WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, a senior member of the House Committees on Judiciary, Homeland Security, and Budget, issued this statement following committee passage of H.R. 4617, the SHIELD Act:

“I commend the Committee on House Administration for marking up H.R. 4617, the “Stopping Harmful Interference in Elections for a Lasting Democracy” (“SHIELD”) Act. When enacted, the Shield Act will clarify the obligation to report acts of foreign election influence and require implementation of compliance and reporting systems by federal campaigns to detect and report such acts. I am very pleased that the bill marked up in Committee and favorably reported to the full House of Representatives incorporates significant portions of my bill, H.R. 2353, the “Duty to Refuse and Report Act,” which imposes affirmative duties to both refuse offers of foreign help in federal elections, and requires the person receiving the offer to report the solicitation to the FBI. The Shield Act emulates significant portions of my legislation, and I am proud that the bill has been favorably reported to the full House of Representatives. I look forward to working to pass this bill in the House and I look forward to speaking in support of this bill on the Floor of the House of Representatives, and working towards passage in the Senate and enactment into law.”