Jeff Bingaman: “this amendment is basically a sunshine provision that would require nonprofit public affairs organizations to register…”

“this amendment is basically a sunshine provision that would require nonprofit public affairs organizations to register with the Attorney General if such organizations receive contributions in excess of $10,000 from foreign governments in any 12-month period. This provision would not affect churches, hospitals, or other nonprofit, 501(c)3 organizations which are not focused on public policy matters. In fact, this amendment only affects those public policy nonprofit organizations that do accept foreign government money. Furthermore, this amendment does not prohibit or object to such foreign government contributions. It only requires that organizations publicly acknowledge such contributions--when they are over a threshold of $10,000 a year from all foreign government sources--by registering this information with the Attorney General under the Foreign Agents Registration Act. Mr. President, I'm sure that many of my colleagues may be wondering what triggered the need for this legislation. Let me state that this amendment is not directed at any particular organization or nonprofit entity. This is simply a common-sense provision that will help make the public affairs environment healthier by the disclosure of when foreign government money is supporting a given nonprofit public affairs organization and when not. These nonprofit organizations are organized for the public good and they are subsidized by the American people.…”