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H.R. 4612House116th Congress (2019-2021)In Committee

Firewall Act

Sponsored by Dean PhillipsRep. Dean Phillips (D-MN)
Introduced October 4, 2019

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 14, 2026 at 8:34 AM UTC

The Firewall Act amends the Federal Election Campaign Act to stop foreign nationals from paying for any type of political communication that promotes, supports, attacks, or opposes a candidate. It adds several categories of communications—including traditional ads, electioneering communications, and digital ads placed within specific time windows before elections—so that foreign funding is barred across federal, state, and local races. The rule takes effect for any disbursement made after the law is enacted.

Key Provisions

  • Adds new categories (expenditures, independent expenditures, electioneering communications, digital ads placed within 60 days of a general/special/runoff election or 30 days of a primary, and broadcast/cable/satellite communications) to the list of disallowed foreign‑national disbursements.
  • Prohibits any foreign national from making money payments for those communications that refer to a clearly identified candidate for federal, state, or local office, regardless of whether the content includes express advocacy.
  • The amendment applies to all disbursements made on or after the date the Act becomes law.

Legislative Activity

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HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.

Committee on House Administration

October 4, 2019

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

October 4, 2019

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.

Committee on House Administration

October 4, 2019

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued October 4, 2019

I

116th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 4612

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

October 4, 2019

Mr. Phillips introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on House Administration

A BILL

To amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to prohibit foreign nationals from making disbursements for communications promoting, supporting, attacking, or opposing the election of a candidate for public office, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Firewall Act.

2.

Prohibiting disbursements by foreign nationals for certain communications involving candidates

(a)

Disbursements described

Section 319(a)(1) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (52 U.S.C. 30121(a)(1)) is amended—

(1)

by striking or at the end of subparagraph (B); and

(2)

by striking subparagraph (C) and inserting the following:

(C)

an expenditure;

(D)

an independent expenditure;

(E)

a disbursement for an electioneering communication (within the meaning of section 304(f)(3));

(F)

a disbursement for a communication which is placed or promoted for a fee on a website, web application, or digital application that refers to a clearly identified candidate for election for Federal office and is disseminated within 60 days before a general, special or runoff election for the office sought by the candidate or 30 days before a primary or preference election, or a convention or caucus of a political party that has authority to nominate a candidate for the office sought by the candidate; or

(G)

a disbursement for a broadcast, cable or satellite communication, or for a communication which is placed or promoted for a fee on a website, web application, or digital application, that promotes, supports, attacks or opposes the election of a clearly identified candidate for Federal, State, or local office (regardless of whether the communication contains express advocacy or the functional equivalent of express advocacy); or

.

(b)

Effective date

The amendments made by this section shall apply with respect to disbursements made on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.