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FIRM Act

Introduced: January 30, 2020 Introduced by: Moulton, Seth Democratic · Massachusetts See on congress.gov
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 Everywhere this bill has been 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jan 30, 2020
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Jan 30, 2020
Introduced in House
 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Foreign Influence Registration Modernization Act or the FIRM Act

This bill revises provisions related to the registration of foreign agents, and it transfers certain oversight duties regarding lobbying to the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Current law exempts from foreign agent registration requirements any person engaging only in religious, scholastic, or scientific pursuits. The bill eliminates this exemption for agents of foreign principals that are known violators of human rights.

The bill also narrows the definition of foreign principal, waiving registration requirements for agents of foreign enterprises that are not under the control or direction of a foreign government or political party.

The bill further requires registration statements and supplements to be filed in a digitized format and stored in a searchable, sortable, and downloadable database.

In addition, the bill authorizes DOJ to enact a civil penalty of up to $200,000 for a violation of foreign agent registration requirements.

Lastly, the bill transfers administration of lobbyist registration, reporting, disclosure and enforcement, and penalties from Congress to DOJ.

What's happening now January 30, 2020

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
 Cosponsors 1
All 1 Republican 1