I 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 8572 

To direct the Federal Election Commission to establish a program under 

which participating States shall provide individuals with vouchers which 

may be used to make contributions to candidates for election for the 

office of Representative in, or Delegate or Resident Commissioner to, 

the Congress, to amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 

to establish a program to provide small dollar financing for candidates 

for election for the office of Representative in, or Delegate or Resident 

Commissioner to, the Congress, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MAY 24, 2024 

Mr. SARBANES (for himself, Mr. NEGUSE, Ms. CLARKE of New York, and Ms. 

PINGREE) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committees on 

the Judiciary, and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions 

as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

A BILL 

To direct the Federal Election Commission to establish a 

program under which participating States shall provide 

individuals with vouchers which may be used to make 

contributions to candidates for election for the office 

of Representative in, or Delegate or Resident Commissioner to, the Congress, to amend the Federal Election 

Campaign Act of 1971 to establish a program to provide 

small dollar financing for candidates for election for the 


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office of Representative in, or Delegate or Resident Commissioner to, the Congress, 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; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

4 (a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 

5 ‘‘Government by the People Act’’. 

6 (b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents of 

7 this Act is as follows: 

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 

TITLE I—MY VOICE VOUCHER PILOT PROGRAM 

Sec. 101. Establishment of pilot program. 

Sec. 102. Voucher program described. 

Sec. 103. Reports. 

Sec. 104. Definitions. 

TITLE II—SMALL DOLLAR FINANCING OF CONGRESSIONAL 

ELECTION CAMPAIGNS 

Sec. 201. Benefits and eligibility requirements for candidates. 

‘‘TITLE V—SMALL DOLLAR FINANCING OF CONGRESSIONAL 

ELECTION CAMPAIGNS 

‘‘Subtitle A—Benefits 

‘‘Sec. 501. Benefits for participating candidates. 

‘‘Sec. 502. Procedures for making payments. 

‘‘Sec. 503. Use of funds. 

‘‘Sec. 504. Qualified small dollar contributions described. 

‘‘Subtitle B—Eligibility and Certification 

‘‘Sec. 511. Eligibility. 

‘‘Sec. 512. Qualifying requirements. 

‘‘Sec. 513. Certification. 

‘‘Subtitle C—Requirements for Candidates Certified as Participating 

Candidates 

‘‘Sec. 521. Contribution and expenditure requirements. 

‘‘Sec. 522. Administration of campaign. 

‘‘Sec. 523. Preventing unnecessary spending of public funds. 

‘‘Sec. 524. Remitting unspent funds after election. 


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‘‘Subtitle D—Enhanced Match Support 

‘‘Sec. 531. Enhanced support for general election. 

‘‘Sec. 532. Eligibility. 

‘‘Sec. 533. Amount. 

‘‘Sec. 534. Waiver of authority to retain portion of unspent funds after 

election. 

‘‘Subtitle E—Administrative Provisions 

‘‘Sec. 541. Freedom From Influence Fund. 

‘‘Sec. 542. Reviews and reports by Government Accountability Office. 

‘‘Sec. 543. Administration by Commission. 

‘‘Sec. 544. Violations and penalties. 

‘‘Sec. 545. Appeals process. 

‘‘Sec. 546. Indexing of amounts. 

‘‘Sec. 547. Election cycle defined. 

Sec. 202. Contributions and expenditures by multicandidate and political party 

committees on behalf of participating candidates. 

Sec. 203. Prohibiting use of contributions by participating candidates for purposes other than campaign for election. 

Sec. 204. Assessments against fines and penalties. 

Sec. 205. Study and report on small dollar financing program. 

Sec. 206. Effective date. 

1 TITLE I—MY VOICE VOUCHER 

2 PILOT PROGRAM 

3 SEC. 101. ESTABLISHMENT OF PILOT PROGRAM. 

4 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Federal Election Com5 mission (hereafter in this part referred to as the ‘‘Commis6 sion’’) shall establish a pilot program under which the 

7 Commission shall select 3 eligible States to operate a 

8 voucher pilot program which is described in section 102 

9 during the program operation period. 

10 (b) ELIGIBILITY OF STATES.—A State is eligible to 

11 be selected to operate a voucher pilot program under this 

12 part if, not later than 180 days after the beginning of the 

13 program application period, the State submits to the Com14 mission an application containing— 


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1 (1) information and assurances that the State 

2 will operate a voucher program which contains the 

3 elements described in section 102(a); 

4 (2) information and assurances that the State 

5 will establish fraud prevention mechanisms described 

6 in section 102(b); 

7 (3) information and assurances that the State 

8 will establish a commission to oversee and implement 

9 the program as described in section 102(c); 

10 (4) information and assurances that the State 

11 will carry out a public information campaign as de12 scribed in section 102(d); 

13 (5) information and assurances that the State 

14 will submit reports as required under section 103; 

15 and 

16 (6) such other information and assurances as 

17 the Commission may require. 

