Rep. Bass Joins More Than 150 Members of U.S. House in Effort to Create Independent Commission to Investigate Foreign Interference in U.S. Elections

Washington, D.C. – Today, Rep. Karen Bass (D – Calif.) cosponsored legislation that would create a 12-member, bipartisan, independent commission empowered to interview witnesses, obtain documents, issue subpoenas, and receive public testimony to examine attempts by the Russian government and others to use electronic means to influence, interfere with, or sow distrust in this year’s U.S. elections. 

“Intelligence agencies have concluded that Russia meddled in America’s elections. The question of to what degree the hacks affected the election and whether other state or non-state actors were involved remains unresolved and must receive our attention and a formal investigation,” said Rep. Bass. “This bill will help Congress thoroughly assess the impacts of the hacking, as well as provide preventative measures our country can take to avoid such meddling in the future.”

The "Protecting Our Democracy" Act was introduced by Rep. Eric Swalwell (D – Calif.) and Rep. Elijah Cummings (D – Maryland), the Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, to establish the National Commission on Foreign Interference in the 2016 Election. The commission — which would examine similar efforts by any other foreign governments or entities — would issue a final report with recommendations for future security protections to Congress and the President, within 18 months of the bill’s enactment.

Full text of the letter is available here.

###

Media inquiries:  Derrick Robinson – Derrick.Robinson@mail.house.gov