August 8, 2025
Mr. Tony Gonzales of Texas introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Financial Services, Oversight and Government Reform, and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
To impose sanctions on persons who knowingly provide content or media services to sanctioned foreign propaganda outlets, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Stop Foreign Propaganda Act
.
Sec. 2. Codification of Executive Order 13846
Executive Order 13846 of August 6, 2018 (83 Fed. Reg. 38939), entitled Reimposing Certain Sanctions With Respect to Iran
, shall have the force and effect of law.
Sec. 3. Sanctions with respect to provision of media services to sanctioned foreign media entities
(a) In general
The President shall impose the sanctions described in subsection (c) with respect to any person who knowingly provides material support or media services, and receives compensation, barter, or any other form of consideration therefor, to a covered foreign media entity.
(b) Applicability
This section applies to any United States person or foreign person subject to the jurisdiction of the United States.
(c) Sanctions described
The sanctions described in this subsection are the following:
(1)
The blocking and prohibition of all transactions in property and interests in property of the person pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et 18 seq.).
(2)
The prohibition on United States persons from entering into procurement contracts or transactions with the person.
(3)
The prohibition of financing assistance from the Export-Import Bank of the United States to the person.
(4)
In the case of a person that is an alien, the denial of a visa or exclusion from the United States in accordance with section of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(3)(C)).
(d) Waiver
The President may waive the application of sanctions under this section with respect to a person if the President—
(1)
determines that such a waiver is in the national interest of the United States; and
(2)
submits to the appropriate congressional committees a written explanation of the reasons for the waiver.
Sec. 4. Report
Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State, shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report that includes—
(1)
a list of all persons, including United States persons and foreign persons subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, that have knowingly provided material support or media services to any covered foreign media entity and a description of the nature, value, duration, and scope of such transactions, including any payments, barter arrangements, or third-party facilitation mechanisms;
(2)
any enforcement actions, designations, penalties, or license denials initiated pursuant to this Act or other applicable sanctions authorities during the reporting period; and
(3)
an assessment of to the extent the Government of Iran, including the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting and its affiliates, has directly or indirectly financed or contracted with any foreign news organization, media outlet, production company, or content distributor—
(A)
to disseminate regime-aligned narratives, disinformation, or coercive propaganda targeting U.S. or allied audiences; or
(B)
to circumvent existing U.S. sanctions or export control measures through third-party intermediaries or subsidiaries.
Sec. 5. Definitions
In this Act—
(1)
the term appropriate congressional committees
means—
(A)
the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee on Financial Services, and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives; and
(B)
the Committee on Foreign Relations, the Committee on Finance, and the Committees on Appropriations of the Senate;
(2)
the term foreign media entity
means any media organization that—
(A)
is owned, controlled, funded, or operated, in whole or in part, by a foreign government or an entity designated pursuant to United States sanctions law;
(B)
is designated by the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Director of National Intelligence, as an instrument of foreign state propaganda or foreign malign influence operations; or
(C)
acts on behalf of, or in coordination with, a sanctioned foreign person to disseminate disinformation, suppress dissent, or engage in state-sponsored information operations;
(3)
the term knowingly
means that a person has actual knowledge of the conduct, the circumstance, or the result, or should have known of the conduct, the circumstance, or the result;
(4)
the term material support or media services
includes the provision of content, editorial services, journalistic contributions, photographs, video footage, syndicated materials, production infrastructure, backend technology, distribution platforms, or any service or resource that directly enables the broadcast, publication, or dissemination of information; and
(5)
the term United States person
means—
(A)
a United States citizen or an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence;
(B)
an entity organized under the laws of the United States or any jurisdiction within the United States, including any foreign branch of such entity; and
(C)
any person physically present in the United States.