[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 150 (Monday, September 19, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Page S4813]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                              DISCLOSE Act

  Madam President, finally on the DISCLOSE Act, today, I am announcing 
the Senate will vote this week to take up a measure critical to 
fighting the cancer of dark money in our elections: the DISCLOSE Act.
  I have long promised to bring this bill to the floor, and I want to 
thank all my colleagues and in particular Senator Whitehouse. He has 
done an amazing job documenting and pressing forward on trying to 
eliminate the evil scourge of dark money. He has been an amazing leader 
in championing this legislation.
  The DISCLOSE Act is premised on a simple idea: Americans deserve to 
know who is trying to influence their elections. Sadly, most Americans 
today are largely in the dark, thanks to the abominable decision in 
Citizens United handed down by the Supreme Court's conservative 
majority. Their ruling has paved the way for billions in unlimited 
campaign contributions by Super PACs and other dark money groups over 
the last decade. Ordinary citizens, meanwhile, have had their voices 
drowned out by elites who have millions to spare for political 
donations.
  And the worst part? Much of this spending happens entirely in secret. 
That is not like a democracy. It is a veil cast over our democracy that 
must be ripped away once and for all.
  The DISCLOSE Act is simple. It would require Super PACs and other 
dark money groups to report anyone contributing $10,000 or more during 
an election. It would likewise require groups spending money on 
judicial nominees to disclose their donors too. There is no 
justification under Heaven for keeping such massive contributions 
hidden from the public.
  This week, Republicans are going to have to take a stand on whether 
they want to fight the power of dark money or allow this cancer to grow 
even worse. Limiting the power of dark money shouldn't be a Democratic 
or Republican view; it should be bipartisan through and through.
  I hope Republicans will join us, because Americans intuitively 
understand that right now, there is a stench taking over our campaign 
finance law. After all, when was the last time any of us heard voters 
cheer on the spread of dark money? When was the last time any of us 
heard voters say it is better for billionaires and special interests to 
buy elections in secret rather than be held accountable to the public? 
Of course, they don't think that unless they themselves are the ones 
cutting the multimillion-dollar checks.
  So this week, all of us will go on record on whether or not we think 
Americans deserve to know who is spending billions to sway our 
democracy. It will be our chance to put into practice the famous saying 
by Judge Louis D. Brandeis that ``sunlight is said to be the best 
disinfectant.''
  I once again commend Senator Whitehouse for his years of leadership 
in fighting this wave of dark money, and I urge all my colleagues to 
support this measure this week.
  I yield the floor.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from Texas.