18 (c) SELECTION OF PARTICIPATING STATES.— 

19 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after 

20 the beginning of the program application period, the 

21 Commission shall select the 3 States which will oper22 ate voucher pilot programs under this part. 

23 (2) CRITERIA.—In selecting States for the oper24 ation of the voucher pilot programs under this part, 

25 the Commission shall apply such criteria and metrics 


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1 as the Commission considers appropriate to deter2 mine the ability of a State to operate the program 

3 successfully, and shall attempt to select States in a 

4 variety of geographic regions and with a variety of 

5 political party preferences. 

6 (3) NO SUPERMAJORITY REQUIRED FOR SELEC7 TION.—The selection of States by the Commission 

8 under this subsection shall require the approval of 

9 only half of the Members of the Commission. 

10 (d) DUTIES OF STATES DURING PROGRAM PREPARA11 TION PERIOD.—During the program preparation period, 

12 each State selected to operate a voucher pilot program 

13 under this part shall take such actions as may be nec14 essary to ensure that the State will be ready to operate 

15 the program during the program operation period, and 

16 shall complete such actions not later than 90 days before 

17 the beginning of the program operation period. 

18 (e) TERMINATION.—Each voucher pilot program 

19 under this part shall terminate as of the first day after 

20 the program operation period. 

21 (f) REIMBURSEMENT OF COSTS.— 

22 (1) REIMBURSEMENT.—Upon receiving the re23 port submitted by a State under section 103(a) with 

24 respect to an election cycle, the Commission shall 

25 transmit a payment to the State in an amount equal 


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1 to the reasonable costs incurred by the State in op2 erating the voucher pilot program under this part 

3 during the cycle. 

4 (2) SOURCE OF FUNDS.—Payments to States 

5 under the program shall be made using amounts in 

6 the Freedom From Influence Fund under section 

7 541 of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 

8 (as added by section 201), hereafter referred to as 

9 the ‘‘Fund’’. 

10 (3) MANDATORY REDUCTION OF PAYMENTS IN

11 CASE OF INSUFFICIENT AMOUNTS IN FREEDOM

12 FROM INFLUENCE FUND.— 

13 (A) ADVANCE AUDITS BY COMMISSION.— 

14 Not later than 90 days before the first day of 

15 each program operation period, the Commission 

16 shall— 

17 (i) audit the Fund to determine 

18 whether, after first making payments to 

19 participating candidates under title V of 

20 the Federal Election Campaign Act of 

21 1971 (as added by section 201), the 

22 amounts remaining in the Fund will be 

23 sufficient to make payments to States 

24 under this part in the amounts provided 

25 under this subsection; and 


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1 (ii) submit a report to Congress de2 scribing the results of the audit. 

3 (B) REDUCTIONS IN AMOUNT OF PAY4 MENTS.— 

5 (i) AUTOMATIC REDUCTION ON PRO

6 RATA BASIS.—If, on the basis of the audit 

7 described in subparagraph (A), the Com8 mission determines that the amount antici9 pated to be available in the Fund with re10 spect to an election cycle involved is not, or 

11 may not be, sufficient to make payments to 

12 States under this part in the full amount 

13 provided under this subsection, the Com14 mission shall reduce each amount which 

15 would otherwise be paid to a State under 

16 this subsection by such pro rata amount as 

17 may be necessary to ensure that the aggre18 gate amount of payments anticipated to be 

19 made with respect to the cycle will not ex20 ceed the amount anticipated to be available 

21 for such payments in the Fund with re22 spect to such cycle. 

23 (ii) RESTORATION OF REDUCTIONS IN

24 CASE OF AVAILABILITY OF SUFFICIENT

25 FUNDS DURING ELECTION CYCLE.—If, 


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1 after reducing the amounts paid to States 

2 with respect to an election cycle under 

3 clause (i), the Commission determines that 

4 there are sufficient amounts in the Fund 

5 to restore the amount by which such pay6 ments were reduced (or any portion there7 of), to the extent that such amounts are 

8 available, the Commission may make a 

9 payment on a pro rata basis to each such 

10 State with respect to the cycle in the 

11 amount by which such State’s payments 

12 were reduced under clause (i) (or any por13 tion thereof, as the case may be). 

14 (iii) NO USE OF AMOUNTS FROM

15 OTHER SOURCES.—In any case in which 

16 the Commission determines that there are 

17 insufficient moneys in the Fund to make 

18 payments to States under this part, mon19 eys shall not be made available from any 

20 other source for the purpose of making 

21 such payments. 

