Tag: Rep. Phillips

Phillips Questions Zuckerberg As House Considers Election Security Package

WASHNGTON, DC – Today, Rep. Dean Phillips (MN-03) questioned Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg about online foreign interference in U.S. Elections during a hearing in the House Financial Services Committee. The hearing comes as the House passed the SHIELD Act (Stopping Harmful Interference in Elections for A Lasting Democracy Act), a comprehensive election security package. The SHIELD Act includes Rep. Dean Phillips’s (MN-03) Firewall Act, aimed at preventing foreign interference in U.S. elections by prohibiting foreign nationals from paying for online advertisements created to attack or support federal candidates.

During his questioning, Phillips raised concerns about the ability of foreign entities to purchase political ads on the social media platform. Phillips told Zuckerberg to expect Congressional scrutiny should Facebook allow entities to purchase ads with Facebook’s proposed anonymous crypto-currency, Libra.

SHIELD Act Election Security Package Passes House, Includes Phillips Firewall Act

WASHNGTON, DC – Today, the House of Representatives passed the SHIELD Act (Stopping Harmful Interference in Elections for A Lasting Democracy Act). The comprehensive election security package includes Rep. Dean Phillips’s (MN-03) Firewall Act, which prevents foreign interference in U.S. elections by prohibiting foreign nationals from paying for online advertisements created to attack or support federal candidates.

“There is no question that foreign adversaries interfered in our previous elections – and they’re planning to do it again,” said Phillips.“These threats are urgent, they are real, and they are entirely preventable. It’s time for members of Congress to put politics aside and stand together to protect the sanctity of our elections from those who seek to divide, discourage, and disinform the American electorate.”

In addition to Phillips’s Firewall Act, the SHIELD Act:

  • Includes an enormously popular provision that would require political campaigns, parties, and PACs to report offers of unlawful campaign assistance by a foreign government to the FBI and FEC.
  • Improves transparency of online political advertisements by establishing disclosure rules that guard against foreign interference.
  • Prohibits foreign nationals from participating in decision-making about contributions or expenditures by corporations, PACS, Super PACs, and other entities.
  • Restricts exchange of campaign information between candidates and foreign governments and their agents.
  • Prohibits spreading false information about voting rules.

Phillips spoke at a press conference announcing the SHIELD Act this morning. A video of the press conference is available here.

Rep. Phillips spoke on the House Floor today to urge his colleagues to support the SHIELD Act and Firewall Act.

Click here to watch Phillips’s remarks.

Below are Phillips’s remarks as prepared:

Madam Speaker –

People in small towns and cities in my home state of Minnesota and in neighborhoods all across the nation are being targeted for manipulation.

Foreign governments have found a weakness in our national security. They are using social media platforms to influence Americans with the hope they’ll vote in favor of foreign interests – not American interests.

Democrats and Republicans need to come together – now – today – to do something about it. It is what our founders: Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Madison and others would have demanded!

I am proud to support the SHIELD Act – important legislation that includes my bill, the Firewall Act, to prevent foreign nationals from paying for online political advertisements.

I urge my colleagues to support this historic and necessary package – and help us build a wall, a digital wall, to protect Americans from foreign interference in our elections.

Representatives Announce Introduction of H.R. 4705, the Safe at Home Act

During Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Representatives Introduce Key Legislation to Protect Victims of Stalking and Sexual Violence

WASHINGTON, DC — Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn.) released a statement today after she and Rep. Dean Phillips (DFL-Minn.), alongside Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon,announced bipartisan legislation to protect victims of stalking and domestic violence. H.R. 4705, the Safe at Home Act, will allow federal agencies to accept alternate addresses authorized by state law to protect the identity of those who fear for their safety. Minnesota and Missouri are two of 38 states with an existing ACP.

“I’m proud to introduce the Safe At Home Act with the support of Minnesota Secretary of State Simon and colleagues from both sides of the aisle,” Rep. Betty McCollum said. “October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and we must take this time to do all we can to protect victims of stalking and domestic violence. This legislation is a common sense step that the federal government can take to help ensure the privacy of those who fear for their safety. I encourage my colleagues to support this important legislation.” Continue reading “Representatives Announce Introduction of H.R. 4705, the Safe at Home Act”

Rep. Dean Phillips Update; October 18, 2019

Hi Friends,

I’m checking in before the weekend with a quick update from from Washington.

PRINCIPLED PROCESS

This week there were a number of impeachment inquiry depositions conducted by the Foreign Affairs, Intelligence and Oversight Committees. As a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, I have been able to take part in the proceedings. I am a steadfast believer in transparency, accountability and fairness, and I am grateful to report that this process is being done the right way. Democrats and Republicans are participating, and both parties are given equal time to ask questions and engage witnesses. We are taking care to ensure this inquiry will be guided by the facts and the facts alone. I’ll be talking more about oversight on Fox News this Sunday, so tune in to ‘America’s News HQ’ at 12:00 CST!

