I 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 7497 

To amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to reduce the number 

of members of the Federal Election Commission from 6 to 5, to revise 

the method of selection and terms of service of members of the Commission, to distribute the powers of the Commission between the Chair 

and the remaining members, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

FEBRUARY 29, 2024 

Mr. KILMER (for himself and Mr. FITZPATRICK) introduced the following bill; 

which was referred to the Committee on House Administration 

A BILL 

To amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to 

reduce the number of members of the Federal Election 

Commission from 6 to 5, to revise the method of selection and terms of service of members of the Commission, 

to distribute the powers of the Commission between the 

Chair and the remaining members, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Restoring Integrity 

5 to America’s Elections Act’’. 


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1 SEC. 2. MEMBERSHIP OF FEDERAL ELECTION COMMIS2 SION. 

3 (a) REDUCTION IN NUMBER OF MEMBERS; REMOVAL

4 OF SECRETARY OF SENATE AND CLERK OF HOUSE AS

5 EX OFFICIO MEMBERS.— 

6 (1) IN GENERAL; QUORUM.—Section 306(a)(1) 

7 of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (52 

8 U.S.C. 30106(a)(1)) is amended by striking the sec9 ond and third sentences and inserting the following: 

10 ‘‘The Commission is composed of 5 members ap11 pointed by the President by and with the advice and 

12 consent of the Senate, of whom no more than 2 may 

13 be affiliated with the same political party. A member 

14 shall be treated as affiliated with a political party if 

15 the member was affiliated, including as a registered 

16 voter, employee, consultant, donor, officer, or attor17 ney, with such political party or any of its can18 didates or elected public officials at any time during 

19 the 5-year period ending on the date on which such 

20 individual is nominated to be a member of the Com21 mission. A majority of the number of members of 

22 the Commission who are serving at the time shall 

23 constitute a quorum.’’. 

24 (2) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS RELATING TO

25 REDUCTION IN NUMBER OF MEMBERS.—(A) Section 

26 306(c) of such Act (52 U.S.C. 30106(c)) is amended 


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1 by striking the period at the end of the first sen2 tence and all that follows and inserting the fol3 lowing: ‘‘, except that an affirmative vote of a major4 ity of the members of the Commission who are serv5 ing at the time shall be required in order for the 

6 Commission to take any action in accordance with 

7 paragraph (6), (7), (8), or (9) of section 307(a) or 

8 with chapter 95 or chapter 96 of the Internal Rev9 enue Code of 1986. A member of the Commission 

10 may not delegate to any person his or her vote or 

11 any decision-making authority or duty vested in the 

12 Commission by the provisions of this Act’’. 

13 (B) Such Act is further amended by striking 

14 ‘‘affirmative vote of 4 of its members’’ and inserting 

15 ‘‘affirmative vote of a majority of the members of 

16 the Commission who are serving at the time’’ each 

17 place it appears in the following sections: 

18 (i) Section 309(a)(2) (52 U.S.C. 

19 30109(a)(2)). 

20 (ii) Section 309(a)(4)(A)(i) (52 U.S.C. 

21 30109(a)(4)(A)(i)). 

22 (iii) Section 309(a)(5)(C) (52 U.S.C. 

23 30109(a)(5)(C)). 

24 (iv) Section 309(a)(6)(A) (52 U.S.C. 

25 30109(a)(6)(A)). 


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1 (v) Section 311(b) (52 U.S.C. 30111(b)). 

2 (3) CONFORMING AMENDMENT RELATING TO

3 REMOVAL OF EX OFFICIO MEMBERS.—Section 

4 306(a) of such Act (52 U.S.C. 30106(a)) is amend5 ed by striking ‘‘(other than the Secretary of the Sen6 ate and the Clerk of the House of Representatives)’’ 

7 each place it appears in paragraphs (4) and (5). 

8 (b) TERMS OF SERVICE.—Section 306(a)(2) of such 

9 Act (52 U.S.C. 30106(a)(2)) is amended to read as fol10 lows: 

11 ‘‘(2) TERMS OF SERVICE.— 

12 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Each member of the 

13 Commission shall serve for a single term of 6 

14 years. 

15 ‘‘(B) SPECIAL RULE FOR INITIAL APPOINT16 MENTS.—Of the members first appointed to 

17 serve terms that begin in January 2025, the 

18 President shall designate 2 to serve for a 3-year 

19 term. 

20 ‘‘(C) NO REAPPOINTMENT PERMITTED.— 

21 An individual who served a term as a member 

22 of the Commission may not serve for an addi23 tional term, except that— 

24 ‘‘(i) an individual who served a 3-year 

25 term under subparagraph (B) may also be 


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1 appointed to serve a 6-year term under 

2 subparagraph (A); and 

3 ‘‘(ii) for purposes of this subpara4 graph, an individual who is appointed to 

5 fill a vacancy under subparagraph (D) 

6 shall not be considered to have served a 

7 term if the portion of the unexpired term 

8 the individual fills is less than 50 percent 

9 of the period of the term. 

10 ‘‘(D) VACANCIES.—Any vacancy occurring 

11 in the membership of the Commission shall be 

12 filled in the same manner as in the case of the 

13 original appointment. Except as provided in 

14 subparagraph (C), an individual appointed to 

15 fill a vacancy occurring other than by the expi16 ration of a term of office shall be appointed 

17 only for the unexpired term of the member he 

18 or she succeeds. 

19 ‘‘(E) LIMITATION ON SERVICE AFTER EX20 PIRATION OF TERM.—A member of the Com21 mission may continue to serve on the Commis22 sion after the expiration of the member’s term 

23 for an additional period, but only until the ear24 lier of— 


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1 ‘‘(i) the date on which the member’s 

2 successor has taken office as a member of 

3 the Commission; or 

4 ‘‘(ii) the expiration of the 1-year pe5 riod that begins on the last day of the 

6 member’s term.’’. 

7 (c) QUALIFICATIONS.—Section 306(a)(3) of such Act 

8 (52 U.S.C. 30106(a)(3)) is amended to read as follows: 

9 ‘‘(3) QUALIFICATIONS.— 

10 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The President may 

11 select an individual for service as a member of 

12 the Commission if the individual has experience 

13 in election law and has a demonstrated record 

14 of integrity, impartiality, and good judgment. 

15 ‘‘(B) ASSISTANCE OF BLUE RIBBON ADVI16 SORY PANEL.— 

17 ‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—Prior to the regu18 larly scheduled expiration of the term of a 

19 member of the Commission and upon the 

20 occurrence of a vacancy in the membership 

21 of the Commission prior to the expiration 

22 of a term, the President shall convene a 

23 Blue Ribbon Advisory Panel that includes 

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1 pendent of a political party and that con2 sists of an odd number of individuals se3 lected by the President from retired Fed4 eral judges, former law enforcement offi5 cials, or individuals with experience in elec6 tion law, except that the President may not 

7 select any individual to serve on the panel 

8 who holds any public office at the time of 

9 selection. The President shall also make 

10 reasonable efforts to encourage racial, eth11 nic, and gender diversity on the panel. 

12 ‘‘(ii) RECOMMENDATIONS.—With re13 spect to each member of the Commission 

14 whose term is expiring or each vacancy in 

15 the membership of the Commission (as the 

16 case may be), the Blue Ribbon Advisory 

17 Panel shall recommend to the President at 

18 least one but not more than 3 individuals 

19 for nomination for appointment as a mem20 ber of the Commission. 

21 ‘‘(iii) PUBLICATION.—At the time the 

22 President submits to the Senate the nomi23 nations for individuals to be appointed as 

24 members of the Commission, the President 

25 shall publish the Blue Ribbon Advisory 


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1 Panel’s recommendations for such nomina2 tions. 

3 ‘‘(iv) EXEMPTION FROM FEDERAL AD4 VISORY COMMITTEE ACT.—The Federal 

5 Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) 

6 does not apply to a Blue Ribbon Advisory 

7 Panel convened under this subparagraph. 

8 ‘‘(C) PROHIBITING ENGAGEMENT WITH

9 OTHER BUSINESS OR EMPLOYMENT DURING

10 SERVICE.—A member of the Commission shall 

11 not engage in any other business, vocation, or 

12 employment. Any individual who is engaging in 

13 any other business, vocation, or employment at 

14 the time of his or her appointment to the Com15 mission shall terminate or liquidate such activ16 ity no later than 90 days after such appoint17 ment.’’. 

18 SEC. 3. ASSIGNMENT OF POWERS TO CHAIR OF FEDERAL 

19 ELECTION COMMISSION. 

20 (a) APPOINTMENT OF CHAIR BY PRESIDENT.— 

21 (1) IN GENERAL.—Section 306(a)(5) of the 

22 Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (52 U.S.C. 

23 30106(a)(5)) is amended to read as follows: 

24 ‘‘(5) CHAIR.— 


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1 ‘‘(A) INITIAL APPOINTMENT.—Of the 

2 members first appointed to serve terms that 

3 begin in January 2025, one such member (as 

4 designated by the President at the time the 

5 President submits nominations to the Senate) 

6 shall serve as Chair of the Commission. 

7 ‘‘(B) SUBSEQUENT APPOINTMENTS.—Any 

8 individual who is appointed to succeed the 

9 member who serves as Chair of the Commission 

10 for the term beginning in January 2025 (as 

11 well as any individual who is appointed to fill 

12 a vacancy if such member does not serve a full 

13 term as Chair) shall serve as Chair of the Com14 mission. 

15 ‘‘(C) VICE CHAIR.—The Commission shall 

16 select, by majority vote of its members, one of 

17 its members to serve as Vice Chair, who shall 

18 act as Chair in the absence or disability of the 

19 Chair or in the event of a vacancy in the posi20 tion of Chair.’’. 

21 (2) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 

22 309(a)(2) of such Act (52 U.S.C. 30109(a)(2)) is 

23 amended by striking ‘‘through its chairman or vice 

24 chairman’’ and inserting ‘‘through the Chair’’. 

25 (b) POWERS.— 


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1 (1) ASSIGNMENT OF CERTAIN POWERS TO

2 CHAIR.—Section 307(a) of such Act (52 U.S.C. 

3 30107(a)) is amended to read as follows: 

4 ‘‘(a) DISTRIBUTION OF POWERS BETWEEN CHAIR

5 AND COMMISSION.— 

6 ‘‘(1) POWERS ASSIGNED TO CHAIR.— 

7 ‘‘(A) ADMINISTRATIVE POWERS.—The 

8 Chair of the Commission shall be the chief ad9 ministrative officer of the Commission and shall 

10 have the authority to administer the Commis11 sion and its staff, and (in consultation with the 

12 other members of the Commission) shall have 

13 the power— 

14 ‘‘(i) to appoint and remove the staff 

15 director of the Commission; 

16 ‘‘(ii) to request the assistance (includ17 ing personnel and facilities) of other agen18 cies and departments of the United States, 

19 whose heads may make such assistance 

20 available to the Commission with or with21 out reimbursement; and 

22 ‘‘(iii) to prepare and establish the 

23 budget of the Commission and to make 

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1 rector of the Office of Management and 

2 Budget, and Congress. 

3 ‘‘(B) OTHER POWERS.—The Chair of the 

4 Commission shall have the power— 

5 ‘‘(i) to appoint and remove the gen6 eral counsel of the Commission with the 

7 concurrence of at least 2 other members of 

8 the Commission; 

9 ‘‘(ii) to require by special or general 

10 orders, any person to submit, under oath, 

11 such written reports and answers to ques12 tions as the Chair may prescribe; 

13 ‘‘(iii) to administer oaths or affirma14 tions; 

15 ‘‘(iv) to require by subpoena, signed 

16 by the Chair, the attendance and testimony 

17 of witnesses and the production of all doc18 umentary evidence relating to the execu19 tion of its duties; 

20 ‘‘(v) in any proceeding or investiga21 tion, to order testimony to be taken by 

22 deposition before any person who is des23 ignated by the Chair, and shall have the 

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1 duction of evidence in the same manner as 

2 authorized under clause (iv); and 

3 ‘‘(vi) to pay witnesses the same fees 

4 and mileage as are paid in like cir5 cumstances in the courts of the United 

6 States. 

7 ‘‘(2) POWERS ASSIGNED TO COMMISSION.—The 

8 Commission shall have the power— 

9 ‘‘(A) to initiate (through civil actions for 

10 injunctive, declaratory, or other appropriate re11 lief), defend (in the case of any civil action 

12 brought under section 309(a)(8) of this Act) or 

13 appeal (including a proceeding before the Su14 preme Court on certiorari) any civil action in 

15 the name of the Commission to enforce the pro16 visions of this Act and chapter 95 and chapter 

17 96 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, 

18 through its general counsel; 

19 ‘‘(B) to render advisory opinions under 

20 section 308 of this Act; 

21 ‘‘(C) to develop such prescribed forms and 

22 to make, amend, and repeal such rules, pursu23 ant to the provisions of chapter 5 of title 5, 

24 United States Code, as are necessary to carry 

25 out the provisions of this Act and chapter 95 


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1 and chapter 96 of the Internal Revenue Code of 

2 1986; 

3 ‘‘(D) to conduct investigations and hear4 ings expeditiously, to encourage voluntary com5 pliance, and to report apparent violations to the 

6 appropriate law enforcement authorities; and 

7 ‘‘(E) to transmit to the President and Con8 gress not later than June 1 of each year a re9 port which states in detail the activities of the 

10 Commission in carrying out its duties under 

11 this Act, and which includes any recommenda12 tions for any legislative or other action the 

13 Commission considers appropriate. 

14 ‘‘(3) PERMITTING COMMISSION TO EXERCISE

15 OTHER POWERS OF CHAIR.—With respect to any in16 vestigation, action, or proceeding, the Commission, 

17 by an affirmative vote of a majority of the members 

18 who are serving at the time, may exercise any of the 

19 powers of the Chair described in paragraph (1)(B).’’. 

20 (2) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS RELATING TO

21 PERSONNEL AUTHORITY.—Section 306(f) of such 

22 Act (52 U.S.C. 30106(f)) is amended— 

23 (A) by amending the first sentence of 

24 paragraph (1) to read as follows: ‘‘The Com25 mission shall have a staff director who shall be 


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1 appointed by the Chair of the Commission in 

2 consultation with the other members and a gen3 eral counsel who shall be appointed by the 

4 Chair with the concurrence of at least two other 

5 members.’’; 

6 (B) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘With 

7 the approval of the Commission’’ and inserting 

8 ‘‘With the approval of the Chair of the Commis9 sion’’; and 

10 (C) by striking paragraph (3). 

11 (3) CONFORMING AMENDMENT RELATING TO

12 BUDGET SUBMISSION.—Section 307(d)(1) of such 

13 Act (52 U.S.C. 30107(d)(1)) is amended by striking 

14 ‘‘the Commission submits any budget’’ and inserting 

15 ‘‘the Chair (or, pursuant to subsection (a)(3), the 

16 Commission) submits any budget’’. 

17 (4) OTHER CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—Sec18 tion 306(c) of such Act (52 U.S.C. 30106(c)) is 

19 amended by striking ‘‘All decisions’’ and inserting 

20 ‘‘Subject to section 307(a), all decisions’’. 

21 (5) TECHNICAL AMENDMENT.—The heading of 

22 section 307 of such Act (52 U.S.C. 30107) is 

23 amended by striking ‘‘THE COMMISSION’’ and insert24 ing ‘‘THE CHAIR AND THE COMMISSION’’. 


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1 SEC. 4. REVISION TO ENFORCEMENT PROCESS. 

2 (a) STANDARD FOR INITIATING INVESTIGATIONS AND

3 DETERMINING WHETHER VIOLATIONS HAVE OC4 CURRED.— 

5 (1) REVISION OF STANDARDS.—Section 309(a) 

6 of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (52 

7 U.S.C. 30109(a)) is amended by striking paragraphs 

8 (2) and (3) and inserting the following: 

9 ‘‘(2)(A) The general counsel, upon receiving a com10 plaint filed with the Commission under paragraph (1) or 

11 upon the basis of information ascertained by the Commis12 sion in the normal course of carrying out its supervisory 

13 responsibilities, shall make a determination as to whether 

14 or not there is reason to believe that a person has com15 mitted, or is about to commit, a violation of this Act or 

16 chapter 95 or chapter 96 of the Internal Revenue Code 

17 of 1986, and as to whether or not the Commission should 

18 either initiate an investigation of the matter or that the 

19 complaint should be dismissed. The general counsel shall 

20 promptly provide notification to the Commission of such 

21 determination and the reasons therefore, together with 

22 any written response submitted under paragraph (1) by 

23 the person alleged to have committed the violation. Upon 

24 the expiration of the 30-day period which begins on the 

25 date the general counsel provides such notification, the 

26 general counsel’s determination shall take effect, unless 


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1 during such 30-day period the Commission, by vote of a 

2 majority of the members of the Commission who are serv3 ing at the time, overrules the general counsel’s determina4 tion. If the determination by the general counsel that the 

5 Commission should investigate the matter takes effect, or 

6 if the determination by the general counsel that the com7 plaint should be dismissed is overruled as provided under 

8 the previous sentence, the general counsel shall initiate an 

9 investigation of the matter on behalf of the Commission. 

10 ‘‘(B) If the Commission initiates an investigation 

11 pursuant to subparagraph (A), the Commission, through 

12 the Chair, shall notify the subject of the investigation of 

13 the alleged violation. Such notification shall set forth the 

14 factual basis for such alleged violation. The Commission 

15 shall make an investigation of such alleged violation, which 

16 may include a field investigation or audit, in accordance 

17 with the provisions of this section. The general counsel 

18 shall provide notification to the Commission of any intent 

19 to issue a subpoena or conduct any other form of discovery 

20 pursuant to the investigation. Upon the expiration of the 

21 15-day period which begins on the date the general counsel 

22 provides such notification, the general counsel may issue 

23 the subpoena or conduct the discovery, unless during such 

24 15-day period the Commission, by vote of a majority of 

25 the members of the Commission who are serving at the 


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1 time, prohibits the general counsel from issuing the sub2 poena or conducting the discovery. 

3 ‘‘(3)(A) Upon completion of an investigation under 

4 paragraph (2), the general counsel shall promptly submit 

5 to the Commission the general counsel’s recommendation 

6 that the Commission find either that there is probable 

7 cause or that there is not probable cause to believe that 

8 a person has committed, or is about to commit, a violation 

9 of this Act or chapter 95 or chapter 96 of the Internal 

10 Revenue Code of 1986, and shall include with the rec11 ommendation a brief stating the position of the general 

12 counsel on the legal and factual issues of the case. 

13 ‘‘(B) At the time the general counsel submits to the 

14 Commission the recommendation under subparagraph (A), 

15 the general counsel shall simultaneously notify the re16 spondent of such recommendation and the reasons there17 fore, shall provide the respondent with an opportunity to 

18 submit a brief within 30 days stating the position of the 

19 respondent on the legal and factual issues of the case and 

20 replying to the brief of the general counsel. The general 

21 counsel and shall promptly submit such brief to the Com22 mission upon receipt. 

23 ‘‘(C) Not later than 30 days after the general counsel 

24 submits the recommendation to the Commission under 

25 subparagraph (A) (or, if the respondent submits a brief 


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1 under subparagraph (B), not later than 30 days after the 

2 general counsel submits the respondent’s brief to the Com3 mission under such subparagraph), the Commission shall 

4 approve or disapprove the recommendation by vote of a 

5 majority of the members of the Commission who are serv6 ing at the time.’’. 

7 (2) CONFORMING AMENDMENT RELATING TO

8 INITIAL RESPONSE TO FILING OF COMPLAINT.—Sec9 tion 309(a)(1) of such Act (52 U.S.C. 30109(a)(1)) 

10 is amended— 

11 (A) in the third sentence, by striking ‘‘the 

12 Commission’’ and inserting ‘‘the general coun13 sel’’; and 

14 (B) by amending the fourth sentence to 

15 read as follows: ‘‘Not later than 15 days after 

16 receiving notice from the general counsel under 

17 the previous sentence, the person may provide 

18 the general counsel with a written response that 

19 no action should be taken against such person 

20 on the basis of the complaint.’’. 

21 (b) REVISION OF STANDARD FOR REVIEW OF DIS22 MISSAL OF COMPLAINTS.— 

23 (1) IN GENERAL.—Section 309(a)(8) of such 

24 Act (52 U.S.C. 30109(a)(8)) is amended to read as 

25 follows: 


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1 ‘‘(8)(A)(i) Any party aggrieved by an order of the 

2 Commission dismissing a complaint filed by such party 

3 after finding either no reason to believe a violation has 

4 occurred or no probable cause a violation has occurred 

5 may file a petition with the United States District Court 

6 for the District of Columbia. Any petition under this sub7 paragraph shall be filed within 60 days after the date on 

8 which the party received notice of the dismissal of the 

9 complaint. 

10 ‘‘(ii) In any proceeding under this subparagraph, the 

11 court shall determine by de novo review whether the agen12 cy’s dismissal of the complaint is contrary to law. In any 

13 matter in which the penalty for the alleged violation is 

14 greater than $50,000, the court should disregard any 

15 claim or defense by the Commission of prosecutorial dis16 cretion as a basis for dismissing the complaint. 

17 ‘‘(B)(i) Any party who has filed a complaint with the 

18 Commission and who is aggrieved by a failure of the Com19 mission, within one year after the filing of the complaint, 

20 to either dismiss the complaint or to find reason to believe 

21 a violation has occurred or is about to occur, may file a 

22 petition with the United States District Court for the Dis23 trict of Columbia. 

24 ‘‘(ii) In any proceeding under this subparagraph, the 

25 court shall treat the failure to act on the complaint as 


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1 a dismissal of the complaint, and shall determine by de 

2 novo review whether the agency’s failure to act on the 

3 complaint is contrary to law. 

4 ‘‘(C) In any proceeding under this paragraph the 

5 court may declare that the dismissal of the complaint or 

6 the failure to act is contrary to law, and may direct the 

7 Commission to conform with such declaration within 30 

8 days, failing which the complainant may bring, in the 

9 name of such complainant, a civil action to remedy the 

10 violation involved in the original complaint.’’. 

11 (2) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made 

12 by paragraph (1) shall apply— 

13 (A) in the case of complaints which are 

14 dismissed by the Federal Election Commission, 

15 with respect to complaints which are dismissed 

16 on or after the date of the enactment of this 

17 Act; and 

18 (B) in the case of complaints upon which 

19 the Federal Election Commission failed to act, 

20 with respect to complaints which were filed on 

21 or after the date of the enactment of this Act. 


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1 SEC. 5. PERMITTING APPEARANCE AT HEARINGS ON RE2 QUESTS FOR ADVISORY OPINIONS BY PER3 SONS OPPOSING THE REQUESTS. 

4 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 308 of such Act (52 

5 U.S.C. 30108) is amended by adding at the end the fol6 lowing new subsection: 

7 ‘‘(e) To the extent that the Commission provides an 

8 opportunity for a person requesting an advisory opinion 

9 under this section (or counsel for such person) to appear 

10 before the Commission to present testimony in support of 

11 the request, and the person (or counsel) accepts such op12 portunity, the Commission shall provide a reasonable op13 portunity for an interested party who submitted written 

14 comments under subsection (d) in response to the request 

15 (or counsel for such interested party) to appear before the 

16 Commission to present testimony in response to the re17 quest.’’. 

18 (b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by 

19 subsection (a) shall apply with respect to requests for advi20 sory opinions under section 308 of the Federal Election 

21 Campaign Act of 1971 which are made on or after the 

22 date of the enactment of this Act. 

23 SEC. 6. PERMANENT EXTENSION OF ADMINISTRATIVE PEN24 ALTY AUTHORITY. 

25 (a) EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY.—Section 

26 309(a)(4)(C)(v) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 


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1 1971 (52 U.S.C. 30109(a)(4)(C)(v)), as amended by Pub2 lic Law 118–26, is amended by striking ‘‘, and that end 

3 on or before December 31, 2033’’. 

4 (b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by 

5 subsection (a) shall take effect on December 31, 2024. 

6 SEC. 7. RESTRICTIONS ON EX PARTE COMMUNICATIONS. 

7 Section 306(e) of the Federal Election Campaign Act 

8 of 1971 (52 U.S.C. 30106(e)) is amended— 

9 (1) by striking ‘‘(e) The Commission’’ and in10 serting ‘‘(e)(1) The Commission’’; and 

11 (2) by adding at the end the following new 

12 paragraph: 

13 ‘‘(2) Members and employees of the Commission shall 

14 be subject to limitations on ex parte communications, as 

15 provided in the regulations promulgated by the Commis16 sion regarding such communications which are in effect 

17 on the date of the enactment of this paragraph.’’. 

18 SEC. 8. CLARIFYING AUTHORITY OF FEC ATTORNEYS TO 

19 REPRESENT FEC IN SUPREME COURT. 

20 (a) CLARIFYING AUTHORITY.—Section 306(f)(4) of 

21 the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (52 U.S.C. 

22 30106(f)(4)) is amended by striking ‘‘any action instituted 

23 under this Act, either (A) by attorneys’’ and inserting 

24 ‘‘any action instituted under this Act, including an action 

25 before the Supreme Court of the United States, either (A) 


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1 by the General Counsel of the Commission and other at2 torneys’’. 

3 (b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by 

4 subsection (a) shall apply with respect to actions instituted 

5 before, on, or after the date of the enactment of this Act. 

6 SEC. 9. REQUIRING FORMS TO PERMIT USE OF ACCENT 

7 MARKS. 

8 (a) REQUIREMENT.—Section 311(a)(1) of the Fed9 eral Election Campaign Act of 1971 (52 U.S.C. 

10 30111(a)(1)) is amended by striking the semicolon at the 

11 end and inserting the following: ‘‘, and shall ensure that 

12 all such forms (including forms in an electronic format) 

13 permit the person using the form to include an accent 

14 mark as part of the person’s identification;’’. 

15 (b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by 

16 subsection (a) shall take effect upon the expiration of the 

17 90-day period which begins on the date of the enactment 

18 of this Act. 

19 SEC. 10. EFFECTIVE DATE; TRANSITION. 

20 (a) IN GENERAL.—Except as otherwise provided, the 

21 amendments made by this Act shall apply beginning Janu22 ary 1, 2025. 

23 (b) TRANSITION.— 

24 (1) TERMINATION OF SERVICE OF CURRENT

25 MEMBERS.—Notwithstanding any provision of the 


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24 

•HR 7497 IH

1 Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971, the term of 

2 any individual serving as a member of the Federal 

3 Election Commission as of December 31, 2024, shall 

4 expire on that date. 

5 (2) NO EFFECT ON EXISTING CASES OR PRO6 CEEDINGS.—Nothing in this Act or in any amend7 ment made by this Act shall affect any of the powers 

8 exercised by the Federal Election Commission prior 

9 to December 31, 2024, including any investigation 

10 initiated by the Commission prior to such date or 

11 any proceeding (including any enforcement action) 

12 pending as of such date. 

Æ 


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