22 (4) CAP ON AMOUNT OF PAYMENT.—The aggre23 gate amount of payments made to any State with re24 spect to any program operation period may not ex25 ceed $10,000,000. If the State determines that the 


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1 maximum payment amount under this paragraph 

2 with respect to the program operation period in3 volved is not, or may not be, sufficient to cover the 

4 reasonable costs incurred by the State in operating 

5 the program under this part for such period, the 

6 State shall reduce the amount of the voucher pro7 vided to each qualified individual by such pro rata 

8 amount as may be necessary to ensure that the rea9 sonable costs incurred by the State in operating the 

10 program will not exceed the amount paid to the 

11 State with respect to such period. 

12 SEC. 102. VOUCHER PROGRAM DESCRIBED. 

13 (a) GENERAL ELEMENTS OF PROGRAM.— 

14 (1) ELEMENTS DESCRIBED.—The elements of a 

15 voucher pilot program operated by a State under 

16 this part are as follows: 

17 (A) The State shall provide each qualified 

18 individual upon the individual’s request with a 

19 voucher worth $25 to be known as a ‘‘My Voice 

20 Voucher’’ during the election cycle which will be 

21 assigned a routing number and which at the op22 tion of the individual will be provided in either 

23 paper or electronic form. 

24 (B) Using the routing number assigned to 

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1 mit the My Voice Voucher in either electronic 

2 or paper form to qualified candidates for elec3 tion for the office of Representative in, or Dele4 gate or Resident Commissioner to, the Congress 

5 and allocate such portion of the value of the My 

6 Voice Voucher in increments of $5 as the indi7 vidual may select to any such candidate. 

8 (C) If the candidate transmits the My 

9 Voice Voucher to the Commission, the Commis10 sion shall pay the candidate the portion of the 

11 value of the My Voice Voucher that the indi12 vidual allocated to the candidate, which shall be 

13 considered a contribution by the individual to 

14 the candidate for purposes of the Federal Elec15 tion Campaign Act of 1971. 

16 (2) DESIGNATION OF QUALIFIED INDIVID17 UALS.—For purposes of paragraph (1)(A), a ‘‘quali18 fied individual’’ with respect to a State means an in19 dividual— 

20 (A) who is a resident of the State; 

21 (B) who will be of voting age as of the 

22 date of the election for the candidate to whom 

23 the individual submits a My Voice Voucher; and 


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1 (C) who is not prohibited under Federal 

2 law from making contributions to candidates 

3 for election for Federal office. 

4 (3) TREATMENT AS CONTRIBUTION TO CAN5 DIDATE.—For purposes of the Federal Election 

6 Campaign Act of 1971, the submission of a My 

7 Voice Voucher to a candidate by an individual shall 

8 be treated as a contribution to the candidate by the 

9 individual in the amount of the portion of the value 

10 of the Voucher that the individual allocated to the 

11 candidate. 

12 (b) FRAUD PREVENTION MECHANISM.—In addition 

13 to the elements described in subsection (a), a State oper14 ating a voucher pilot program under this part shall permit 

15 an individual to revoke a My Voice Voucher not later than 

16 2 days after submitting the My Voice Voucher to a can17 didate. 

18 (c) OVERSIGHT COMMISSION.—In addition to the ele19 ments described in subsection (a), a State operating a 

20 voucher pilot program under this part shall establish a 

21 commission or designate an existing entity to oversee and 

22 implement the program in the State, except that no such 

23 commission or entity may be comprised of elected officials. 

24 (d) PUBLIC INFORMATION CAMPAIGN.—In addition 

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1 ating a voucher pilot program under this part shall carry 

2 out a public information campaign to disseminate aware3 ness of the program among qualified individuals. 

4 SEC. 103. REPORTS. 

5 (a) PRELIMINARY REPORT.—Not later than 6 

6 months after the first election cycle of the program oper7 ation period, a State which operates a voucher pilot pro8 gram under this part shall submit a report to the Commis9 sion analyzing the operation and effectiveness of the pro10 gram during the cycle and including such other informa11 tion as the Commission may require. 

12 (b) FINAL REPORT.—Not later than 6 months after 

13 the end of the program operation period, the State shall 

14 submit a final report to the Commission analyzing the op15 eration and effectiveness of the program and including 

16 such other information as the Commission may require. 

17 (c) STUDY AND REPORT ON IMPACT AND EFFEC18 TIVENESS OF VOUCHER PROGRAMS.— 

19 (1) STUDY.—The Federal Election Commission 

20 shall conduct a study on the efficacy of political 

21 voucher programs, including the program under this 

22 part and other similar programs, in expanding and 

23 diversifying the pool of individuals who participate in 

24 the electoral process, including those who participate 

25 as donors and those who participate as candidates. 


