Stopping Harmful Interference in Elections for a Lasting Democracy Act

Fact Sheet API

Bill Number

HR 4617

Introduced

Oct 8, 2019

Latest Action

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.

Sponsor

Cosponsors

Topics

Accounting and auditing Administrative law and regulatory procedures Civil actions and liability Congressional elections Congressional oversight Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation Criminal procedure and sentencing Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad Elections, voting, political campaign regulation Fraud offenses and financial crimes Government ethics and transparency, public corruption Government information and archives Government Operations and Politics Government studies and investigations Immigration status and procedures Internet and video services Internet, web applications, social media Licensing and registrations News media and reporting Photography and imaging Political advertising Public participation and lobbying Sound recording Subversive activities Voting rights

Full Text

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Votes

Summary

Stopping Harmful Interference in Elections for a Lasting Democracy Act or the SHIELD Act

This bill establishes a duty to report election interference from foreign entities, applies existing campaign advertising requirements to online advertisements, and generally limits political spending and election interference by foreign entities.

Specifically, a political committee must report certain foreign contacts involving an offer of unlawful election assistance to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Federal Election Commission. The bill establishes criminal penalties for violations of these requirements.

This bill establishes that an alien engaging in improper election interference shall be deportable and inadmissible into the United States.

Existing requirements for political advertisements and electioneering communications apply to internet and digital advertisements, including requirements related to disclosures and contributions. Additionally, large online platforms must maintain a public database of certain political advertisements.

The bill prohibits the distribution of certain deceptive audio or visual media within 60 days of an election.

The bill places limitations on political spending by foreign entities. Specifically, foreign entities may not (1) contribute to campaigns related to ballot initiatives and referenda, or (2) make disbursements for certain internet activity referring to a candidate or a political issue.

A candidate is prohibited from offering to share nonpublic campaign information with certain foreign entities.

Actions

Oct 28, 2019

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
Oct 23, 2019

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Oct 23, 2019

On passage Passed by recorded vote: 227 - 181 (Roll no. 583).
Oct 23, 2019

Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by recorded vote: 227 - 181 (Roll no. 583).
Oct 23, 2019

On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by recorded vote: 182 - 225 (Roll no. 582).
Oct 23, 2019

The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection.
Oct 23, 2019

DEBATE - The House proceeded with 10 minutes on the Rodney Davis (IL) motion to recommit with instructions. The instructions contained in the motion seek to require the bill to be reported back to the House with an amendment to strike subsection (b) of section 1 and all that follows and insert the text of the bill entitled the "Honest Elections Act".
Oct 23, 2019

Mr. Davis, Rodney moved to recommit with instructions to the Committee on House Administration. (text: CR H8439-8440)
Oct 23, 2019

The House adopted the amendment in the nature of a substitute as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.
Oct 23, 2019

The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
Oct 23, 2019

The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 4617.
Oct 23, 2019

UNFINISHED BUSINESS - The Chair announced that the unfinished business was on the Lesko amendment, which was debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.
Oct 23, 2019

DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 650, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Spanberger amendment No. 14.
Oct 23, 2019

DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 650, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Cunningham amendment No. 13.
Oct 23, 2019

DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 650, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Cunningham amendment No. 12.
Oct 23, 2019

DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 650, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Sherrill amendment No. 11.
Oct 23, 2019

DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 650, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Slotkin amendment No. 10.
Oct 23, 2019

DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 650, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Houlahan amendment No. 9.
Oct 23, 2019

DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 650, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Delgado amendment No. 8.
Oct 23, 2019

DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 650, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Brown (MD) amendment No. 7.
Oct 23, 2019

DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 650, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Swalwell (CA) amendment No. 6.
Oct 23, 2019

DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 650, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Langevin amendment No. 5.
Oct 23, 2019

DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 650, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Levin (MI) amendment No. 4.
Oct 23, 2019

DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 650, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Lynch amendment No. 3.
Oct 23, 2019

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Lesko amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment, and by voice vote announced that the noes had prevailed. Mrs. Lesko demanded a recorded vote, and the Chair postponed further proceedings on adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.
Oct 23, 2019

DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 650, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Lesko amendment No. 2.
Oct 23, 2019

DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 650, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the DeSaulnier amendment No. 1.
Oct 23, 2019

GENERAL DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 4617.
Oct 23, 2019

The Speaker designated the Honorable Henry Cuellar to act as Chairman of the Committee.
Oct 23, 2019

House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 650 and Rule XVIII.
Oct 23, 2019

Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 4617 with 1 hour of general debate. Motion to recommit with or without instructions allowed.
Oct 23, 2019

Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 650. (consideration: CR H8410-8442)
Oct 23, 2019

Rule H. Res. 650 passed House.
Oct 22, 2019

Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 650 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 4617 with 1 hour of general debate. Motion to recommit with or without instructions allowed.
Oct 21, 2019

Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 196.
Oct 21, 2019

Committee on the Judiciary discharged.
Oct 21, 2019

Reported (Amended) by the Committee on House Administration. H. Rept. 116-246, Part I.
Oct 16, 2019

Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 6 - 1.
Oct 16, 2019

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Oct 8, 2019

Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Oct 8, 2019

Introduced in House

Amendments

Related Bills