A group of bipartisan lawmakers is trying to close a loophole in US law that allows foreign agents to lobby in the United States, without disclosing who they really work for.
Under current law, foreign agents can avoid disclosing their lobbying efforts by taking advantage of exemptions for commercial activities or registering under the Lobbying Disclosure Act. So if an employee of the Chinese tech giant Huawei or RT wanted to lobby, they wouldn’t have to say what they’re doing is on behalf of, and being paid for by the Chinese or Russian governments.
The Paid Off Act would close that loophole and these foreign agents would have to disclose their lobbying efforts to the Justice Department.
The bill names six countries of concern: China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Cuba and Syria.
It was introduced by Congressmen August Pfluger and Jason Crow in the House and Senators Sheldon Whitehouse and John Cornyn.
Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas: “I can point to examples of where foreign governments have hired lobbyists here in Washington DC, without disclosing the fact that these lobbyists were in fact working for a foreign government against the interests of the United States. And we need to close that gap because it’s being exploited everyday.”
Nebraska Senator Deb Fischer said in a statement: “China, Russia, and our other adversaries are constantly attempting to undercut our national interests and skew U.S. policy in their favor. The PAID OFF Act will help prevent foreign adversaries from meddling in our legislative process, and it will stop individuals working for foreign powers from skirting the disclosure laws that identify them as such.”
Senator Whitehouse says he hopes the bill will pass soon. It’s been introduced in both the House and Senate. Straight from DC, I’m Ray Bogan.
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