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1 (2) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the 

2 date of the enactment of this Act, the Commission 

3 shall publish and submit to Congress a report on the 

4 study conducted under subsection (a), and shall in5 clude in the report such recommendations as the 

6 Commission considers appropriate which would en7 able political voucher programs to be implemented 

8 on a national scale. 

9 SEC. 104. DEFINITIONS. 

10 (a) ELECTION CYCLE.—In this part, the term ‘‘elec11 tion cycle’’ means the period beginning on the day after 

12 the date of the most recent regularly scheduled general 

13 election for Federal office and ending on the date of the 

14 next regularly scheduled general election for Federal of15 fice. 

16 (b) DEFINITIONS RELATING TO PERIODS.—In this 

17 part, the following definitions apply: 

18 (1) PROGRAM APPLICATION PERIOD.—The term 

19 ‘‘program application period’’ means the first elec20 tion cycle which begins after the date of the enact21 ment of this Act. 

22 (2) PROGRAM PREPARATION PERIOD.—The 

23 term ‘‘program preparation period’’ means the first 

24 election cycle which begins after the program appli25 cation period. 


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1 (3) PROGRAM OPERATION PERIOD.—The term 

2 ‘‘program operation period’’ means the first 2 elec3 tion cycles which begin after the program prepara4 tion period. 

5 TITLE II—SMALL DOLLAR FI6 NANCING OF CONGRES7 SIONAL ELECTION CAM8 PAIGNS 

9 SEC. 201. BENEFITS AND ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR 

10 CANDIDATES. 

11 The Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (52 

12 U.S.C. 30101 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end 

13 the following: 

14 ‘‘TITLE V—SMALL DOLLAR FI15 NANCING OF CONGRES16 SIONAL ELECTION CAM17 PAIGNS 

18 ‘‘Subtitle A—Benefits 

19 ‘‘SEC. 501. BENEFITS FOR PARTICIPATING CANDIDATES. 

20 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—If a candidate for election to the 

21 office of Representative in, or Delegate or Resident Com22 missioner to, the Congress is certified as a participating 

23 candidate under this title with respect to an election for 

24 such office, the candidate shall be entitled to payments 

25 as provided under this title. 


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1 ‘‘(b) AMOUNT OF PAYMENT.—The amount of a pay2 ment made under this title shall be equal to 600 percent 

3 of the amount of qualified small dollar contributions re4 ceived by the candidate since the most recent payment 

5 made to the candidate under this title during the election 

6 cycle, without regard to whether or not the candidate re7 ceived any of the contributions before, during, or after the 

8 Small Dollar Democracy qualifying period applicable to 

9 the candidate under section 511(c). 

10 ‘‘(c) LIMIT ON AGGREGATE AMOUNT OF PAY11 MENTS.—The aggregate amount of payments made to a 

12 participating candidate with respect to an election cycle 

13 under this title may not exceed 50 percent of the average 

14 of the 20 greatest amounts of disbursements made by the 

15 authorized committees of any winning candidate for the 

16 office of Representative in, or Delegate or Resident Com17 missioner to, the Congress during the most recent election 

18 cycle, rounded to the nearest $100,000. 

19 ‘‘SEC. 502. PROCEDURES FOR MAKING PAYMENTS. 

20 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall make a 

21 payment under section 501 to a candidate who is certified 

22 as a participating candidate upon receipt from the can23 didate of a request for a payment which includes— 

24 ‘‘(1) a statement of the number and amount of 

25 qualified small dollar contributions received by the 


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1 candidate since the most recent payment made to 

2 the candidate under this title during the election 

3 cycle; 

4 ‘‘(2) a statement of the amount of the payment 

5 the candidate anticipates receiving with respect to 

6 the request; 

7 ‘‘(3) a statement of the total amount of pay8 ments the candidate has received under this title as 

9 of the date of the statement; and 

10 ‘‘(4) such other information and assurances as 

11 the Commission may require. 

12 ‘‘(b) RESTRICTIONS ON SUBMISSION OF RE13 QUESTS.—A candidate may not submit a request under 

14 subsection (a) unless each of the following applies: 

15 ‘‘(1) The amount of the qualified small dollar 

16 contributions in the statement referred to in sub17 section (a)(1) is equal to or greater than $5,000, un18 less the request is submitted during the 30-day pe19 riod which ends on the date of a general election. 

20 ‘‘(2) The candidate did not receive a payment 

21 under this title during the 7-day period which ends 

22 on the date the candidate submits the request. 

23 ‘‘(c) TIME OF PAYMENT.—The Commission shall, in 

24 coordination with the Secretary of the Treasury, take such 

25 steps as may be necessary to ensure that the Secretary 


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1 is able to make payments under this section from the 

2 Treasury not later than 2 business days after the receipt 

3 of a request submitted under subsection (a). 

