Harley Rouda: “I thank my friend from Michigan, Representative Levin, for yielding. Madam Chair, preventing foreign election…”

“I thank my friend from Michigan, Representative Levin, for yielding. Madam Chair, preventing foreign election interference is a bipartisan issue. This amendment is proof of that statement. I am proud to support this amendment, a commonsense measure to close a loophole that is allowing illegal political spending by foreign nationals in United States elections. In the 2016 election, millions of Americans saw and engaged with political advertisements paid for by foreign nationals. Last year, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg confirmed in sworn testimony before Congress that foreign nationals were purchasing campaign ads and issue ads through American shell companies. As elected officials, we took an oath to defend the Constitution of the United States of America against both foreign and domestic adversaries and threats. That includes the cornerstone of our democracy, free and fair elections. {time} 1615 This amendment and the underlying bill seek to end a dangerous and well-documented form of foreign election interference. I thank Representatives Levin and McCaul for offering this important amendment, and I look forward to continuing to work with them to address this critical issue.”