To amend the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 and the Rules of the House of Representatives to strengthen financial disclosures by Members, officers, and employees of Congress, and for other purposes.

Summary: Sunlight Act of 2012 - Amends the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 to require annual financial disclosure statements of Members of Congress and congressional officers and employees to include the exact dollar amount.

Requires such reports filed with the Clerk of the House or the Secretary of the Senate (as well as travel-related information) to be made available to the general public on the Internet.

Amends Rule II (Other Officers and Officials) of the Rules of the House of Representatives to require, during general debate on any measure, the Clerk to project on a wall of the Hall of the House the subject matter of that debate so that it is visible to Members and to visitors in the gallery.

Amends Rule XXI (Restrictions on Certain Bills) to make it out of order to consider: (1) any bill, joint resolution, or conference report unless it is made available to Members and the general public on the Internet for at least 48 hours before its consideration; or (2) any amendment unless it is made available on the Internet within one hour after it is filed (if made in order by a rule) or immediately (if offered under an open rule).

Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to require all mandatory reports to be filed in an electronic form accessible by computers.

Revises requirements for mandatory reports on contributions made to any political committee shortly before an election. Extends from 20 days before to 30 days before the election the beginning of the look-back period for such contributions, and from 48 hours before the election to the closing of the polls the end of the look-back period. Applies the requirements to any contribution (currently, only those of $1,000 or more). Requires such reports to be made within 24 hours after receipt or, if earlier, by midnight of the day on which the contribution is deposited (currently, within 48 hours after receipt).

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Sunlight Act of 2012''.

SEC. 2. DOLLAR AMOUNTS REQUIRED FOR ANNUAL FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE 
              STATEMENTS.

    (a) Financial Disclosures.--Section 102(d) of the Ethics in 
Government Act of 1978 is amended by adding at the end the following 
new paragraph:
    ``(3) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, in the case 
of reports of Members of Congress and officers and employees of 
Congress filed pursuant to sections 101(d) and (e), references to the 
categories for reporting the amount or value of the items covered in 
paragraphs (3), (4), (5), and (8) of subsection (a) shall be deemed to 
be exact dollar amounts.''.
    (b) Availability of Reports on the Internet.--Section 103 of the 
Ethics in Government Act of 1978 is amended by adding at the end the 
following new subsection:
    ``(l) A copy of each report filed under this title with the Clerk 
of the House of Representatives or the Secretary of the Senate shall be 
made available as soon as practicable to the general public on the 
Internet in a format that is searchable and sortable.''.
    (c) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall 
apply to reports filed for calendar years beginning after the date of 
enactment of this Act.

SEC. 3. PUBLIC DISPLAY OF THE SUBJECT MATTER OF DEBATES.

    Clause 2 of rule II of the Rules of the House of Representatives is 
amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
    ``(l) During general debate on any measure, the Clerk shall project 
on a wall of the Hall of the House the subject matter of that debate so 
that it is visible to Members and to visitors in the gallery.''.

SEC. 4. AVAILABILITY OF BILLS, CONFERENCE REPORTS, AND AMENDMENTS ON 
              THE INTERNET BEFORE VOTING.

    Clause 11 of rule XXI of the Rules of the House of Representatives 
is amended to read as follows:
    ``11. It shall not be in order to consider any bill or joint 
resolution, or conference report thereon, or amendment thereto, 
unless--
            ``(1) in the case of a bill, joint resolution, or 
        conference report, such measure is made available to Members 
        and the general public on the Internet for at least 48 hours 
        before its consideration; or
            ``(2)(A) in the case of an amendment made in order by a 
        rule, it is made available to Members and the general public on 
        the Internet within one hour after the rule is filed; or
            ``(B) in the case of an amendment under an open rule, it is 
        made available to Members and the general public on the 
        Internet immediately after being offered;
in a format that is searchable and sortable.''.

SEC. 5. PROMOTING EXPEDITED AVAILABILITY OF FEC REPORTS.

    (a) Mandatory Electronic Filing for All Reports.--
            (1) In general.--Section 304(a)(11) of the Federal Election 
        Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 434(a)(11)) is amended--
                    (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``a person 
                required to file--'' and all that follows and inserting 
                the following: ``each person required to file a report 
                under this Act shall be required to maintain and file 
                such report in electronic form accessible by 
                computers.'';
                    (B) in subparagraph (C), by striking 
                ``designations, statements, and reports'' and inserting 
                ``documents''; and
                    (C) in subparagraph (D), by striking ``means, with 
                respect to'' and all that follows and inserting the 
                following: ``means any report, designation, statement, 
                or notification required by this Act to be filed with 
                the Commission or the Secretary of the Senate.''.
            (2) Placement of all reports on internet.--Section 
        304(a)(11)(B) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 434(a)(11)(B)) is amended--
                    (A) by striking ``a designation, statement, report, 
                or notification'' and inserting ``each report''; and
                    (B) by striking ``the designation, statement, 
                report, or notification'' and inserting ``the report''.
            (3) Searchable and sortable manner of information.--Section 
        304(a)(11)(B) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 434(a)(11)(B)) is amended 
        by inserting ``in a format that is searchable and sortable'' 
        after ``Internet''.
            (4) Software for filing of all reports.--Section 304(a)(12) 
        of such Act (2 U.S.C. 434a(a)(12)) is amended--
                    (A) in subparagraph (A)(ii), by striking ``each 
                person required to file a designation, statement, or 
                report in electronic form'' and inserting ``each person 
                required to file a report (as defined in paragraph 
                (11)(D))''; and
                    (B) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``any 
                designation, statement, or report'' and inserting ``any 
                report (as defined in paragraph (11)(D))''.
    (b) Requiring Reports for All Contributions Made to Any Political 
Committee Within 30 Days of Election; Requiring Reports To Be Made 
Within 24 Hours.--Section 304(a)(6)(A) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 
434(a)(6)(A)) is amended to read as follows:
    ``(A) Each political committee shall notify the Secretary or the 
Commission, and the Secretary of State, as appropriate, in writing, of 
any contribution received by the committee during the period which 
begins on the 30th day before an election and ends at the time the 
polls close for such election. This notification shall be made within 
24 hours (or, if earlier, by midnight of the day on which the 
contribution is deposited) after the receipt of such contribution and 
shall include the name of the candidate involved (as appropriate) and 
the office sought by the candidate, the identification of the 
contributor, and the date of receipt and amount of the contribution.''.
    (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall 
apply with respect to reports for periods beginning on or after January 
1, 2013.