4 ‘‘SEC. 503. USE OF FUNDS. 

5 ‘‘(a) USE OF FUNDS FOR AUTHORIZED CAMPAIGN

6 EXPENDITURES.—A candidate shall use payments made 

7 under this title, including payments provided with respect 

8 to a previous election cycle which are withheld from remit9 tance to the Commission in accordance with section 

10 524(a)(2), only for making direct payments for the receipt 

11 of goods and services which constitute authorized expendi12 tures (as determined in accordance with title III) in con13 nection with the election cycle involved. 

14 ‘‘(b) PROHIBITING USE OF FUNDS FOR LEGAL EX15 PENSES, FINES, OR PENALTIES.—Notwithstanding title 

16 III, a candidate may not use payments made under this 

17 title for the payment of expenses incurred in connection 

18 with any action, claim, or other matter before the Commis19 sion or before any court, hearing officer, arbitrator, or 

20 other dispute resolution entity, or for the payment of any 

21 fine or civil monetary penalty. 

22 ‘‘SEC. 504. QUALIFIED SMALL DOLLAR CONTRIBUTIONS DE23 SCRIBED. 

24 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—In this title, the term ‘qualified 

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1 didate and the authorized committees of a candidate, a 

2 contribution that meets the following requirements: 

3 ‘‘(1) The contribution is in an amount that is— 

4 ‘‘(A) not less than $1; and 

5 ‘‘(B) not more than $200. 

6 ‘‘(2)(A) The contribution is made directly by an 

7 individual to the candidate or an authorized com8 mittee of the candidate and is not— 

9 ‘‘(i) forwarded from the individual making 

10 the contribution to the candidate or committee 

11 by another person; or 

12 ‘‘(ii) received by the candidate or com13 mittee with the knowledge that the contribution 

14 was made at the request, suggestion, or rec15 ommendation of another person. 

16 ‘‘(B) In this paragraph— 

17 ‘‘(i) the term ‘person’ does not include an 

18 individual (other than an individual described in 

19 section 304(i)(7) of the Federal Election Cam20 paign Act of 1971), a political committee of a 

21 political party, or any political committee which 

22 is not a separate segregated fund described in 

23 section 316(b) of the Federal Election Cam24 paign Act of 1971 and which does not make 

25 contributions or independent expenditures, does 


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1 not engage in lobbying activity under the Lob2 bying Disclosure Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1601 et 

3 seq.), and is not established by, controlled by, 

4 or affiliated with a registered lobbyist under 

5 such Act, an agent of a registered lobbyist 

6 under such Act, or an organization which re7 tains or employs a registered lobbyist under 

8 such Act; and 

9 ‘‘(ii) a contribution is not ‘made at the re10 quest, suggestion, or recommendation of an11 other person’ solely on the grounds that the 

12 contribution is made in response to information 

13 provided to the individual making the contribu14 tion by any person, so long as the candidate or 

15 authorized committee does not know the iden16 tity of the person who provided the information 

17 to such individual. 

18 ‘‘(3) The individual who makes the contribution 

19 does not make contributions to the candidate or the 

20 authorized committees of the candidate with respect 

21 to the election involved in an aggregate amount that 

22 exceeds the amount described in paragraph (1)(B), 

23 or any contribution to the candidate or the author24 ized committees of the candidate with respect to the 


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1 election involved that otherwise is not a qualified 

2 small dollar contribution. 

3 ‘‘(b) TREATMENT OF MY VOICE VOUCHERS.—Any 

4 payment received by a candidate and the authorized com5 mittees of a candidate which consists of a My Voice 

6 Voucher under the Government By the People Act of 2021 

7 shall be considered a qualified small dollar contribution 

8 for purposes of this title, so long as the individual making 

9 the payment meets the requirements of paragraphs (2) 

10 and (3) of subsection (a). 

11 ‘‘(c) RESTRICTION ON SUBSEQUENT CONTRIBU12 TIONS.— 

13 ‘‘(1) PROHIBITING DONOR FROM MAKING SUB14 SEQUENT NONQUALIFIED CONTRIBUTIONS DURING

15 ELECTION CYCLE.— 

16 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—An individual who 

17 makes a qualified small dollar contribution to a 

18 candidate or the authorized committees of a 

19 candidate with respect to an election may not 

20 make any subsequent contribution to such can21 didate or the authorized committees of such 

22 candidate with respect to the election cycle 

23 which is not a qualified small dollar contribu24 tion. 


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1 ‘‘(B) EXCEPTION FOR CONTRIBUTIONS TO

2 CANDIDATES WHO VOLUNTARILY WITHDRAW

3 FROM PARTICIPATION DURING QUALIFYING PE4 RIOD.—Subparagraph (A) does not apply with 

5 respect to a contribution made to a candidate 

6 who, during the Small Dollar Democracy quali7 fying period described in section 511(c), sub8 mits a statement to the Commission under sec9 tion 513(c) to voluntarily withdraw from par10 ticipating in the program under this title. 

11 ‘‘(2) TREATMENT OF SUBSEQUENT NON12 QUALIFIED CONTRIBUTIONS.—If, notwithstanding 

13 the prohibition described in paragraph (1), an indi14 vidual who makes a qualified small dollar contribu15 tion to a candidate or the authorized committees of 

16 a candidate with respect to an election makes a sub17 sequent contribution to such candidate or the au18 thorized committees of such candidate with respect 

19 to the election which is prohibited under paragraph 

20 (1) because it is not a qualified small dollar con21 tribution, the candidate may take one of the fol22 lowing actions: 

23 ‘‘(A) Not later than 2 weeks after receiving 

24 the contribution, the candidate may return the 

25 subsequent contribution to the individual. In 


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1 the case of a subsequent contribution which is 

2 not a qualified small dollar contribution because 

3 the contribution fails to meet the requirements 

4 of paragraph (3) of subsection (a) (relating to 

5 the aggregate amount of contributions made to 

6 the candidate or the authorized committees of 

7 the candidate by the individual making the con8 tribution), the candidate may return an amount 

9 equal to the difference between the amount of 

10 the subsequent contribution and the amount de11 scribed in paragraph (1)(B) of subsection (a). 

12 ‘‘(B) The candidate may retain the subse13 quent contribution, so long as not later than 2 

14 weeks after receiving the subsequent contribu15 tion, the candidate remits to the Commission 

16 for deposit in the Freedom From Influence 

17 Fund under section 541 an amount equal to 

18 any payments received by the candidate under 

19 this title which are attributable to the qualified 

20 small dollar contribution made by the individual 

21 involved. 

22 ‘‘(3) NO EFFECT ON ABILITY TO MAKE MUL23 TIPLE CONTRIBUTIONS.—Nothing in this section 

24 may be construed to prohibit an individual from 

25 making multiple qualified small dollar contributions 


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1 to any candidate or any number of candidates, so 

2 long as each contribution meets each of the require3 ments of paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) of subsection 

4 (a). 

5 ‘‘(d) NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS FOR CAN6 DIDATES.— 

7 ‘‘(1) NOTIFICATION.—Each authorized com8 mittee of a candidate who seeks to be a participating 

9 candidate under this title shall provide the following 

10 information in any materials for the solicitation of 

11 contributions, including any internet site through 

12 which individuals may make contributions to the 

13 committee: 

14 ‘‘(A) A statement that if the candidate is 

15 certified as a participating candidate under this 

16 title, the candidate will receive matching pay17 ments in an amount which is based on the total 

18 amount of qualified small dollar contributions 

19 received. 

20 ‘‘(B) A statement that a contribution 

21 which meets the requirements set forth in sub22 section (a) shall be treated as a qualified small 

23 dollar contribution under this title. 

24 ‘‘(C) A statement that if a contribution is 

25 treated as qualified small dollar contribution 


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1 under this title, the individual who makes the 

2 contribution may not make any contribution to 

3 the candidate or the authorized committees of 

4 the candidate during the election cycle which is 

5 not a qualified small dollar contribution. 

6 ‘‘(2) ALTERNATIVE METHODS OF MEETING RE7 QUIREMENTS.—An authorized committee may meet 

8 the requirements of paragraph (1)— 

9 ‘‘(A) by including the information de10 scribed in paragraph (1) in the receipt provided 

11 under section 512(b)(3) to a person making a 

12 qualified small dollar contribution; or 

13 ‘‘(B) by modifying the information it pro14 vides to persons making contributions which is 

15 otherwise required under title III (including in16 formation it provides through the internet). 

17 ‘‘Subtitle B—Eligibility and 

18 Certification 

19 ‘‘SEC. 511. ELIGIBILITY. 

20 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—A candidate for the office of 

21 Representative in, or Delegate or Resident Commissioner 

22 to, the Congress is eligible to be certified as a participating 

23 candidate under this title with respect to an election if 

24 the candidate meets the following requirements: 


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1 ‘‘(1) The candidate files with the Commission a 

2 statement of intent to seek certification as a partici3 pating candidate. 

4 ‘‘(2) The candidate meets the qualifying re5 quirements of section 512. 

6 ‘‘(3) The candidate files with the Commission a 

7 statement certifying that the authorized committees 

8 of the candidate meet the requirements of section 

9 504(d). 

