Congress: 119 · Status: active · Israel/Palestine classification: pro-Palestine
Data (JSON) — machine-readable record of this bill (identifiers, sponsor, classification, actions, and the member-by-member vote breakdown).
Official record on Congress.gov — full text, actions, and cosponsor history for HR 8809.
Sponsor: Massie, Thomas (R-Kentucky)
This bill amends the Foreign Agents Registration Act to require U.S.-based organizations to register as foreign agents if their lobbying activities substantially advance a foreign country's political or economic interests, even without direct foreign government funding. Registration would be triggered by evidence such as advocacy aligned with a foreign nation's official objectives, coordination with foreign officials, material support from abroad, or having a foreign nation's name in the organization's title. The bill also creates a private right of action allowing any U.S. citizen to file complaints with the Department of Justice alleging violations.
This directly targets lobbying organizations that advocate for foreign governments' interests without formal registration. The criteria listed—particularly alignment with official diplomatic objectives and foreign-funded support—could require organizations like AIPAC to register as agents of a foreign principal, fundamentally altering their legal status and disclosure obligations. The bill represents a direct legislative challenge to the current lobbying landscape around Israel and U.S. Middle East policy.