The U.S. House of Representatives has backed a proposal to set up a high-level panel to counter Russian political interference around the world.
The Republican-led chamber passed the legislation on November 30 by a voice vote, as part of a larger intelligence-policy bill.
The bill calls for a new, interagency panel to confront Russian efforts to "exert covert influence over peoples and governments."
The panel would be tasked with "countering active measures by Russia to exert covert influence, including exposing falsehoods, agents of influence, corruption, human rights abuses, terrorism and assassinations carried out by [Russian] security services or political elites."
A similar measure is expected to be voted on by the Senate before the end of next month.
The effort comes amid questions about how the incoming presidential administration of Donald Trump will handle increasingly acrimonious relations between Washington and Moscow.
U.S. intelligence officials have publicly accused Russian officials of trying to interfere with the presidential election campaign.
Trump, meanwhile, has said he wants a more conciliatory approach to relations with Russia.
