S.Amdt. 4409

The amendment, submitted by Mr. Whitehouse, seeks to replace the entirety of bill S. 1383 with the Democracy Is Strengthened by Casting Light On Spending in Elections Act of 2026 (also known as the DISCLOSE Act of 2026). Its primary purpose is to increase transparency in campaign finance and prevent foreign influence in U.S. elections.

The amendment aims to add the following changes:

• Foreign Money Ban: It closes loopholes to stop foreign nationals from spending money in elections, including ballot initiatives and referenda. It also makes it a crime to set up a corporation specifically to hide foreign election contributions.
• Spending Disclosure: It requires "covered organizations" that spend more than $10,000 on campaign-related activities to file disclosure statements. This includes identifying beneficial owners and reporting the original source of the money.
• Judicial Nominations: It extends disclosure requirements to spending used to influence the nomination and confirmation of Federal judges and justices.
• Ad Transparency: Through the Stand By Every Ad Act, it expands disclaimer requirements for audio, video, and digital communications to show who paid for the ad and, in some cases, a list of top funders.
• Administrative Oversight: It mandates a study by the Comptroller General on illicit foreign money in Federal elections and establishes specific rules for the judicial review of campaign finance laws in the D.C. District Court.