Bipartisan senators push new bill to improve foreign lobbying disclosures

Senators are making a bipartisan push to improve the foreign lobbying disclosure process.

Sen. Chuck GrassleyCharles (Chuck) Ernest GrassleyLoeffler isolating after possible COVID-19 infection More GOP governors embrace mask mandates, but holdouts remain Trump nominee's long road to Fed may be dead end MORE (R-Iowa) on Monday introduced legislation that would give the Justice Department more tools to investigate possible violations of the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), a 1938 statute that lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have characterized as outdated and weak.

The measure — co-sponsored by Democratic Sens. Jeanne ShaheenCynthia (Jeanne) Jeanne ShaheenTop Democrat calls Trump's Afghan drawdown 'the right policy decision' as others warn of 'mistake' Overnight Defense: How members of the Armed Services committees fared in Tuesday's elections | Military ballots among those uncounted in too-close-to-call presidential race | Ninth US service member killed by COVID-19 Biden wins New Hampshire MORE (N.H.) and Dianne FeinsteinDianne Emiel FeinsteinVoting machine company denies Trump claims about software issues Top Latino group calls for Padilla as Harris's Senate replacement Pressure grows on California governor to name Harris replacement MORE (Calif.), along with GOP Sens. John CornynJohn CornynGOP senator congratulates Biden, says Trump should accept results Trump keeps tight grip on GOP amid divisions Romney: Consequences of Trump actions during lame-duck 'potentially more severe' than transition delay MORE (Texas), Marco RubioMarco Antonio RubioGOP senator congratulates Biden, says Trump should accept results GOP lawmaker patience runs thin with Trump tactics Trump's cyber firing stirs outrage MORE (Fla.) and Todd YoungTodd Christopher YoungShelton's Fed nomination on knife's edge amid coronavirus-fueled absences Grassley quarantining after exposure to coronavirus Rick Scott to quarantine after contact with person who tested positive for COVID-19 MORE (Ind.) — would allow the Justice Department to increase the penalties for people who fail to properly register as a foreign agent.

It also would require the Government Accountability Office to study whether and to what extent the Lobbying Disclosure Act exemption is being abused to conceal foreign lobbying activity.

Foreign lobbying has been in the national spotlight since special counsel Robert MuellerRobert (Bob) MuellerCNN's Toobin warns McCabe is in 'perilous condition' with emboldened Trump CNN anchor rips Trump over Stone while evoking Clinton-Lynch tarmac meeting The Hill's 12:30 Report: New Hampshire fallout MORE obtained guilty pleas under FARA from two prominent Trump 2016 campaign aides — Paul ManafortPaul John ManafortHow to combat Putin's financial aggression Like it or not, a Trump self-pardon may be coming soon DOJ veteran says he's quitting over Barr's 'slavish obedience' to Trump MORE and Richard Gates — over their lobbying work on behalf of pro-Russian forces in Ukraine.

Grassley has been one of the loudest voices calling for changes to foreign lobbying rules.

Grassley introduced the Disclosing Foreign Influence Act with Rep. Mike JohnsonJames (Mike) Michael JohnsonNew RSC chairman sees 'Trumpism' as future House GOP votes to keep leaders in place This week: Clock ticks on coronavirus, government funding deals MORE (R-La.), which focused mainly on the Lobbying Disclosure Act, in the previous Congress.

Shaheen and Young have teamed up on two similar bills — one to give the Justice Department new authority to investigate potential violations and another, with Feinstein and Cornyn, to strengthen FARA.