← Back to Bills
H.R. 8347House116th Congress (2019-2021)In Committee

Shell Company Abuse Act

Sponsored by Harley RoudaRep. Harley Rouda (D-CA)
Introduced September 22, 2020

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 14, 2026 at 3:03 PM UTC

The Shell Company Abuse Act would add a new federal crime that makes it illegal for anyone involved in forming or running a corporation—such as owners, officers, attorneys, or incorporation agents—to create or use that corporation to hide election contributions or donations made by foreign nationals. The law targets the use of shell companies to evade existing rules that bar foreign nationals from influencing U.S. elections, and it applies to any entity set up for that purpose.

Key Provisions

  • Creates a new offense (Section 612) that prohibits establishing or using a corporation, company, or other entity with the intent to conceal prohibited foreign‑national election contributions.
  • Specifies that the prohibited activity is defined by the foreign‑national contribution ban in the Federal Election Campaign Act (Section 319).
  • Sets penalties of up to five years in prison, a fine, or both for anyone who violates the prohibition.

Legislative Activity

Stay on top of the latest movement without scrolling through every action

1 earlier action
HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Judiciary Committee

September 22, 2020

View full timeline
HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

September 22, 2020

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Judiciary Committee

September 22, 2020

Bill Text

Latest available legislative text

Reading Mode
Latest
Raw Text PDF XML
Introduced in HouseIssued September 22, 2020

I

116th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 8347

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

September 22, 2020

Mr. Rouda (for himself, Mr. Allred, and Mr. Levin of Michigan) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

A BILL

To amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit the establishment of a corporation to conceal election contributions and donations by foreign nationals.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Shell Company Abuse Act.

2.

Prohibition

(a)

In general

Chapter 29 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

612.

Establishment of corporation to conceal election contributions and donations by foreign nationals

(a)

Offense

It shall be unlawful for an owner, officer, attorney, or incorporation agent of a corporation, company, or other entity to establish or use the corporation, company, or other entity with the intent to conceal an activity of a foreign national (as defined in section 319 of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (52 U.S.C. 30121)) prohibited under such section 319.

(b)

Penalty

Any person who violates subsection (a) shall be imprisoned for not more than 5 years, fined under this title, or both.

.

(b)

Table of sections

The table of sections for chapter 29 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 611 the following:

612. Establishment of corporation to conceal election contributions and donations by foreign nationals.

.