10 ‘‘(4) Not later than the last day of the Small 

11 Dollar Democracy qualifying period, the candidate 

12 files with the Commission an affidavit signed by the 

13 candidate and the treasurer of the candidate’s prin14 cipal campaign committee declaring that the can15 didate— 

16 ‘‘(A) has complied and, if certified, will 

17 comply with the contribution and expenditure 

18 requirements of section 521; 

19 ‘‘(B) if certified, will run only as a partici20 pating candidate for all elections for the office 

21 that such candidate is seeking during that elec22 tion cycle; and 

23 ‘‘(C) has either qualified or will take steps 

24 to qualify under State law to be on the ballot. 


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1 ‘‘(b) GENERAL ELECTION.—Notwithstanding sub2 section (a), a candidate shall not be eligible to be certified 

3 as a participating candidate under this title for a general 

4 election or a general runoff election unless the candidate’s 

5 party nominated the candidate to be placed on the ballot 

6 for the general election or the candidate is otherwise quali7 fied to be on the ballot under State law. 

8 ‘‘(c) SMALL DOLLAR DEMOCRACY QUALIFYING PE9 RIOD DEFINED.—The term ‘Small Dollar Democracy 

10 qualifying period’ means, with respect to any candidate 

11 for an office, the 180-day period (during the election cycle 

12 for such office) which begins on the date on which the 

13 candidate files a statement of intent under section 

14 511(a)(1), except that such period may not continue after 

15 the date that is 30 days before the date of the general 

16 election for the office. 

17 ‘‘SEC. 512. QUALIFYING REQUIREMENTS. 

18 ‘‘(a) RECEIPT OF QUALIFIED SMALL DOLLAR CON19 TRIBUTIONS.—A candidate for the office of Representative 

20 in, or Delegate or Resident Commissioner to, the Congress 

21 meets the requirement of this section if, during the Small 

22 Dollar Democracy qualifying period described in section 

23 511(c), each of the following occurs: 

24 ‘‘(1) Not fewer than 1,000 individuals make a 

25 qualified small dollar contribution to the candidate. 


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1 ‘‘(2) The candidate obtains a total dollar 

2 amount of qualified small dollar contributions which 

3 is equal to or greater than $50,000. 

4 ‘‘(b) REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO RECEIPT OF

5 QUALIFIED SMALL DOLLAR CONTRIBUTION.—Each 

6 qualified small dollar contribution— 

7 ‘‘(1) may be made by means of a personal 

8 check, money order, debit card, credit card, elec9 tronic payment account, or any other method 

10 deemed appropriate by the Commission; 

11 ‘‘(2) shall be accompanied by a signed state12 ment (or, in the case of a contribution made online 

13 or through other electronic means, an electronic 

14 equivalent) containing the contributor’s name and 

15 address; and 

16 ‘‘(3) shall be acknowledged by a receipt that is 

17 sent to the contributor with a copy (in paper or elec18 tronic form) kept by the candidate for the Commis19 sion. 

20 ‘‘(c) VERIFICATION OF CONTRIBUTIONS.—The Com21 mission shall establish procedures for the auditing and 

22 verification of the contributions received and expenditures 

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1 tributions and expenditures meet the requirements of this 

2 title. 

3 ‘‘SEC. 513. CERTIFICATION. 

4 ‘‘(a) DEADLINE AND NOTIFICATION.— 

5 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 5 business 

6 days after a candidate files an affidavit under sec7 tion 511(a)(4), the Commission shall— 

8 ‘‘(A) determine whether or not the can9 didate meets the requirements for certification 

10 as a participating candidate; 

11 ‘‘(B) if the Commission determines that 

12 the candidate meets such requirements, certify 

13 the candidate as a participating candidate; and 

14 ‘‘(C) notify the candidate of the Commis15 sion’s determination. 

16 ‘‘(2) DEEMED CERTIFICATION FOR ALL ELEC17 TIONS IN ELECTION CYCLE.—If the Commission cer18 tifies a candidate as a participating candidate with 

19 respect to the first election of the election cycle in20 volved, the Commission shall be deemed to have cer21 tified the candidate as a participating candidate with 

22 respect to all subsequent elections of the election 

23 cycle. 

24 ‘‘(b) REVOCATION OF CERTIFICATION.— 


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1 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall re2 voke a certification under subsection (a) if— 

3 ‘‘(A) a candidate fails to qualify to appear 

4 on the ballot at any time after the date of cer5 tification (other than a candidate certified as a 

6 participating candidate with respect to a pri7 mary election who fails to qualify to appear on 

8 the ballot for a subsequent election in that elec9 tion cycle); 

10 ‘‘(B) a candidate ceases to be a candidate 

11 for the office involved, as determined on the 

12 basis of an official announcement by an author13 ized committee of the candidate or on the basis 

14 of a reasonable determination by the Commis15 sion; or 

16 ‘‘(C) a candidate otherwise fails to comply 

17 with the requirements of this title, including 

18 any regulatory requirements prescribed by the 

19 Commission. 

20 ‘‘(2) EXISTENCE OF CRIMINAL SANCTION.—The 

21 Commission shall revoke a certification under sub22 section (a) if a penalty is assessed against the can23 didate under section 309(d) with respect to the elec24 tion. 


