HR 4612 · 116th Congress 2019–2021, ended

Firewall Act

Introduced Oct 4, 2019 Originated House Sponsor Dean Phillips D-MN

Fact sheet Spreadsheet

Latest action · Oct 4, 2019 Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.

Progress

Where this bill reached, and when. A stage with no date was not reached; one that failed a vote and later carried shows the date it carried.

  1. IntroducedOct 4, 2019
  2. Passed HouseNot reached
  3. Passed SenateNot reached
  4. To the PresidentNot reached
  5. Became lawNot reached

Summary

Firewall Act

This bill prohibits foreign nationals from making disbursements for digital political advertising.

Cosponsors

Members who signed on, in the order they did.

No cosponsors are on file for this measure.

Committees 1

Where it was sent and what each committee and subcommittee did with it, in order.

ChamberCommitteeWhat it did
HouseCommittee on House Administration
Referred Oct 4, 2019

Actions 2

Everything that happened, newest first.

  1. Oct 4, 2019Introduced in House
  2. Oct 4, 2019Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.

Research

What has been written about this bill: committee reports, cost estimates, the sponsor’s authority statement, printed hearings and the Congressional Research Service’s work.

Constitutional authority

Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant to the following: Article 1, Section 4, Clause 1 of the Constitution gives Congress the authority to prescribe the time, place, and manner for holding U.S. Elections. Article 1, Section 8, Clause 18 provides that Congress has the authority to make laws necessary and proper for carrying out the execution of their powers.

The sponsor’s statement, as printed in the Congressional Record, vol. 165, no. 159, October 4, 2019, page H8096.

Related bills 9

Companion bills and other measures the record links to this one.

BillTitleRelationshipLatest action
HR 1For the People Act of 2019Related billMar 14, 2019
S 949For the People Act of 2019Related billMar 28, 2019
S 1147DISCLOSE Act of 2019Related billApr 11, 2019
S 1962PAID AD ActRelated billJun 25, 2019
HR 2135PAID AD ActRelated billApr 8, 2019
S 2669SHIELD ActRelated billOct 23, 2019
HR 2977DISCLOSE Act of 2019Related billMay 23, 2019
HR 4617Stopping Harmful Interference in Elections for a Lasting Democracy ActRelated billOct 28, 2019
HR 7952Veteran Benefits Enhancement and Expansion Act of 2020Related billOct 6, 2020

Titles 2

Every title it has carried, official and short, at each stage.

Official Title as Introduced
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.
Short Title(s) as Introduced
Firewall Act

Subjects

Assigned by the Library of Congress. Policy area: Government Operations and Politics.

Text 1

Each version as it was printed, newest first.

  1. Oct 4, 2019Introduced in House

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Everything here is as published by Congress: the summary is the Congressional Research Service's, the action wording is the clerks', and the subjects are the Library of Congress's. How far it got is read from the actions themselves, taking the most recent one of each kind, so a bill that failed a vote and later passed is shown as having passed. Records come from this bill on Congress.gov and govinfo.gov; cost estimates are the Congressional Budget Office's, and the hearings are the printed hearings GovInfo publishes, which can appear months after the hearing.