Representatives Malinowski, Cheney, Crow and Wilson Introduce the Bipartisan Madeleine K. Albright Democracy in the 21st Century Act

Press Release

This week, Representatives Tom Malinowski (D-NJ) and Liz Cheney (R-WY), alongside Representatives Jason Crow (D-CO) and Joe Wilson (R-SC), will introduce the Madeleine K. Albright Democracy in the 21st Century Act to modernize the tools the United States uses to defend democracy abroad. The bipartisan bill establishes new authorities and provides additional resources to address contemporary threats to democracy, including malign foreign interference, transnational corruption, and digital authoritarianism. The legislation was introduced in the Senate by Senators Chris Coons (D-DE) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC).

The Madeleine K. Albright Democracy in the 21st Century Act establishes three funds with the aim to promote global democratic programming by the State Department, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and National Endowment for Democracy (NED). The bill would authorize an increase in U.S. global democracy assistance to over $3 billion and establish funds that focus on 21st century threats like the proliferation of surveillance technologies and corrupt electoral practices.

Read the full text of the bill here.

"As authoritarian leaders harness new technologies to buttress their power, democracies must adapt in how we fight back," said Representative Tom Malinowski (D-NJ). "This legislation will better organize and equip our government to do so, with a special focus on combating most dictatorships' greatest vulnerability -- their corruption."

"Since America's founding, we have been a model for those who seek freedom around the world. Our country has been uniquely blessed and we have a particular duty to help ensure the defense and spread of freedom. It's the right thing to do and our security depends upon it. I'm proud to cosponsor this bipartisan and bicameral legislation to provide critical funding and resources to support democracy and combat corruption and kleptocracy," said Representative Liz Cheney (R-WY).

"Authoritarian regimes like Russia and China are working hard to cripple emerging democracies and threaten our freedoms. As we champion democracy and human rights around the world, the bipartisan Democracy in the 21st Century Act will give democracies the resources they need to fight off these threats. This legislation is key to addressing emerging threats and bolstering democracies everywhere," said Representative Jason Crow (D-CO).

"In the global fight between authoritarianism and democracy, it is critical that the United States update its toolbox to confront the challenges of the 21st century. Tackling issues of kleptocracy, digital interference, and strategic corruption are essential to giving democracies an edge over authoritarians who do not play by the rules. President Ronald Reagan knew these issues should be bipartisan and that is why I am grateful to co-lead this legislation with my colleagues from across the aisle," said Representative Joe Wilson (R-SC).

The funds established by the Madeleine K. Albright Democracy in the 21st Century Act are flexible and can accept contributions from other donors, the private sector, and can contribute to multilateral organizations. These funds include:

The Fund to Defend Democracy Globally: $20 million for the State Department and USAID to support democratic programs that bolster freedom of expression, election integrity, democratic technology use.

The Fund to Combat Corruption and Kleptocracy: $20 million for the State Department and USAID to tackle threats to emerging democracies from corruption, including help to civil society, foreign governments, and the private sector.

Democracy Research and Development Fund: $15 million for USAID to support research, development, and innovation within democratic programming, with an emphasis on technology and inter-department coordination and information sharing.

 

Threats to democracy are a national security concern for the United States and have evolved since the founding of America's Reagan-era democracy organizations. Authoritarian regimes can now undermine democratic institutions using digital surveillance or use strategic bribery to taint elections in neighboring countries. Democracies consistently prove to be the most reliable geopolitical allies and trading partners for the United States, and outperform non-democracies in delivering prosperity, good governance, and stability.

The bill is supported by prominent democratic program implementers and groups integral to the growth and sustainability of democracy worldwide:

"Our former Chair would be so proud to lend her name to this bipartisan legislation, which honors Madeleine's legacy through support for organizations that fight for the principles and values of democracy she lived by and fought for her entire life," said Derek Mitchell from the National Democratic Institute.

"It is vital to prioritize US development assistance and democracy support towards combatting authoritarian states' use of corrosive capital to advance their economic and political interests. Corrosive capital exploits recipient countries' existing governance gaps while further undermining their democratic institutions and rule of law. Left unchecked, corrosive capital threatens the interests of the United States and our allies in developing and emerging markets worldwide, and harms the competitiveness of American business and investment. To mitigate this, it is crucial to equip the private sector and civil society in vulnerable societies to hold their governments to account, advocate for mechanisms that ensure investment transparency, and implement safeguards to forestall the worst excesses of corruption and kleptocracy." - Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE)

"The Madeleine K. Albright Democracy in the 21st Century Act would expand resources to help protect the freedoms of association, assembly, and expression around the world, providing needed support at a time when civic freedoms are under attack." - International Center for Not-for-Profit Law

"This bill re-affirms the strong, bi-partisan commitment to democracy around the world. We are grateful that it recognizes the central role independent media and internet freedom play in countering disinformation, exposing corruption, ensuring fair elections, and providing citizens with credible information to make informed decisions about the future of their countries." -- Internews

"Democracy versus authoritarianism is the challenge of the 21st Century. The Madeleine K. Albright Democracy in the 21st Century Act meets that challenge head on with significant increases in dollars, and new, innovative programs to match today's threats. Democratic freedoms are under assault worldwide, and America cannot be neutral in the face of tyranny's resurgence.

The creation of the Combating Corruption and Kleptocracy Program will allow NGOs to address the interdependent relationship between authoritarianism and corruption.

The Democracy Research & Development Program will drive innovation, incentivize collaboration and provide dedicated resources for developing new tools and approaches to counter emerging threats to democracy, elections, independent media and good governance. And, we applaud the prioritization of internet freedom, countering mis/disinformation in the digital domain, and pushing back on authoritarian abuse of technology." - InterAction

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