# Plain Language Summary: Foreign Extortion Prevention Act

This bill makes it illegal for foreign government officials to demand bribes from American companies and individuals. Right now, U.S. law has strong rules preventing American companies from bribing foreign officials to get business deals. This bill flips that around by also making it a crime for foreign officials to shake down American businesses for money in the first place. So if a foreign official demands a payment in exchange for approving a contract, granting a license, or helping a company do business in their country, that official can now be prosecuted in U.S. courts.

The law applies to foreign government employees, high-ranking political figures, and officials from international organizations like the United Nations. It covers situations where a foreign official demands anything of value—money, gifts, favors, or other benefits—while in U.S. territory or using U.S. mail and communication systems. The target is extortion schemes where officials abuse their power to extract payments from American companies trying to do legitimate business abroad. Anyone convicted faces up to 15 years in prison and fines up to $250,000 or three times the value of the bribe, whichever is larger.

The bill gives U.S. federal courts the power to prosecute these cases even if the crime happens overseas, as long as there's a connection to the United States. It also requires the Department of Justice to report annually to Congress about how many cases they're handling, what foreign governments are doing to stop their own officials from extorting American companies, and whether they need more resources to enforce this law. Essentially, this creates a new tool for the U.S. government to protect American businesses from being victimized by corrupt foreign officials demanding illegal payments.