference, including disinformation campaigns and hacking attempts.
- Mandate regular audits of government cybersecurity practices and partnerships with private companies to ensure security measures are up to date and effective against evolving threats.
- Enhanced Screening for Government Contracts:
- Require enhanced screening and disclosure requirements for foreign-owned companies seeking U.S. government contracts, especially those with ties to adversarial nations.
- Ban companies with significant foreign government ownership or control from securing contracts in sensitive areas such as defense, energy, infrastructure, or telecommunications.
- Citizenship and National Security Protections:
- Implement a lifetime ban on former high-level U.S. government officials (including members of Congress, high-ranking military officials, and senior executive branch members) from lobbying on behalf of foreign governments or entities after leaving public office.
- Enforce a waiting period of at least five years before any former government official can work for foreign governments, state-owned companies, or foreign-funded think tanks, ensuring the separation of personal gain from national security interests.
- Prohibition on Dual Citizens in Government Positions:
- Ban individuals with dual citizenship from holding any national security-sensitive government positions or roles that involve access to classified information. This would apply to all executive, legislative, and judicial branches, as well as any federal agency, contractor, or contractor position involving sensitive or classified work.
- Require current government employees with dual citizenship to renounce their foreign citizenship or transition out of such roles within a set timeframe.
- Establish a system for verifying citizenship status as part of the hiring process for all government employees, contractors, and consultants to ensure no dual citizens are appointed to sensitive positions.
Fiscal Impact:
- Costs for enforcement would be offset by fines imposed on violators of the strengthened FARA laws and penalties for illegal foreign campaign contributions. Additional government spending would be directed to cybersecurity improvements and oversight of foreign influence measures.
Rationale: This bill strengthens U.S. sovereignty by preventing undue foreign influence over domestic policy and safeguarding sensitive government operations from external interference. By banning dual citizens from holding national security-sensitive government jobs, the bill ensures that only those fully committed to U.S. interests serve in critical positions. Additionally, enhanced FARA enforcement, transparency in foreign investments, and cybersecurity measures are necessary to protect the integrity of U.S. institutions and maintain the country’s independence from foreign pressures.