S.865 - Lobbying Disclosure Improvement Act (119th Congress)
Summary
The Lobbying Disclosure Improvement Act (S.865) aims to amend the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995. It seeks to enhance transparency by requiring registrants to disclose whether they are exempt under Section 3(h) of the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). This bill was introduced in the Senate by Mr. Peters and Mr. Grassley and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
The core purpose is to provide more information about potential foreign influence in lobbying activities. This additional disclosure would allow the public and policymakers to better understand the interests behind lobbying efforts.
Ultimately, the bill intends to improve the integrity of the lobbying process by shedding light on exemptions related to foreign agents.
Expected Effects
The primary effect of this bill, if enacted, would be increased transparency in lobbying activities. Lobbying firms and individuals would be required to disclose whether they are exempt from registering as foreign agents under FARA.
This disclosure could lead to greater scrutiny of lobbying efforts that might be influenced by foreign interests. It may also prompt some entities to re-evaluate their registration status under FARA.
In the long term, this could lead to a more informed public discourse and potentially reduce the risk of undue foreign influence on US policy.
Potential Benefits
- Increased transparency in lobbying activities, allowing the public to better understand who is influencing policy.
- Greater accountability for lobbyists who may be working on behalf of foreign interests.
- Improved ability for policymakers to assess the potential impact of lobbying efforts.
- Reduced risk of hidden foreign influence in US policy decisions.
- Strengthened integrity of the lobbying process.
Potential Disadvantages
- Potential for increased administrative burden on lobbying firms due to the new disclosure requirement.
- Possible chilling effect on legitimate lobbying activities if firms fear increased scrutiny.
- Risk of misinterpretation or misuse of the disclosed information, leading to unwarranted accusations.
- Limited impact if the exemption under FARA is broadly applied or easily circumvented.
- The bill focuses narrowly on one aspect of lobbying disclosure and may not address other areas of concern.
Constitutional Alignment
The Lobbying Disclosure Improvement Act appears to align with the First Amendment, which protects the right to petition the government. By increasing transparency in lobbying, the bill could help ensure that this right is exercised in a fair and open manner.
Requiring disclosure of foreign agent exemptions does not restrict the right to petition but rather provides more information about the source of the petition. This aligns with the principle of informed public discourse, which is essential for a functioning democracy.
However, care must be taken to avoid overly burdensome regulations that could infringe on the right to petition. The balance between transparency and freedom of expression is crucial.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).