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House Democrats Pass Election Security Bill

Associated Press

   WASHINGTON - The House approved legislation Wednesday to better protect
   the country's elections from foreign interference, the third major bill
   the Democratic-controlled chamber has passed this year addressing
   problems that arose in the 2016 presidential election.
   The 227-181 vote cameas lawmakerscontinued topursue an impeachment
   inquiry centered on allegations that President Donald Trump improperly
   solicited election help from Ukraine ahead of the 2020 vote. It also
   camemonths after special counsel Robert Mueller finished his report on
   2016 election interference, finding numerous contacts between the Trump
   campaign and Russia but not enough evidence to establish a conspiracy
   between the two. Democrats want to prevent such actions in the future
   and ensure that campaigns know they are illegal.
   The Stopping Harmful Interference in Elections for a Lasting
   DemocracyAct, or SHIELD Act, would require that candidates and
   political committees notify the FBI and other authorities if a foreign
   power offers campaign help. It alsowouldtighten restrictions on
   campaign spending by foreign nationals and require more transparency in
   political ads on social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter.

   Ban on exchanges with foreigners
   And it would explicitly prohibit campaigns from exchanging
   campaign-related information with foreign governments and their agents.
   The latter provision was aimed at reports that officials in Trump's
   2016 campaign shared polling data with a person associated with Russian
   intelligence.
   RepresentativeZoe Lofgren,a California Democrat who wasthe bill's chief
   sponsor, said it would close loopholes that allow dishonest behavior,
   increase disclosure and transparency requirements, and ensure that
   anyone who engages with foreign actors to influence the outcome of an
   election will be held accountable bylaw.
   ``Most Americans know that foreign governments have no business
   interfering in our elections,'' said Lofgren, who chairs the House
   Administration Committee. ``We should all be able to agree that we need
   to protect our democracy--and with a sense of urgency. This is not a
   partisan opinion. Nothing less than our national security is at
   stake.''

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