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DISCLOSE Act of 2021
1/11/2023, 1:47 PM
Summary of Bill HR 1334
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.
Congressional Summary of HR 1334
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.
