Stopping Harmful Interference in Elections for a Lasting Democracy Act or the SHIELD Act
This bill establishes a duty to report election interference from foreign entities, applies existing campaign advertising requirements to online advertisements, and generally limits political spending and election interference by foreign entities.
Specifically, a political committee must report certain foreign contacts involving an offer of unlawful election assistance to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Federal Election Commission. The bill establishes criminal penalties for violations of these requirements.
Existing requirements for political advertisements and electioneering communications apply to internet and digital advertisements, including requirements related to disclosures and contributions. Additionally, large online platforms must maintain a public database of certain political advertisements.
The bill places limitations on political spending by foreign entities. Specifically, foreign entities may not (1) contribute to campaigns related to ballot initiatives and referenda, or (2) make disbursements for certain internet activity referring to a candidate or a political issue.
A candidate is prohibited from offering to share nonpublic campaign information with certain foreign entities.
The bill also prohibits (1) the dissemination of false statements regarding federal elections or public endorsement, or (2) the intentional hindering of voting or registering to vote. The bill establishes criminal penalties and a private right of action with respect to these prohibitions.
| Action Date | Type | Text | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-10-28 | IntroReferral | Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration. | Senate |
| 2019-10-23 | Floor | Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. | House floor actions |
| 2019-10-23 | Vote | On passage Passed by recorded vote: 227 - 181 (Roll no. 583). | House floor actions |
| 2019-10-23 | Vote | On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by recorded vote: 182 - 225 (Roll no. 582). | House floor actions |
| 2019-10-23 | Floor | The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection. | House floor actions |
| 2019-10-23 | Floor | DEBATE - The House proceeded with 10 minutes on the Rodney Davis (IL) motion to recommit with instructions. The instructions contained in the motion seek to require the bill to be reported back to the House with an amendment to strike subsection (b) of section 1 and all that follows and insert the text of the bill entitled the "Honest Elections Act". | House floor actions |
| 2019-10-23 | Floor | Mr. Davis, Rodney moved to recommit with instructions to the Committee on House Administration. (text: CR H8439-8440) | House floor actions |
| 2019-10-23 | Floor | The House adopted the amendment in the nature of a substitute as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union. | House floor actions |
| 2019-10-23 | Floor | The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule. | House floor actions |
| 2019-10-23 | Floor | The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 4617. | House floor actions |
| 2019-10-23 | Floor | UNFINISHED BUSINESS - The Chair announced that the unfinished business was on the Lesko amendment, which was debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed. | House floor actions |
| 2019-10-23 | Floor | DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 650, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Spanberger amendment No. 14. | House floor actions |
| 2019-10-23 | Floor | DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 650, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Cunningham amendment No. 13. | House floor actions |
| 2019-10-23 | Floor | DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 650, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Cunningham amendment No. 12. | House floor actions |
| 2019-10-23 | Floor | DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 650, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Sherrill amendment No. 11. | House floor actions |
| 2019-10-23 | Floor | DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 650, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Slotkin amendment No. 10. | House floor actions |
| 2019-10-23 | Floor | DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 650, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Houlahan amendment No. 9. | House floor actions |
| 2019-10-23 | Floor | DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 650, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Delgado amendment No. 8. | House floor actions |
| 2019-10-23 | Floor | DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 650, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Brown (MD) amendment No. 7. | House floor actions |
| 2019-10-23 | Floor | DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 650, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Swalwell (CA) amendment No. 6. | House floor actions |
| 2019-10-23 | Floor | DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 650, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Langevin amendment No. 5. | House floor actions |
| 2019-10-23 | Floor | DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 650, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Levin (MI) amendment No. 4. | House floor actions |
| 2019-10-23 | Floor | DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 650, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Lynch amendment No. 3. | House floor actions |
| 2019-10-23 | Floor | POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Lesko amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment, and by voice vote announced that the noes had prevailed. Mrs. Lesko demanded a recorded vote, and the Chair postponed further proceedings on adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced. | House floor actions |
| 2019-10-23 | Floor | DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 650, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Lesko amendment No. 2. | House floor actions |
| 2019-10-23 | Floor | DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 650, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the DeSaulnier amendment No. 1. | House floor actions |
| 2019-10-23 | Floor | GENERAL DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 4617. | House floor actions |
| 2019-10-23 | Floor | The Speaker designated the Honorable Henry Cuellar to act as Chairman of the Committee. | House floor actions |
| 2019-10-23 | Floor | House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 650 and Rule XVIII. | House floor actions |
| 2019-10-23 | Floor | Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 4617 with 1 hour of general debate. Motion to recommit with or without instructions allowed. | House floor actions |
| 2019-10-23 | Floor | Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 650. (consideration: CR H8410-8442) | House floor actions |
| 2019-10-23 | Floor | Rule H. Res. 650 passed House. | House floor actions |
| 2019-10-22 | Floor | Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 650 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 4617 with 1 hour of general debate. Motion to recommit with or without instructions allowed. | House floor actions |
| 2019-10-21 | Calendars | Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 196. | House floor actions |
| 2019-10-21 | Discharge | Committee on the Judiciary discharged. | House floor actions |
| 2019-10-21 | Committee | Reported (Amended) by the Committee on House Administration. H. Rept. 116-246, Part I. | House floor actions |
| 2019-10-16 | Committee | Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 6 - 1. | House committee actions |
| 2019-10-16 | Committee | Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held. | House committee actions |
| 2019-10-08 | IntroReferral | Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. | House floor actions |
| 2019-10-08 | IntroReferral | Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. | House floor actions |
| 2019-10-08 | IntroReferral | Introduced in House | Library of Congress |