Americans for Autism Advocacy Supports HR 3229 – Stop Foreign Funds in Election Act

The United States House of Representatives will consider passage of HR 3229 in 2024.  HR 3229 titled the Stop Foreign Funds in Election Act is a necessary step in meaningful ethics reform in all American political and nonprofit organizations.

HR 3229 authored by Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) would ban all foreign contributions to state and local ballot initiative campaigns.  The bill also applies to recalls and referendums in the United States. AFAA applauds Congressman Fitzpatrick along with House Committee on Administration Chairman Bryan Steil (R-WI) to move the bill out of committee.

The House Administration Committee conducted a hearing last September on the topic of foreign money in tax-exempt organizations in the United States. Federal Election Commission member Sean Cooksey testified that 501(c)3 and (c)4 organizations are accepting foreign funds as a smokescreen to conceal questionable political activities.

Americans for Autism supports HR 3229 as part of our ethics reform agenda.  We do agree with Congressman Fitzpatrick that this bill is a good starting point.  AFAA encourages Congress to pass additional legislation that would ban all foreign contributions to tax-exempt organizations in addition to the ban on foreign political contributions.