US Senate panel advances bill targeting foreign influence
Washington, June 18
A bipartisan group of US senators has welcomed the passage of legislation by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that seeks to tighten disclosure requirements for foreign agents and curb influence campaigns by countries such as China, Russia, Iran, North Korea and Cuba.
The Preventing Adversary Influence, Disinformation and Obscured Foreign Financing (PAID OFF) Act would close what lawmakers describe as loopholes in the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), allowing some foreign-linked lobbyists to avoid registering with the US government.
"American policy should not in any way reflect the handiwork of foreign adversaries who are actively working to tip the scales in their favour and undermine our interests," Sen. John Cornyn of Texas said after the bill cleared the committee. "By exposing the efforts of countries of concern like China or Russia to exert malign influence, this legislation would better safeguard US decision-making."
The measure is backed by Republican and Democratic lawmakers, including Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse, Jim Risch, Thom Tillis, Chuck Grassley, Deb Fischer, Peter Welch and John Kennedy.
Supporters of the legislation argue that foreign adversaries have increasingly used commercial relationships and lobbying exemptions to influence policy debates in Washington without fully disclosing their activities.
"When foreign adversaries skirt loopholes to lobby Congress, they directly threaten our democracy," Whitehouse said. "This bipartisan legislation is long overdue and will help prevent unregistered foreign agents from putting a thumb on the scale of American policy."
Risch said foreign powers had exploited weaknesses in US lobbying laws for years.
"For years, the United States' biggest adversaries have exploited loopholes in US lobbying laws to influence senior government officials and advance their geopolitical goals," he said. "Well-known examples include Russia's efforts to prevent sanctions against its Nord Stream 2 pipeline and Chinese surveillance firm Hikvision's attempts to avoid sanctions."
Under the proposal, agents working on behalf of Chinese, Russian, Iranian, North Korean or Cuban governments or commercial entities would be required to register under FARA, regardless of whether they claim exemptions linked to commercial activity, domestic interests or lobbying laws.
"Foreign adversaries like China and Russia should never be allowed to covertly influence American policy or public opinion," Tillis said. "I'm proud this bipartisan legislation passed out of committee so we can close dangerous loopholes and strengthen our national security."
Welch said foreign influence operations had contributed to declining public trust in democratic institutions.
"Foreign adversaries have exacerbated that distrust by using loopholes in US lobbying laws to undermine US decision-making and influence politics," he said.
Kennedy said the legislation would increase transparency surrounding lobbying efforts tied to US adversaries.
"If you're being paid to push the interests of our enemies, the American people deserve to know who is signing the checks and what you're up to," he said.
The bill would remain in force for five years. It also includes a mechanism allowing the US Secretary of State to recommend additions or removals from the list of countries of concern, subject to congressional approval.
— IANS
Reader Comments
This is long overdue! As someone who follows international relations closely, I've always wondered how foreign governments can spend millions influencing US policy with almost no disclosure. The FARA loopholes were massive. India should also look at similar laws to protect our democratic processes from external interference. 🇮🇳
I'm an American living in India, and this article raises some important points. The US definitely needs to close these loopholes, but I hope this doesn't become a tool for targeting countries based on political convenience rather than genuine national security concerns. Bipartisan support is encouraging though.
As an Indian, I find this fascinating. We've seen firsthand how foreign countries try to influence our elections and policies. If the US can successfully implement this, it sets a good precedent. However, I'm skeptical about the 'five-year sunset clause' - seems like a built-in escape route for future administrations to avoid accountability. Beta, transparency should be permanent, not temporary!
I'm both impressed and suspicious. On one hand, closing loopholes in lobbying laws makes sense. On the other hand, the 'PAID OFF Act' seems very narrowly targeted at specific countries. What about countries like Saudi Arabia or Israel that spend even more on lobbying? Feels like a selective crackdown dressed up as reform.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.