Sen. Banks Introduces the No Funding for Foreign Agents Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today,Senator Jim Banks (R-Ind.), introduced the No Funding for Foreign Agents Act. This bill works to ensure American taxpayer dollars don't end up in the hands of foreign agents who work against American interests.

Senator Jim Banks (R-Ind.): "The Somali fraud scandal has revealed how broken the system is. Foreign officials were able to take advantage of American taxpayers. This bill stops it and puts Americans first."

Read the full text here.

Read more about the bill here.

Key Provisions of the No Funding for Foreign Agents Act:

• Prohibits entities that are owned or controlled by agents of any nation covered by President Trump's travel ban or any embargoed nation from accessing government grants, contracts, or financial assistance.
• Applies to any person who represents a hostile and unreliable government, as well as diplomats, lobbyists, and other agents of those governments.

Background:

Multiple high-ranking officials in the Somali government have reportedly run or owned taxpayer-funded businesses and organizations in the United States. The President of the U.N. Security Council, Abukar Osman-who represents Somalia at the U.N.-ran a home health agency in Ohio that was convicted of Medicaid fraud. Somali Foreign Affairs Minister Abdisalam Abdi Ali founded multiple companies in Ohio, including a health center that received COVID-era small business loans. Jibril Mohamed, policy advisor to the Somali Foreign Affairs Ministry, also owned a home health agency in Ohio that received COVID-era loans. Funds meant for American businesses should not go to officers of unreliable or hostile governments.

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