Protecting Our Democracy Act

Floor Speech

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Ms. LOFGREN. Madam Speaker, I want to highlight an important element of reform that came out of work a while ago from the House Administration Committee.

Most Americans believe that if a foreign adversary reaches out to interfere in our elections, the campaign ought to report that to law enforcement. Instead, as we saw in the previous administration, campaign officials welcomed and, in some cases, even solicited foreign assistance for political activities. This bill creates a duty to report illicit offers of campaign assistance from foreign governments to law enforcement.

It also clarifies what is a thing of value. It includes information sought or obtained for political advantage, like opposition research.

It ensures that individuals engaging in misconduct with foreign actors to influence our elections would be held accountable. It also ensures that foreign money cannot influence our politics through State and local ballot initiatives and referenda, closing a loophole that recently was created by the FEC.

Now, it is astounding to hear criticism of the idea that the FBI should be notified when a foreign adversary is trying to corrupt our elections. We all know that that should happen.

To distrust our law enforcement agencies when it comes to protecting our country from this kind of attack--which is what it is--from a foreign adversary is shocking. Support this bill.

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