H.R. 4923 — Stop Foreign Propaganda Act

This section requires the President to impose sanctions on any U.S. person or foreign person subject to the jurisdiction of the United States who knowingly provides material support or media services for compensation to a covered foreign media entity. The sanctions include (1) blocking all property and interests in property of such persons pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA); (2) prohibiting U.S. persons from entering into procurement contracts or transactions with such persons; (3) prohibiting financing assistance from the Export-Import Bank of the United States to such persons; and (4) denying visas to or excluding such alien persons from the United States under the Immigration and Nationality Act. This section further authorizes the President to waive such sanctions if determined to be in the national interest of the United States, with a written explanation submitted to the appropriate congressional committees.

This section requires the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State, to submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report not later than 90 days after enactment and annually thereafter that includes (1) a list of all U.S. and foreign persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction that have knowingly provided material support or media services to any covered foreign media entity, along with descriptions of the nature, value, duration, and scope of such transactions (including payments, barter arrangements, or third-party facilitation); (2) any enforcement actions, designations, penalties, or license denials initiated under this Act or other sanctions authorities during the reporting period; and (3) an assessment of the extent to which the Government of Iran, including the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting and affiliates, has financed or contracted with foreign news organizations, media outlets, production companies, or content distributors (A) to disseminate regime-aligned narratives, disinformation, or coercive propaganda targeting U.S. or allied audiences or (B) to circumvent U.S. sanctions or export controls through third-party intermediaries or subsidiaries.

This section defines terms used in the Act, including (1) "appropriate congressional committees," meaning the House Committees on Foreign Affairs, Financial Services, and Appropriations, and the Senate Committees on Foreign Relations, Finance, and Appropriations; (2) "foreign media entity," meaning a media organization owned, controlled, funded, or operated by a foreign government or sanctioned entity; designated by the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Director of National Intelligence, as an instrument of foreign state propaganda or malign influence; or acting on behalf of or in coordination with a sanctioned foreign person to disseminate disinformation, suppress dissent, or engage in state-sponsored information operations; (3) "knowingly," meaning a person has actual knowledge of, or should have known of, the conduct, circumstance, or result; (4) "material support or media services," meaning the provision of content, editorial services, journalistic contributions, photographs, video footage, syndicated materials, production infrastructure, backend technology, distribution platforms, or any service or resource that directly enables the broadcast, publication, or dissemination of information; and (5) "United States person," meaning a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident, an entity organized under U.S. laws (including foreign branches), or any person physically present in the United States.