H.R. 4170: Disclosing Foreign Influence Act

115th Congress · introduced 2017-10-31 · Crime and Law Enforcement · Latest: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 15 - 6.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2017-10-31 · official record
Who proposed it: Rep. Johnson, Mike [R-LA-4] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
Where it stands now: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 15 - 6. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Disclosing Foreign Influence Act

Plain summary

Disclosing Foreign Influence Act This bill amends the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938 (FARA): to repeal an exemption from registration under FARA for agents of foreign persons and entities in the private sector who register under the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (LDA); to require such agents, after initial registration under FARA, to file subsequent statements at the same time, and in the same frequency, as reports filed with Congress under the LDA; and to authorize the Department of Justice (DOJ) to issue civil investigative demands to compel the production of documents relevant to FARA investigations before initiating criminal or civil proceedings. DOJ must develop and implement a comprehensive strategy to improve FARA enforcement and administration. The DOJ Inspector General must review: (1) the development and implementation of a comprehensive strategy; and (2) the use, effectiveness, and potential abuse of DOJ's authority to issue civil investigative demands. The Government Accountability Office must analyze the effectiveness of FARA enforcement and administration.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Disclosing Foreign Influence Act

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Johnson, Mike [R-LA-4] · 7 cosponsors

Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: H.R. 4170, Disclosing Foreign Influence Act (2018-03-09)

Cosponsors on this site

Andy Biggs (R-AZ), Brian Babin (R-TX), Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (D-GA)

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. Johnson, Mike [R-LA-4] reported raising $24.6 million (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (3)

Authorization: A law that creates or continues a government program and says what it may do, often with a suggested spending ceiling. An authorization alone does not provide money; a separate appropriation does.
Bill: A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).
Exemption: A rule that removes certain people, property or activities from a tax or requirement.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-115hr4170.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/115/hr>

Record fed-us-cong115-hr4170 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong115 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong115