U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-Schuylerville (Official photo)

The Secure America from Russian Interference Act of 2018, an omnibus bill package co-sponsored by U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, aims to expose Russian corruption, strengthen election infrastructure and improve NATO alliances.

The bipartisan, 17-bill package, introduced by Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Maryland, identifies the Russian government as a threat to the U.S., its neighboring countries and its citizens, politically, physically and ideologically. If passed, many of these bills would strike to the heart of the country’s international election meddling and online information warfare.

Stefanik has been vocal in calling Russia an adversary, despite the cordial relationship President Donald Trump has with the country and its leaders. She was one of the original omnibus co-sponsors and co-sponsors two bills in it, both targeting Russian disinformation and propaganda.

The Defend Against Russian Disinformation and Aggression Act aims to “codify the State Department sanctions office; require reporting on Putin’s bank accounts; and authorize enhanced NATO cooperation.”

The Countering Foreign Propaganda Act requires enhanced periodic public disclosure reporting under the Foreign Agents Registration Act for non-U.S.-based media making political content.

Stefanik identified RT, the Russian-government-funded television network formerly known as Russia Today, as an untrustworthy source for propaganda.

Stefanik said it is up to the media to be a part of countering disinformation, adding that Russian use of social media has destabilized elections around the world.

She said the House Intelligence Committee had an open hearing with Google, Facebook and Twitter to discuss how to identify and handle inauthentic, anonymous and bot accounts.

She said the systems to handle these accounts already exist, giving the example of Twitter stepping up in recent years and mass-deleting Islamic State recruiting accounts. She said the problem can be solved without stepping on the rights of Americans.

The omnibus also calls for more defense and military spending, which Stefanik said needs to be raised after they were cut under President Barack Obama’s presidency. The money would come from existing offsets, she said.

“I believe in peace through strength, and I think that part of that is making investments in our military readiness,” Stefanik said.

According to the Washington Post, “House Republicans on Thursday voted down a Democratic effort to increase election security spending.” Stefanik voted with the majority to pass the underlying legislation.

Stefanik also supported a March Omnibus Appropriations Bill which provided almost $400 million in funds to bolster election security. On Thursday she sent a letter with Democratic U.S. Rep. Kathleen Rice to Trump, urging him to appoint an election security coordinator.

Stefanik is running for re-election in November, and the other two candidates in New York’s 21st Congressional District — Democrat Tedra Cobb of Canton and Green Party candidate Lynn Kahn of Schroon Lake — share opposition to Trump’s comments on the intelligence community following his summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin.