The House of Representatives is considering a resolution that would require think tank scholars who testify before committees to disclose any financial support they receive from foreign governments.
"Lobbyists for foreign governments are required to register as foreign agents with the Department of Justice, but there is no similar requirement for think tank experts appearing before congressional committees," said Rep. Jackie Speier, D-Ca., author of the proposal.
The practice of foreign governments attempting to influence U.S. policies dates back to the 1950s, according to Speier.
Speier told a House Rules subcommittee that representatives from a number of think tanks have received "tens of millions of dollars in financial support from foreign governments," and have testified before the Foreign Affairs and Armed Services committees "numerous times without disclosing their connections to these foreign governments."
"But in this age, the American people have a reasonable expectation that these links will be transparent and allow for the appearance of a conflict of interest to be aired publicly," he said. "Amending the House Rules to include disclosure of the funds that entities receive from foreign governments would be a common sense reform to increase the integrity of the information Congress receives."
Speier noted that the Brookings Institution receives 12 percent of its annual funding from foreign governments and the Atlantic Council has received between 5 and 20 percent of its annual budget from foreign governments.
The New York Times recently found that 64 foreign government-controlled entities contributed at least $93 million to the 28 largest U.S.-based research organizations over the past four years alone. The total is likely more, though, considering the New York Times was only able to account for donations made public by the think tank or foreign government.
"Qatar, the small but wealthy Middle East nation, agreed last year to make a $14.8 million, four-year donation to Brookings, which has helped fund a Brookings affiliate in Qatar and a project on United States relations with the Islamic world," said the New York Times. Other particularly active countries include the United Arab Emirates and Norway.
Researchers told the New York Times that it seems likely that this financial support influenced their research products.
The proposal received support from both the chairman of the House Rules subcommittee, Rep. Rich Nugent, R-Fla., and leading Democrat, Rep. Jim McGovern of Mass., which significantly furthers the chances of it moving forward.
