Hickenlooper, Colleagues Introduce Bills to Protect American Elections Amid Threats to Voting from Trump Admin, Dark Money Influence

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper joined his Democratic colleagues to introduce two bills - the Stop Harassment and Intimidations in Elections through Legal Defenses (SHIELD) Our Elections Act and the Get Foreign Money Out of U.S. Elections Act - to strengthen and protect American elections. Both bills come as the Trump administration and MAGA Republicans continue to sow distrust in American elections and push voter suppression measures like the SAVE Act.

"Dark money and foreign agents are trying to disrupt our elections at the same time that President Trump is sowing distrust in our safe and secure voting systems," said Hickenlooper. "Americans deserve free and fair elections. It's the promise of democracy. We won't let anyone take that away."

Specifically, the SHIELD Act would provide State Attorneys General and voters with a private right of action to enforce federal anti-election interference laws and extend the statute of limitations for bringing federal criminal prosecutions for violations of those laws from five to nine years.

The Get Foreign Money Out of U.S. Elections Act would close a major campaign finance loophole that has allowed U.S. companies largely owned by foreign entities to pour unlimited sums of money into our elections.

Despite overwhelming evidence that U.S. elections are safe and secure, President Trump and MAGA Republicans continue to spread misinformation about the security of our elections. In addition, recent polling shows 72% of Americans agree that there is too much money in our elections. A separate poll shows 82% of Americans agreeing there should be spending limits for U.S. companies with foreign ownership.

Hickenlooper has consistently fought back against Trump and MAGA Republicans' voter suppression bill, the SAVE America Act, and stood up to their attacks on mail-in-voting, a proven safe and secure voting method. As governor, Hickenlooper created the gold-standard mail-in-voting system in the country, providing millions of Coloradans with easier access to the ballot box. He also opposes the Supreme Court's ruling in Citizens United v. FEC. Hickenlooper cosponsors several pieces of voting rights legislation, including the For the People Act, the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, and the Freedom to Vote Act.

Full text of the SHIELD Act can be found HERE.

Full text of the Get Foreign Money Out of U.S. Elections Act can be found HERE.

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