Perriello Effort To Protect U.S. Elections From Foreign Influence Advances In U.S. House

Press Release

Congressman Perriello's legislative effort to protect American elections from foreign influence is advancing in the U.S. House of Representatives. Today, the bipartisan DISCLOSE Act was unveiled as a legislative response to the recent Supreme Court ruling on Citizens United v. FEC, which will allow unlimited corporate spending in electioneering activity. Included in the DISCLOSE Act is a provision that would extend the existing prohibition on contributions and expenditures by foreign nationals to include domestic corporations if a foreign national owns 20% or more of voting shares in the domestic corporation. (Rep. Perriello's original bill, H.R. 4523, the Save Our Democracy From Foreign Influence Act of 2010, would have extended that prohibition to include domestic corporations whose shareholders include any foreign principals.)

Perriello's legislation is designed to close a dangerous loophole that "would appear to afford the same protection to multinational corporations controlled by foreigners as to individual Americans," as stated in Justice John Paul Stevens' dissent. Today, he applauded its inclusion in the DISCLOSE Act and urged for the bill's passage.

"We have a serious duty to ensure that American elections belong to the American people. Our democracy cannot be put up for sale to big banks, lobby front groups, and especially foreign-controlled corporations. Opening the floodgates to more corporate influence in our elections is a grave mistake, and allowing that process to be corrupted by a flood of cash from Saudi Arabia or China would be even graver. I applaud the bipartisan support behind this effort and look forward to voting for the DISCLOSE Act so that we can take the "for sale' sign off of the heart of American democracy," said Perriello.

The bipartisan DISCLOSE Act was introduced today by Congressmen Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Robert Brady (D-PA), Mike Castle (R-DE), Walter Jones (R-NC), and Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY).

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