[20180116]LSB10060_众议院司法部将提高H.R.4170《对外影响力披露法》.pdf

CRS INSIGHT Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress Legal SidebarLegal Sidebari i House Judiciary to Mark Up H.R. 4170, the Disclosing Foreign Influence Act January 16, 2018 The House Judiciary Committee has announced that it will hold a full committee markup hearing on Wednesday, January 17 for H.R. 4170, the Disclosing Foreign Influence Act (DFIA). The bill, which has a companion measure in the Senate (S. 2039), would amend the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938 (FARA). Congress originally enacted FARA in 1938 to promote transparency with respect to foreign propaganda, but subsequent amendments have evolved its breadth and application to focus on transparency of lobbying activities undertaken on behalf of a foreign client. However, in recent years, internal investigations by the Department of Justice (which has the authority to enforce FARA), congressional hearings, and media reports have highlighted the lack of enforcement of FARAs requirements, leading to the introduction of proposals such as H.R. 4170. This posting discusses the framework of the current provisions in effect under FARA and examines the proposed changes that have been introduced under H.R. 4170/S. 2