Bill > S2039

This bill, the Disclosing Foreign Influence Act, amends the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938 (FARA) in several ways: 1. It repeals an exemption that allowed agents of foreign persons and entities in the private sector to register under the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (LDA) instead of FARA. These agents must now register under FARA and file subsequent statements at the same time and frequency as their LDA reports. 2. It authorizes the Department of Justice (DOJ) to issue civil investigative demands to compel the production of documents relevant to FARA investigations before initiating criminal or civil proceedings. 3. It requires DOJ to develop and implement a comprehensive strategy to improve FARA enforcement and administration. The DOJ Inspector General must review the development and implementation of this strategy, as well as the use, effectiveness, and potential abuse of the civil investigative demand authority. 4. It requires the Government Accountability Office to analyze the effectiveness of FARA enforcement and administration, including the impact of the amendments made by this bill. The bill is intended to promote greater transparency in the registration of foreign agents and provide DOJ with more tools to investigate and enforce FARA violations.

Government Affairs

https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/2039/all-info