SHIELD Act cracks down on foreign interference in U.S. elections
End Citizens United Action Fund President Tiffany Muller released the following statement after House Democrats passed the SHIELD Act (H.R.4617), which includes several amendments from freshman Democrats:
“House Democrats understand that protecting our national security isn’t a Democratic cause or a Republican cause – it’s an American cause. The SHIELD Act would ensure that our elections are free from undue foreign interference. We applaud Speaker Pelosi, Chairperson Lofgren, Democracy Reform Task Force Chair John Sarbanes, and all House Democrats for leading this effort and for their unwavering commitment to national security. The Senate should follow their lead by putting country over partisan politics and passing the SHIELD Act.”
The SHIELD Act includes several amendments introduced by freshman democrats, including ones from Representatives Antonio Delgado (NY-19), Joe Cunningham (SC-01), Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06), Conor Lamb (PA-17), Andy Levin (MI-09), Tom Malinowski (NJ-07), Dean Phillips (MN-03), Katie Porter (CA-45), Elissa Slotkin (MI-08), and Abigail Spanberger (VA-07).
The SHIELD Act (H.R.4617) was introduced by the Committee on House Administration chairperson Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) to combat foreign interference in U.S. elections. The SHIELD Act would require political campaigns and committees to report offers of campaign assistance from foreign governments, ensure online political advertisements have the same level of transparency as broadcast advertisements, close loopholes that allow foreign nationals and governments to spend money in our elections, and prohibits anyone from providing false information about voting rules and qualifications.
The SHIELD Act expands on House Democrats’ efforts to protect voting rights, secure our elections, and end the dominance of big money in politics. In March, the House passed the For the People Act, the most sweeping package of anti-corruption legislation since Watergate. This summer, it passed the SAFE Act, legislation aimed at ensuring states have the resources they need to shore up our election infrastructure. Both bills have been blocked by Sen. Mitch McConnell and his “legislative graveyard.”
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