DISCLOSE Act of 2021

1/11/2023, 1:47 PM

Democracy Is Strengthened by Casting Light On Spending in Elections Act of 2021 or the DISCLOSE Act of 2021

This bill addresses campaign finance, including by expanding the prohibition on campaign spending by foreign nationals, requiring additional disclosures of campaign expenditures, and requiring additional disclosures regarding certain political advertisements.

First, the bill prohibits foreign nationals from participating in the decision-making process regarding an election expenditure.

Additionally, the bill expands existing foreign money prohibitions to include disbursements for paid web-based or digital communications and federal judicial nomination communications. It also prohibits foreign nationals from contributing to campaigns related to ballot initiatives and referenda.

The Federal Election Commission (FEC) must conduct an audit after each federal election cycle to determine the incidence of illicit foreign money.

Next, the bill makes it unlawful to establish or use a corporation, company, or other entity with the intent to conceal an election contribution or donation by a foreign national. A violator is subject to criminal penalties—a fine, a prison term of up to five years, or both.

Covered organizations (e.g., corporations, labor organizations, and political organizations) must, within 24 hours, file reports with the FEC to disclose campaign expenditures of more than $10,000 during an election cycle.

Finally, the bill requires organizations to provide additional disclosures regarding political advertisements, including the donors who contributed the most money to that organization in the last year.

Bill 117 hr 1334, also known as the DISCLOSE Act of 2021, is a piece of legislation introduced in the US Congress. The main purpose of this bill is to increase transparency in political campaign financing by requiring organizations that spend money on political advertisements to disclose their donors.

The DISCLOSE Act of 2021 aims to prevent "dark money" from influencing elections by requiring organizations that spend over $10,000 on political ads to disclose their donors who contribute $10,000 or more. This information would then be made publicly available on the Federal Election Commission's website.

Additionally, the bill includes provisions to prevent foreign entities from influencing US elections by prohibiting them from spending money on political ads. It also requires online platforms to maintain a public database of political ads and the organizations behind them. Overall, the DISCLOSE Act of 2021 seeks to promote transparency and accountability in political campaign financing, ensuring that voters have access to information about who is funding political advertisements.
Congress
117

Number
HR - 1334

Introduced on
2021-02-25

# Amendments
0

Sponsors
+5

Cosponsors
+5

Variations and Revisions

2/25/2021

Status of Legislation

Bill Introduced
Introduced to House
House to Vote
Introduced to Senate
Senate to Vote

Purpose and Summary

Democracy Is Strengthened by Casting Light On Spending in Elections Act of 2021 or the DISCLOSE Act of 2021

This bill addresses campaign finance, including by expanding the prohibition on campaign spending by foreign nationals, requiring additional disclosures of campaign expenditures, and requiring additional disclosures regarding certain political advertisements.

First, the bill prohibits foreign nationals from participating in the decision-making process regarding an election expenditure.

Additionally, the bill expands existing foreign money prohibitions to include disbursements for paid web-based or digital communications and federal judicial nomination communications. It also prohibits foreign nationals from contributing to campaigns related to ballot initiatives and referenda.

The Federal Election Commission (FEC) must conduct an audit after each federal election cycle to determine the incidence of illicit foreign money.

Next, the bill makes it unlawful to establish or use a corporation, company, or other entity with the intent to conceal an election contribution or donation by a foreign national. A violator is subject to criminal penalties—a fine, a prison term of up to five years, or both.

Covered organizations (e.g., corporations, labor organizations, and political organizations) must, within 24 hours, file reports with the FEC to disclose campaign expenditures of more than $10,000 during an election cycle.

Finally, the bill requires organizations to provide additional disclosures regarding political advertisements, including the donors who contributed the most money to that organization in the last year.

Bill 117 hr 1334, also known as the DISCLOSE Act of 2021, is a piece of legislation introduced in the US Congress. The main purpose of this bill is to increase transparency in political campaign financing by requiring organizations that spend money on political advertisements to disclose their donors.

The DISCLOSE Act of 2021 aims to prevent "dark money" from influencing elections by requiring organizations that spend over $10,000 on political ads to disclose their donors who contribute $10,000 or more. This information would then be made publicly available on the Federal Election Commission's website.

Additionally, the bill includes provisions to prevent foreign entities from influencing US elections by prohibiting them from spending money on political ads. It also requires online platforms to maintain a public database of political ads and the organizations behind them. Overall, the DISCLOSE Act of 2021 seeks to promote transparency and accountability in political campaign financing, ensuring that voters have access to information about who is funding political advertisements.
Alternative Names
Official Title as IntroducedTo amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to provide for additional disclosure requirements for corporations, labor organizations, Super PACs and other entities, and for other purposes.

Policy Areas
Government Operations and Politics

Potential Impact
Accounting and auditing
Broadcasting, cable, digital technologies
Civil actions and liability
Congressional oversight
Constitution and constitutional amendments
Corporate finance and management
Criminal justice information and records
Elections, voting, political campaign regulation
Federal Election Commission (FEC)
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Government studies and investigations
Judges
Judicial review and appeals
Labor-management relations
Members of Congress
Political advertising
Political parties and affiliation
Public participation and lobbying
Supreme Court
Tax-exempt organizations
Telephone and wireless communication

Comments

Recent Activity

Latest Summary7/28/2021

Democracy Is Strengthened by Casting Light On Spending in Elections Act of 2021 or the DISCLOSE Act of 2021

This bill addresses campaign finance, including by expanding the prohibition on campaign spending by foreign nationals, requ...


Latest Action4/28/2021
Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.