H.R. 4617Stopping Harmful Interference in Elections for a Lasting Democracy Act

3 recorded actions193 of these members are on the 2026 ballotWhat the measure does Read on Congress.gov

Sponsor: Zoe Lofgren [D-CA-19]
Cosponsors: 137 · 137 Democrats
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Committees: Committee on House Administration, Judiciary Committee · and 1 more
Latest action: Oct 28, 2019 · Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.

IntroducedOct 8, 2019
Passed the HouseOct 23, 2019
Passed the SenateNot yet reached
Sent to the PresidentNot yet reached
Became lawNot yet reached

What the measure doesCRS summary

Stopping Harmful Interference in Elections for a Lasting Democracy Act or the SHIELD Act

This bill establishes a duty to report election interference from foreign entities, applies existing campaign advertising requirements to online advertisements, and generally limits political spending and election interference by foreign entities.

Specifically, a political committee must report certain foreign contacts involving an offer of unlawful election assistance to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Federal Election Commission. The bill establishes criminal penalties for violations of these requirements.

This bill establishes that an alien engaging in improper election interference shall be deportable and inadmissible into the United States.

Existing requirements for political advertisements and electioneering communications apply to internet and digital advertisements, including requirements related to disclosures and contributions. Additionally, large online platforms must maintain a public database of certain political advertisements.

The bill prohibits the distribution of certain deceptive audio or visual media within 60 days of an election.

The bill places limitations on political spending by foreign entities. Specifically, foreign entities may not (1) contribute to campaigns related to ballot initiatives and referenda, or (2) make disbursements for certain internet activity referring to a candidate or a political issue.

A candidate is prohibited from offering to share nonpublic campaign information with certain foreign entities.

Written by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service, describing H.R. 4617 as passed House on Oct 23, 2019. It is not the text of the measure; a later amendment may have changed what it does.

Roll calls on H.R. 46173 roll calls on this measure

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Oct 23, 2019Each bar: ✓ Yea from the bottom, ✕ Nay aboveOct 23, 2019

How every member votedHouse roll call 583

House Oct 23, 2019 · the primary vote

On Passage

SHIELD Act

Passed

227 Yea 181 Nay 23 not voting

Party-line vote 1 of 408 voting members broke with their own party: 1 Democrat.

Open the official roll call

How the chamber split

One dot per member. Select a seat or a bar to filter the list.

DemocratsRepublicansFilled: YeaRing: NayGrey: not voting or present

By party select a segment to filter

All members431 members

Democratic233 members

Republican198 members

marks half of the votes cast. A party’s majority is the side most of its voting members took.

Cosponsors137 · 137 Democrats

Signing on is not a vote: a member can cosponsor H.R. 4617 and vote against it. 11 signed when it was filed.

Loading the public record

Who lobbied on H.R. 461713 organizations

Organizations that named H.R. 4617 in a lobbying disclosure. Only those that cited the bill by number appear, so this is a floor, not a full list.

LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE ON CIVIL AND HUMAN RIGHTS

Financial Institutions/Investments/Securities · Civil Rights/Civil Liberties · Small Business · Budget/Appropriations +13 more7 filings · 3rd Quarter (July 1 - Sep 30) 2020Filing

COMMON CAUSE

Budget/Appropriations · Government Issues · Communications/Broadcasting/Radio/TV6 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2020Filing

AMERICAN CABLE ASSOCIATION, INC. DBA ACACONNECTSIts PAC: American Cable Association Inc PAC

Taxation/Internal Revenue Code · Budget/Appropriations · Disaster Planning/Emergencies · Telecommunications +7 more5 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2020Filing

END CITIZENS UNITED ACTION FUND // LET AMERICA VOTE ACTION FUNDfiled by END CITIZENS UNITED ACTION FUND // LET AMERICA VOTE ACTION FUND, FKA END CITIZENS UNITED ACTION FUND

Intelligence · Financial Institutions/Investments/Securities · Postal · Constitution +3 more5 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2020Filing

GLOBAL BUSINESS ALLIANCEfiled by OGRIts PAC: Global Business Alliance PAC AKA GBA PAC

Trade (domestic/foreign) · Foreign Relations · Banking · Taxation/Internal Revenue Code +2 more5 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2020Filing

AMERICAN FEDERATION OF STATE COUNTY AND MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEESfiled by AMERICAN FEDERATION OF STATE, COUNTY AND MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES

Copyright/Patent/Trademark · Chemicals/Chemical Industry · Government Issues · Immigration +20 more1 filing · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2019Filing

BRENNAN CENTER FOR JUSTICE AT NEW YORK UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAWfiled by BRENNAN CENTER FOR JUSTICE AT NYU SCHOOL OF LAW

Intelligence · Government Issues · Law Enforcement/Crime/Criminal Justice1 filing · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2019Filing

DEMOCRACY 21

Government Issues1 filing · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2019Filing

HERITAGE ACTION FOR AMERICA

Alcohol and Drug Abuse · Welfare · Government Issues · Immigration +15 more1 filing · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2019Filing

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF COLORED PEOPLE

Tobacco · Housing · Law Enforcement/Crime/Criminal Justice · Banking +25 more1 filing · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2019Filing

36 disclosures name this measure. Retrieved from LDA.gov on 2026-10-05. Senate Office of Public Records cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from LDA.gov.