While foreign nationals are already barred from contributing to candidate campaigns in America, current law does not explicitly prohibit them from financing issue-based ballot measures — ambiguity that would change under a new bill offered by U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA).
“Foreign nationals have no place influencing our laws, our ballots, or our future. Whether it’s a presidential race or a local referendum, every taxpayer-funded election must be protected from foreign interference,” Rep. Fitzpatrick said. “This bipartisan legislation closes a dangerous loophole and sends a clear message: our democracy is not for sale.”
The congressman on May 21 sponsored the Stop Foreign Funds in Elections Act, H.R. 3535, alongside lead original cosponsor U.S. Rep. Jared Golden (D-ME), to prohibit foreign nationals from influencing American elections at any level, including state and local ballot initiatives, referenda, and recall elections.
If enacted, H.R. 3535 would extend federal prohibitions to every aspect of the U.S. electoral system to ensure that foreign adversaries cannot use indirect channels to sway public policy or manipulate outcomes, according to a bill summary provided by Rep. Fitzpatrick’s staff.
“Foreign nationals should never be able to buy influence in state and local elections, but that’s exactly what current campaign finance laws allow,” said Rep. Golden. “I’ve long been proud to partner with Rep. Fitzpatrick on making America’s political process cleaner and fairer, and this bipartisan bill would nationalize another one of Maine’s important reforms: banning foreign contributions in all elections.”
H.R. 3535 has been referred to the U.S. House Committee on House Administration for consideration.