Congressman Lance Gooden of Texas has reintroduced the Think Tank and Nonprofit Foreign Influence Disclosure Act, a legislative proposal aimed at enhancing transparency in U.S. policy-making by revealing foreign financial influences. The bill is co-sponsored by Congressman Tom Tiffany from Wisconsin.
The proposed legislation requires tax-exempt organizations, such as think tanks and nonprofits, to publicly disclose any contributions or gifts over $10,000 received from foreign governments and political parties. This measure particularly targets funding from the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
“The Chinese Communist Party is conducting covert influence operations through American institutions, threatening our sovereignty in the long-term,” stated Rep. Gooden. He added that the act “forces transparency, ensures accountability, and prevents malign actors from subverting the America First agenda.”
Rep. Tiffany emphasized the importance of public awareness regarding foreign funding: “If you are taking foreign money, especially from the Chinese Communist Party, the American people deserve to know. We are done letting adversaries hide behind charity labels to spread propaganda.”
Key elements of this legislation include requiring tax-exempt organizations to report all significant contributions in their annual reports, with specific attention to donations from PRC and CCP sources. The Department of the Treasury would be tasked with creating an online database for easy public access to this information.
This legislative effort responds to findings by the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission that highlight China’s Central United Front Work Department’s financial support for U.S.-based think tanks and cultural organizations.
The Washington Examiner provided exclusive coverage on this bill’s introduction.
Further details on the bill can be accessed through its text available online.
