WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) today reintroduced legislation to require greater transparency of think tanks and other non-profit entities that inform and influence American public policy. Companion legislation was introduced in the House of Representatives by Congressman Jack Bergman (R-Mich.).
 
“We can’t allow for think tanks and nonprofits to become a backdoor for foreign nations to exert influence and attempt to sway public opinion,” Grassley said. “The American public ought to know who’s influencing research and public policy in our country. The requirements and penalties in this bill will go a long way towards exposing our adversaries and those who are willing to cooperate with them.” 
 
“The American people deserve to know what these think tanks are up to, and who they’re working for,” Bergman said. “The assumption that they are non-political, pseudo-academic entities advocating for policies that are in the national interest is no longer accurate, given the increasing amount of funding they receive from foreign governments, often earmarked for specific projects."
 
Background
The Think Tank Transparency Act of 2023 requires think tanks and non-profits engaged in influencing U.S. policy or public opinion to promptly make available for the American public all funds provided by foreign principals, as well as all contracts and agreements they enter into with foreign principals. Within 90 days of receiving funds from or signing agreements with foreign principals, public policy nonprofits would be required to disclose the funding and contracts to the Justice Department—who in turn will make such disclosures available for immediate public inspection on an Internet database similar to FARA.gov.
 
The bill also creates enforcement mechanisms so the Justice Department can impose compliance when necessary. Out-of-compliance entities will face a penalty of at least $1,000 per day, and the department may bring civil action to compel compliance. The legislation also provides that non-compliant entities must repay the full cost of obtaining their compliance if the Justice Department has to take action—recouping all taxpayer money spent.
 
The full text of the legislation is available HERE.
 

 

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