Schneider and Ros-Lehtinen Introduce Bill to Hold Putin, Others Accountable for Election Meddling

U.S. Representatives Brad Schneider (D-IL) and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) introduced H.R. 4884, the Defending Elections from Threats by Establishing Redlines (DETER) Act, a House companion to S. 2313 which was introduced by U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) earlier this month. The DETER Act requires a Director of National Intelligence report on foreign interference in U.S. elections and the imposition of sanctions against Russian oligarchs and Russian financial, energy, defense, intelligence, mining, and aerospace entities should Russia interfere again. The bill also requests a report on the President's strategy to deter future interference in U.S. elections by China, Iran, North Korea, or any other foreign government.

Statement by Schneider:

"Our intelligence community is unanimous that the Russian government engaged in a focused campaign at the direction of Vladimir Putin to interfere in the 2016 elections. With fewer than ten months to our next national election and mere weeks before the first state primaries, the clock is ticking. Unless we act now, we will be increasingly vulnerable to the Russians' next attacks. This important legislation sends a clear message to Moscow that there will be severe consequences to any future interference, while also taking steps to improve our defenses against meddling by other foreign powers. Every American must be confident in the integrity of their vote. I'm proud to join with Rep. Ros-Lehtinen and Sens. Van Hollen and Rubio to deter attacks on our electoral process."

Statement by Ros-Lehtinen:

"Russian efforts to undermine U.S. leadership and interests know no boundaries, including at home. As our Intelligence Community has repeatedly confirmed, Russia blatantly meddled in our 2016 elections, as well as previous elections, in an attempt to erode public trust in our electoral process and undermine our democratic institutions. It will undoubtedly do so again. With this bill, we can help deter future attacks by ensuring Putin is clear on the heavy price that will be paid, including debilitating sanctions on key Russian economic sectors. I'm proud to join with Brad, as well as Chris and Marco in the Senate, to make sure Russia and every other country that chooses to attack our way of life is held accountable."