OKC Standard

House Republicans introduce act to strengthen campaign finance laws

By Annabella Rosciglione - Washington Examiner

The chairman of the House Administration Committee, Rep. Bryan Steil (R-WI), introduced legislation Tuesday aimed at strengthening campaign finance laws and closing potential loopholes.

The Secure Handling of Internet Electronic Donations Act would prohibit political committees from accepting contributions from debit or credit cards without a CVV or billing address and ban donations from prepaid credit or debit cards or gift certificates. Steil introduced the bill alongside Reps. Stephanie Bice (R-OK), Laurel Lee (R-FL), and Anthony D’Esposito (R-NY).

“American elections should always be free from foreign interference,” Steil said in a statement. “The SHIELD Act will take a crucial next step in blocking foreign funding in our elections and certifying that every political contribution received is actually coming from the individual whose name is on the contribution. By passing the SHIELD Act, we will increase integrity and American trust in our elections.”

Bice said the bill would address loopholes “that allow donors to contribute beyond the maximum limit under the law.”

“As we wait to hear from the FEC about political entities like ActBlue, which do not require CVV verification and allow donations from pre-paid credit cards and gift cards, Congress must act. The SHIELD Act is an important step in closing these loopholes and preventing fraud in campaign donations, regardless of party,” Bice said in a statement.

The proposed legislation comes as Steil asked the Federal Election Commission last month to close a “serious loophole” that he says allows Democrats’ ActBlue fundraising platform to potentially raise money from illegal campaign contributions.

In his letter to the FEC, Steil said ActBlue confirmed to the House Administration Committee “that it does not require a CVV to donate.”

“However, the vast majority of online transactions, including a donation to most political campaigns and to other large fundraising platforms, require a CVV number to reduce fraud and prevent unlawful foreign transactions. ActBlue’s donor procedures are painfully outside the norm, and an emergency rulemaking is required to address them,” Steil wrote.

Steil’s office said the FEC has not since taken action to close the loophole.

In addition to requiring the use of a billing address and CVV verification and banning prepaid cards from being used in donations, the SHIELD Act would also prevent people from making a contribution in someone else’s name.

Read the article here.