BGOV Bill Analysis: H.R. 8314, Foreign Political Donations (1)

Tax-exempt nonprofits that receive funding from foreign nationals would be prohibited from making donations to political committees under H.R. 8314.

Federal law prohibits foreign nationals from influencing US elections, including by making political donations. But nonprofits that don’t disclose their donors can influence elections through political ads or donations, creating an avenue for untraceable foreign money.

These “dark money” groups have spent $2.8 billion to influence federal elections since the 2010 Supreme Court decision in Citizens United v. FEC that ushered in unlimited spending by big-money groups that aren’t officially affiliated with candidates, according to research group OpenSecrets.

Republicans ...