Bipartisan legislation introduced by U.S. Sen. Todd Young (R-IN) on Wednesday would modernize the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) to crack down on foreign governments evading U.S. laws.
Young and U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) introduced the Foreign Agents Registration Modernization and Enforcement Act, S. 625, to give the Department of Justice (DOJ) authority to investigate potential violations of FARA.
The bill followed a recent report by the director of national intelligence titled “Assessing Russian Activities and Intentions in Recent U.S. Elections.”
“When foreign governments attempt to surreptitiously disseminate propaganda in the United States, deliberately evading our laws, the American people have a right to know,” Young and Shaheen said in a joint statement.
“In order to ensure compliance with the law and maximum transparency for the American people, we are proud to introduce this bipartisan legislation that would provide the Department of Justice authority that the DOJ Inspector General and Government Accountability Office have said is necessary,” the lawmakers said.
The director of national intelligence’s report concluded that officials at RT, an international television network owned by the Russian government, have structured affiliate organizations to intentionally sidestep U.S. reporting and disclosure requirements under FARA.
The Foreign Agents Registration Modernization and Enforcement Act would streamline and modernize information disclosure and user fee requirements.