Campaign and Election Accountability Act

Bill Number

H.R. 7193

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 2

Policy Area

Government Operations and Politics

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2026-01-21: Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.

Last Updated

2026-02-13T16:37:54Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The Campaign and Election Accountability Act (H.R. 7193) aims to strengthen protections against foreign interference in U.S. elections by prohibiting individuals from knowingly assisting foreign nationals in making illegal contributions or donations to election-related activities. This builds on existing laws to close potential loopholes that could enable indirect foreign influence.

Key Provisions

• Amendment to Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA): Adds a new prohibition to Section 319(a) of FECA (52 U.S.C. 30121(a)), making it illegal for any person to knowingly help or assist a foreign national in violating bans on foreign contributions or donations.
• Scope: The ban applies to contributions or donations connected to federal, state, or local elections, including expenditures by candidates, political committees, or other entities.
• Effective Date: Applies to contributions and donations made on or after the date the Act is enacted into law.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Under current FECA rules, foreign nationals (non-U.S. citizens who are not permanent residents) are already prohibited from directly making contributions, donations, or expenditures in connection with U.S. elections.
• This Act expands the prohibition by explicitly criminalizing "knowing" assistance to foreign nationals in evading these rules, such as facilitating or enabling their involvement. It adds a new paragraph (3) to the existing section, clarifying that aiding such violations is itself a violation.
• Minor technical edits to the law's text (e.g., adding "or" and semicolons) ensure grammatical consistency with the new addition.

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: The Federal Election Commission (FEC) may see increased enforcement responsibilities, requiring more investigations into potential assistance cases, which could strain resources but enhance oversight of election finance.
• On Citizens: U.S. persons (individuals or entities) face new legal risks if they knowingly help foreign nationals bypass contribution rules, potentially leading to fines or penalties; this could deter unintentional involvement in international dealings.
• On International Relations: Reinforces U.S. policies against foreign election meddling, signaling stricter boundaries to other nations, but may complicate legitimate cross-border interactions (e.g., in advocacy or business).
• Broader Effects: Could improve election integrity by reducing hidden foreign influence, though it might not address all forms of interference like disinformation campaigns.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• U.S. Citizens and Residents: Prohibited from assisting foreign nationals; political activists, consultants, or businesses with international ties are directly impacted.
• Foreign Nationals: Indirectly affected, as the law makes it harder for them to influence U.S. elections through proxies.
• Political Campaigns and Committees: Must ensure compliance to avoid violations, potentially increasing due diligence in fundraising.
• Enforcement Bodies: Primarily the FEC and Department of Justice, which handle investigations and prosecutions.
• Non-Profit and Advocacy Groups: Those with foreign funding or members may need to review operations to avoid accidental assistance.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Strengthens FECA's framework without altering core definitions (e.g., "foreign national" remains as non-citizens without green cards). "Knowingly" requires proof of intent, setting a prosecutorial threshold that balances enforcement with avoiding overreach.
• Constitutional: Aligns with First Amendment limits on foreign speech in elections (as upheld in cases like Bluman v. FEC), but could face challenges if seen as overly broad in restricting domestic speech or association; no direct conflicts anticipated.
• Political: Promotes bipartisan election security (introduced by Reps. Subramanyam and Bilirakis from different parties), potentially reducing perceptions of foreign favoritism in campaigns. Referred to the House Administration Committee, it may influence ongoing debates on campaign finance reform amid concerns over foreign election interference.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Subramanyam, Suhas [D-VA-10]

Cosponsors (2)

Rep. Bilirakis, Gus M. [R-FL-12], Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2]

Recent Actions

• 2026-01-21: Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.
• 2026-01-21: Introduced in House
• 2026-01-21: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H1163)
• 2026-01-21: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Campaign and Election Accountability Act — issued 2026-01-21 — PDF (2 pages)