Overview
Title
To amend the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 to clarify a provision relating to certain contents of registrations under that Act.
ELI5 AI
H.R. 1883 is a bill that wants to make sure people know when foreign countries or political parties are involved in trying to influence U.S. laws and decisions, by asking them to share more details about their activities.
Summary AI
H.R. 1883, also known as the "Disclosing Foreign Influence in Lobbying Act," aims to amend the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995. The bill seeks to clarify the information required in lobbying registrations by specifying that the name and address of foreign governments and political parties, involved in directing or controlling lobbying activities, must be disclosed. This amendment ensures greater transparency regarding foreign influence in U.S. lobbying practices.
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AnalysisAI
Summary of the Bill
The proposed legislation, titled the "Disclosing Foreign Influence in Lobbying Act," seeks to amend the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995. The main aim of the bill is to enhance transparency in lobbying activities by requiring lobbyists to disclose additional details in their registration. Specifically, the amendment mandates lobbyists to report the name and address of any foreign government or political party involved in the direction or control of their lobbying efforts in the United States.
Significant Issues
A key issue with the bill is its potential to impose broad and burdensome reporting requirements. By requiring the disclosure of any foreign government or political party that directs or controls lobbying efforts, the bill may create excessive administrative work for lobbyists. This could disproportionately affect entities where the involvement is minimal but still falls under the broad criteria set by the bill.
Another concern is privacy. The requirement to make public the detailed identities and roles of foreign entities could expose sensitive and potentially confidential relationships, complicating diplomatic and business ventures.
The language used in the bill is problematic due to its vagueness. Terms like "participates in the direction, planning, supervision, or control" could be interpreted subjectively, leading to inconsistent application and enforcement. Moreover, without further context from the original Lobbying Disclosure Act, understanding the implications of these terms is difficult, possibly resulting in confusion and compliance challenges.
Lastly, the bill uses the term "registrant" without a definition in the text. This ambiguity could lead to legal uncertainty about who exactly is subject to these disclosure requirements, complicating compliance for affected parties.
Impact on the Public
From the public's perspective, the bill is positioned as a tool for increasing transparency in lobbyist activities, particularly those influenced by foreign entities. This could enhance public trust in government processes by shedding light on the international influences behind lobbying. Greater transparency could lead to more informed public discourse about the role of foreign entities in U.S. policymaking.
Impact on Specific Stakeholders
For lobbyists and their clients, the bill could have a mixed impact. On one hand, it may increase administrative burdens and operational costs due to the need to compile and disclose detailed information. For lobbyists representing clients with minor foreign involvement, this could be particularly challenging and costly.
Conversely, for policymakers and transparency advocates, the legislation might be viewed positively. It offers a mechanism to better understand the extent of foreign influence in American politics, which could influence legislation regarding foreign engagement and lobbying practices.
Corporate and foreign government clients might find the bill burdensome or invasive, particularly if the disclosure of sensitive relationships affects their competitive position or diplomatic interactions. The requirement to disclose detailed information could deter foreign entities from engaging openly with U.S. lobbyists, potentially impacting international business and diplomatic strategies.
In summary, while the Disclosing Foreign Influence in Lobbying Act aims to enhance transparency in lobbying, it brings forward challenges related to complexity, privacy, and enforcement, which will affect various stakeholders differently.
Issues
The amendment requires the disclosure of the name and address of each government of a foreign country and foreign political party involved in lobbying activities, which could be seen as overly broad and burdensome, particularly for entities with minor involvement. This is found in Section 2 and may lead to unnecessary administrative tasks for these entities, potentially inhibiting their ability to engage in lobbying activities.
Privacy concerns are raised as the amendment mandates detailed disclosures of foreign entities involved in lobbying. This requirement, found in Section 2, might expose sensitive or confidential business or diplomatic relationships, potentially affecting diplomatic ties and business operations.
The phrase 'participates in the direction, planning, supervision, or control' is considered vague in the context of Section 2. It leaves room for subjective interpretation that could lead to inconsistent enforcement and confusion over what constitutes sufficient involvement to require disclosure.
The term 'registrant' is used in the amendment without being defined within the provided text. Without a clear definition, as pointed out in Section 2, there could be ambiguity regarding who is subject to the new disclosure requirements, potentially leading to legal and compliance challenges for involved parties.
Without the full context of referenced 'paragraph (4)' in the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995, the specific exemption or detail it involves is unclear. This lack of clarity in Section 2 could lead to misunderstandings about how the amendment alters current obligations or exemptions.
Sections
Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.
1. Short title Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section provides that this Act is officially named the “Disclosing Foreign Influence in Lobbying Act.”
2. Clarification of contents of registration Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The bill amends the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 to require lobbyists to include additional information in their registration. This change mandates that they disclose the name and address of any foreign government or political party involved in directing or controlling their lobbying activities.