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S. 2242Senate116th Congress (2019-2021)In Committee

Foreign Influence Reporting in Elections Act

Sponsored by Mark R. WarnerSen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA)
Introduced July 23, 2019

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 14, 2026 at 7:24 AM UTC

The Foreign Influence Reporting in Elections Act would change the Federal Election Campaign Act to make presidential campaigns formally report any contact with foreign nationals that could affect the election. It requires campaigns to set up internal policies for reporting, keeping records, and certifying compliance, and adds criminal penalties for violations. The bill targets presidential candidates, their campaign committees, and anyone working for those committees.

Key Provisions

  • Within one week of a "reportable foreign contact," a presidential campaign committee must notify the FBI and the Federal Election Commission and give a summary of the contact.
  • The presidential candidate and any campaign staff must also inform the campaign treasurer of such contacts within one week.
  • A "reportable foreign contact" is defined as any direct or indirect communication between a candidate, campaign committee, or its staff and a foreign national (or someone believed to be a foreign national) that involves contributions, coordination, or repeated interaction with a foreign government or its agents.
  • Each authorized campaign committee must adopt a policy requiring staff to report foreign contacts within a week, retain related records for at least three years, and certify that these policies are in place and understood by all officials, employees, and agents.
  • Violations of the new reporting or compliance rules can result in fines up to $500,000 and up to five years in prison; destroying or concealing related materials can lead to fines up to $1,000,000 and up to five years in prison.
  • The Act includes a rule of construction stating it does not restrict legitimate journalism or the free speech rights of non‑U.S. persons.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action
SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.

Rules and Administration Committee

July 23, 2019

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

July 23, 2019

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.

Rules and Administration Committee

July 23, 2019

Bill Text

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Introduced in SenateIssued July 23, 2019

II

116th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 2242

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

July 23, 2019

Mr. Warner (for himself, Mrs. Shaheen, Mr. Reed, Mr. King, Mr. Bennet, and Ms. Harris) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration

A BILL

To amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to clarify the obligation to report acts of foreign election influence and require implementation of compliance and reporting systems by Presidential campaigns to detect and report such acts.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Foreign Influence Reporting in Elections Act.

2.

Federal campaign reporting of foreign contacts

Section 304 of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (52 U.S.C. 30104) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:

(j)

Disclosure of reportable foreign contacts

(1)

Committee obligation

Not later than 1 week after a reportable foreign contact, each authorized committee of a candidate for the office of President shall notify the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Commission of the reportable foreign contact and provide a summary of the circumstances with respect to such reportable foreign contact.

(2)

Individual obligation

Not later than 1 week after a reportable foreign contact—

(A)

each candidate for the office of President shall notify the treasurer or other designated official of the principal campaign committee of such candidate of the reportable foreign contact and provide a summary of the circumstances with respect to such reportable foreign contact; and

(B)

each official, employee, or agent of an authorized committee of a candidate for the office of President shall notify the treasurer or other designated official of the authorized committee of the reportable foreign contact and provide a summary of the circumstances with respect to such reportable foreign contact.

(3)

Reportable foreign contact

In this subsection:

(A)

In general

The term reportable foreign contact means any direct or indirect contact or communication that—

(i)

is between—

(I)

a candidate for the office of President, an authorized committee of such a candidate, or any official, employee, or agent of such authorized committee; and

(II)

a foreign national (as defined in section 319(b)) or a person that the person described in subclause (I) believes to be a foreign national; and

(ii)

the person described in clause (i)(I) knows, has reason to know, or reasonably believes involves—

(I)

a contribution, donation, expenditure, disbursement, or solicitation described in section 319; or

(II)

coordination or collaboration with, an offer or provision of information or services to or from, or persistent and repeated contact with a government of a foreign country or an agent thereof.

(B)

Exception

Such term shall not include any contact or communication with a foreign government or an agent of a foreign principal by an elected official or an employee of an elected official solely in an official capacity as such an official or employee.

.

3.

Federal campaign foreign contact reporting compliance system

Section 302(e) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (52 U.S.C. 30102(e)) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

(6)

Reportable foreign contacts compliance policy

(A)

Reporting

Each authorized committee of a candidate for the office of President shall establish a policy that requires all officials, employees, and agents of such committee to notify the treasurer or other appropriate designated official of the committee of any reportable foreign contact (as defined in section 304(j)) not later than 1 week after such contact was made.

(B)

Retention and preservation of records

Each authorized committee of a candidate for the office of President shall establish a policy that provides for the retention and preservation of records and information related to reportable foreign contacts (as so defined) for a period of not less than 3 years.

(C)

Certification

Upon designation of a political committee as an authorized committee by a candidate for the office of President, and with each report filed by such committee under section 304(a), the candidate shall certify that—

(i)

the committee has in place policies that meet the requirements of subparagraphs (A) and (B);

(ii)

the committee has designated an official to monitor compliance with such policies; and

(iii)

not later than 1 week after the beginning of any formal or informal affiliation with the committee, all officials, employees, and agents of such committee will—

(I)

receive notice of such policies;

(II)

be informed of the prohibitions under section 319; and

(III)

sign a certification affirming their understanding of such policies and prohibitions.

.

4.

Criminal penalties

Section 309(d)(1) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (52 U.S.C. 30109(d)(1)) is amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraphs:

(E)

Any person who knowingly and willfully commits a violation of section 304(j) or section 302(e)(6) shall be fined not more than $500,000, imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both.

(F)

Any person who knowingly or willfully conceals or destroys any materials relating to a reportable foreign contact (as defined in section 304(j)) shall be fined not more than $1,000,000, imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both.

.

5.

Rule of construction

Nothing in this Act or the amendments made by this Act shall be construed—

(1)

to impede legitimate journalistic activities; or

(2)

to impose any additional limitation on the right of any individual who is not a citizen of the United States or a national of the United States (as defined in section 101(a)(22) of the Immigration and Nationality Act) and who is not lawfully admitted for permanent residence, as defined by section 101(a)(20) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(20)) to express political views or to participate in public discourse.