U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick and five colleagues introduced legislation to prohibit foreign contributions in elections. Specifically, the Stop Foreign Funds in Elections Act would amend the Federal Election Campaign Act to ban contributions and donations made by foreign nationals in state and local ballot initiatives and referenda. Currently, the FEC has interpreted the Federal Election Campaign Act to prohibit foreign contributions and donations made in only candidate elections, but not ballot initiatives and referendums.
“Allowing foreign contributions to ballot initiatives and referenda poses a direct threat to our nation’s democratic process,” Fitzpatrick said. “Our bipartisan legislation will put a stop to this illicit practice and ensure that state and local elections are free from foreign influence and decided solely by American voters.”
