From staff reports Chairman of the U.S. House Administration Committee Rep. Bryan Steil (R-Wis.), alongside Reps. Stephanie Bice (R-Okla.), Laurel Lee (R-Fla.), and Anthony D’Esposito (R-N.Y.), introduced legislation Sept. 10 in hopes of strengthening campaign finance laws.
If passed, The Secure Handling of Internet Electronic Donations Act would prohibit people from contributing financially in someone else’s name, political committees from accepting contributions from debit or credit cards without a CVV code or billing address, and donations from prepaid credit/debit cards or gift certificates.
Bice said this bill would address loopholes “that allow donors to contribute beyond the maximum limit under the law.”
In a statement, Steil said “American elections should always be free from foreign interference. 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.”
In a separate statement, Bice urged Congress to act in passing the bill.
The proposed bill comes as Steil asked the Federal Election Commission in August to close a “serious loophole” that he said allows Democrats’ ActBlue fundraising platform to potentially raise money from illegal campaign contributions.
In an FEC addressed letter, Steil said ActBlue confirmed to the House Administration Committee “that is 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. Act-Blue’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 yet taken action to close the loophole.