,,ii #aafth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #aifb ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,june #be1 #bjai,ms4 ,klobuchar 7for herself1 ,mr4 ,warner1 and ,mr4 ,jones7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,rules and ,administration ,a ,,bill ,to prevent foreign adversaries from influencing elections by prohibiting foreign nationals from purchasing at any time a broadcast1 cable1 or satellite communication that mentions a clearly identified candidate for ,federal office1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,preventing ,adversaries ,internationally from ,disbursing ,advertising ,dollars ,act or ,,paid ,,ad ,act4 #b4 ,purpose ,the purpose of this ,act is to protect the integrity of ,american democracy by expanding the scope of the prohibition on political advertising by foreign principals in order to uphold the well-established standard of the ,united ,states ,supreme ,court that foreign nationals may lawfully be excluded from participating in certain electoral activities4 #c4 ,sense of congress ,it is the sense of ,congress that-- 7#a7 the growing threat of malicious interference in our elections by foreign actors requires the ,congress and the ,federal ,election ,commission to take meaningful action to ensure that laws and regulations protect against influence by foreign nationals in activity fundamental to our democracy2 7#b7 the ,supreme ,court has long held that there is a compelling national interest in preventing foreign influence in the ,united ,states political process and that foreign citizens lack a constitutional right to participate in1 and thus may be excluded from1 activities of democratic self-government2 and 7#c7 the current prohibition on foreign nationals contributing to political campaigns and advertisements must be updated4 #d4 ,modifications to limitation on foreign nationals 7a7 ,application to other disbursements 7#a7 ,in general ,section #cai7;a77#a7 of the ,federal ,election ,campaign ,act of #aiga 7#eb ,u4,s4,c4 #cjaba7;a77#a77 is amended-- 7,a7 by striking or at the end of subparagraph 7,b72 and 7,b7 by striking subparagraph 7,c7 and inserting the following3 7,c7 an expenditure2 7,d7 an independent expenditure2 7,e7 a disbursement for an electioneering communication 7within the meaning of section #cjd7;f77#c772 7,f7 a disbursement for a paid internet or paid digital communication that refers to a clearly identified candidate for election for ,federal office and is disseminated within #fj days before a general1 special or runoff election for the office sought by the candidate or #cj days before a primary or preference election1 or a convention or caucus of a political party that has authority to nominate a candidate for the office sought by the candidate2 7,g7 a disbursement for a broadcast1 cable or satellite communication1 or for a paid internet or paid digital communication1 that promotes1 supports1 attacks or opposes the election of a clearly identified candidate for ,federal1 ,state1 or local office 7regardless of whether the communication contains express advocacy or the functional equivalent of express advocacy72 or 7,h7 a disbursement for a broadcast1 cable1 or satellite communication1 or for any communication which is placed or promoted for a fee on an online platform1 that discusses a national legislative issue of public importance in a year in which a regularly scheduled general election for ,federal office is held1 but only if the disbursement is made by-- 7i7 a foreign principal 7as defined in section #a7;b7 of the ,foreign ,agents ,registration ,act of #aich 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #faa7;b77 that is a government of a foreign country or a foreign political party2 or 7ii7 a person who is acting as an agent on behalf of such a foreign principal4 4 7#b7 ,definitions ,section #cai of such ,act 7#eb ,u4,s4,c4 #cjaba7 is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection3 7c7 ,definitions ,as used in this section3 7#a7 ,online platform 7,a7 ,in general ,the term online platform means any public-facing website1 web application1 or digital application 7including a social network1 ad network1 or search engine7 which-- 7i7 sells qualified political advertisements2 and 7ii7 has #ej1jjj1jjj or more unique monthly ,united ,states visitors or users for a majority of months during the preceding #ab months4 7,b7 ,qualified political advertisement ,for purposes of subparagraph 7,a71 the term qualified political advertisement means any advertisement 7including search engine marketing1 display advertisements1 video advertisements1 native advertisements1 and sponsorships7 that-- 7i7 is made by or on behalf of a candidate2 or 7ii7 communicates a message relating to any political matter of national importance1 including-- 7,i7 a candidate2 7,,ii7 any election to ,federal office2 or 7,,iii7 a national legislative issue of public importance4 7#b7 ,paid internet or paid digital communication ,the term paid internet or paid digital communication means a communication which is placed or promoted for a fee on any website1 web application1 or digital application 7including a social network1 ad network1 or search engine74 4 7b7 ,criminal penalty ,section #cji7;d77#a7 of the ,federal ,election ,campaign ,act of #aiga 7#eb ,u4,s4,c4 #cjaji7;d77#a77 is amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph3 7,e7 ,in the case of a knowing and willful violation of section #cba that involves a government of a foreign country 7or an agent of such a government7-- 7i7 subparagraph 7,a77i7 shall apply without regard to the amount of the contribution or expenditure involved2 and 7ii7 subparagraph 7,a77ii7 shall not apply4 4 7c7 ,effective date ,the amendments made by this section shall apply with respect to contributions1 donations1 expenditures1 and disbursements made on or after the date of the enactment of this ,act4