Sens. Rubio, Van Hollen encourage markup of bill to prevent foreign election meddling

U.S. Sens. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) are urging Senate committee leaders to hold a markup session on a bill that would discourage Russia and any other foreign actors from disrupting U.S. elections.

The bill, the Defending Elections from Threats by Establishing Redlines (DETER) Act (S.1060), calls for swift and severe consequences for Russia and any other nations or entities that attempt to influence or disrupt U.S. elections. Rubio and Van Hollen are calling upon Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Chairman Mike Crapo (R-ID) and Ranking Member Sherrod Brown (D-OH) to hold a markup of the DETER Act as soon as possible.

Rubio and Van Hollen said the U.S. Government has not done enough to deter Russian efforts to interfere in American elections.

“[If] we are going to deter Russia from future meddling, the U.S. Government needs to outline clear and significant consequences that are subject to little interpretation,” they wrote.

This comes after the report by Special Counsel Robert Mueller that detailed how the Russian government under Vladimir Putin engaged in a complex effort to interfere in the 2016 elections. Further, they said, senior U.S. officials reported that Russia tried to hack the 2018 midterm elections and will seek to undermine the 2020 presidential election.

“We know you share our goals of preventing foreign adversaries from meddling in our elections,” the senators wrote. “With less than two years until the next general election and less than a year from the start of the state primary elections, Congress still has time to enact meaningful legislation that will deter foreign interference in future elections. We look forward to working with you and the other members of the Banking Committee to advance legislation that will impose a real cost on any foreign attempts to undermine our democracy, and we urge you to hold an executive session and markup of the DETER Act at the earliest possible convenience.”