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Last Sunday, I joined Esme Murphy on WCCO to talk about the principled work we’re doing in Congress. Click here to watch the full interview. 

Continue reading “Rep. Dean Phillips Update; October 18, 2019”

Farmers Seize Innovation Opportunities

Prices for most ag products are linked to world markets, but Minnesota farmers say it’s possible to take advantage of market niches.

Long before businessman Dean Phillips became a congressman, he was sitting in Carolyn Olson’s farm home near Cottonwood, Minnesota, in 2008.

Olson, co-owner of Olson Organics and a self-described outgoing person, was talking with Phillips about her farming operation that’s located 140 miles southwest of Minneapolis.

“Like a good Lutheran, I made a Bundt cake,” Olson recalled Monday during a panel discussion at a Food Ag Ideas Week event in St. Paul. Over cake and conversation, she and Phillips made a connection. It led to Olson selling some of her grain that’s used in vodka production for Phillips Distilling Co.

View the complete October 14 article by Liz Fedor on The Twin Cities Business website here.

Rep. Dean Phillips Update: October 4, 2019

Hi Friend,

We made it to Friday. I want to take a moment to thank everyone who called, wrote, and took our survey this week as we watched grave events continue to unfold in Washington – your feedback is so important. All the while, there’s a lot of work being done for the American people, so I’m dropping a line to share a few updates from my week:

PROTECTING OUR ELECTIONS FROM FOREIGN INTERFERENCE 

By now it’s clear that our democracy is under attack from the inside and out, and nowhere is that more apparent than in political advertising. That’s why I introduced the Firewall Act today, a bill that prohibits foreign nationals from paying for online advertisements created to attack or support candidates in U.S. elections. Current law prevents similar foreign spending on television, radio, satellite and print ads, leaving bad actors with an open door to spread malice and misinformation online. That’s unacceptable, and Congress should act swiftly to protect voters from foreign meddling, and in doing so, protect our democracy itself. Continue reading “Rep. Dean Phillips Update: October 4, 2019”

Rep. Dean Phillips Introduces Firewall Act to Prohibit Foreign Online Spending in U.S. Elections

Today, Rep. Dean Phillips (MN-03) introduced the Firewall Act aimed at preventing foreign meddling in U.S. elections. The bill would amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to prohibit foreign nationals from paying for online advertisements created to attack or support federal candidates. Current law prevents similar foreign spending on television, radio, satellite and print advertisements, leaving bad actors with an open door to spread malice and misinformation in the burgeoning online political ad market.

“Given the grave nature of events we’re watching unfold in Washington, it is clear that our democracy faces threats from the inside and out,” said Phillips. “Nowhere is that more apparent than in digital political advertising. Americans of all political persuasions are asking us to step up and prevent foreign interference in our elections, and Congress should act swiftly to update our laws and protect our democracy. If we fail to pass the Firewall Act, foreign actors will continue to use online ads to divide and misinform voters, and we will have earned the American people’s distrust in the democratic process.”  Continue reading “Rep. Dean Phillips Introduces Firewall Act to Prohibit Foreign Online Spending in U.S. Elections”

Rep. Dean Phillips Update: September 27, 2019

Dear Neighbors,

I have a lot to share with you today, but first I wanted to address the major news from the week. This is a somber time for our country, but an important time for the Constitution and the rule of law.

On Monday, I endorsed an official impeachment inquiry into the conduct of President Donald Trump. As your representative in Congress, I am on a mission to clean up corruption and restore trust in our government. Central to that mission is ensuring that our elections are fair and free of foreign interference. The President’s own statements, along with the readout released by the President detailing his conversation with Ukraine’s president, have confirmed that he encouraged Ukrainian officials to investigate his political opponent — thereby inviting foreign interference into our democracy.

I have long been concerned with a pattern of behavior unbecoming of the President of The United States of America. It has been corrupt and unethical at best, and treasonous at worst. For me and many of my colleagues, the latest allegation represents a clear violation of our deeply-held principles and values and, very possibly, our laws. Furthermore, the reports were confirmed by the President himself and by documents released by the White House. Continue reading “Rep. Dean Phillips Update: September 27, 2019”

Phillips Statement on Ukraine Allegations

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Rep. Dean Phillips (MN-03), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, released the following statement:

“I came to Congress on a mission to clean up corruption and restore America’s trust in our government. It appears that our President encouraged the leader of Ukraine to investigate his political opponent, thereby inviting foreign interference in our democracy. This continues a pattern of behavior that is corrupt at best, treasonous at worst, and puts our rule of law at risk. Our Constitution transcends any person, politician, or political party, and I call on the House Foreign Affairs, Intelligence, and Judiciary Committees to use every legal mechanism possible to obtain all relevant evidence. If the reports are corroborated, we must pursue articles of impeachment and report them to the full House of Representatives for immediate consideration.”