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1 ‘‘(3) EFFECT OF REVOCATION.—If a can2 didate’s certification is revoked under this sub3 section— 

4 ‘‘(A) the candidate may not receive pay5 ments under this title during the remainder of 

6 the election cycle involved; and 

7 ‘‘(B) in the case of a candidate whose cer8 tification is revoked pursuant to subparagraph 

9 (A) or subparagraph (C) of paragraph (1)— 

10 ‘‘(i) the candidate shall repay to the 

11 Freedom From Influence Fund established 

12 under section 541 an amount equal to the 

13 payments received under this title with re14 spect to the election cycle involved plus in15 terest (at a rate determined by the Com16 mission on the basis of an appropriate an17 nual percentage rate for the month in18 volved) on any such amount received; and 

19 ‘‘(ii) the candidate may not be cer20 tified as a participating candidate under 

21 this title with respect to the next election 

22 cycle. 

23 ‘‘(4) PROHIBITING PARTICIPATION IN FUTURE

24 ELECTIONS FOR CANDIDATES WITH MULTIPLE REV25 OCATIONS.—If the Commission revokes the certifiVerDate Sep 11 2014 20:26 Jul 17, 2024 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00030 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H8572.IH H8572

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1 cation of an individual as a participating candidate 

2 under this title pursuant to subparagraph (A) or 

3 subparagraph (C) of paragraph (1) a total of 3 

4 times, the individual may not be certified as a par5 ticipating candidate under this title with respect to 

6 any subsequent election. 

7 ‘‘(c) VOLUNTARY WITHDRAWAL FROM PARTICI8 PATING DURING QUALIFYING PERIOD.—At any time dur9 ing the Small Dollar Democracy qualifying period de10 scribed in section 511(c), a candidate may withdraw from 

11 participation in the program under this title by submitting 

12 to the Commission a statement of withdrawal (without re13 gard to whether or not the Commission has certified the 

14 candidate as a participating candidate under this title as 

15 of the time the candidate submits such statement), so long 

16 as the candidate has not submitted a request for payment 

17 under section 502. 

18 ‘‘(d) PARTICIPATING CANDIDATE DEFINED.—In this 

19 title, a ‘participating candidate’ means a candidate for the 

20 office of Representative in, or Delegate or Resident Com21 missioner to, the Congress who is certified under this sec22 tion as eligible to receive benefits under this title. 


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1 ‘‘Subtitle C—Requirements for Can2 didates Certified as Partici3 pating Candidates 

4 ‘‘SEC. 521. CONTRIBUTION AND EXPENDITURE REQUIRE5 MENTS. 

6 ‘‘(a) PERMITTED SOURCES OF CONTRIBUTIONS AND

7 EXPENDITURES.—Except as provided in subsection (c), a 

8 participating candidate with respect to an election shall, 

9 with respect to all elections occurring during the election 

10 cycle for the office involved, accept no contributions from 

11 any source and make no expenditures from any amounts, 

12 other than the following: 

13 ‘‘(1) Qualified small dollar contributions. 

14 ‘‘(2) Payments under this title. 

15 ‘‘(3) Contributions from political committees es16 tablished and maintained by a national or State po17 litical party, subject to the applicable limitations of 

18 section 315. 

19 ‘‘(4) Subject to subsection (b), personal funds 

20 of the candidate or of any immediate family member 

21 of the candidate (other than funds received through 

22 qualified small dollar contributions). 

23 ‘‘(5) Contributions from individuals who are 

24 otherwise permitted to make contributions under 

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1 tion 315, except that the aggregate amount of con2 tributions a participating candidate may accept from 

3 any individual with respect to any election during 

4 the election cycle may not exceed $1,000. 

5 ‘‘(6) Contributions from multicandidate political 

6 committees, subject to the applicable limitations of 

7 section 315. 

8 ‘‘(b) SPECIAL RULES FOR PERSONAL FUNDS.— 

9 ‘‘(1) LIMIT ON AMOUNT.—A candidate who is 

10 certified as a participating candidate may use per11 sonal funds (including personal funds of any imme12 diate family member of the candidate) so long as— 

13 ‘‘(A) the aggregate amount used with re14 spect to the election cycle (including any period 

15 of the cycle occurring prior to the candidate’s 

16 certification as a participating candidate) does 

17 not exceed $50,000; and 

18 ‘‘(B) the funds are used only for making 

19 direct payments for the receipt of goods and 

20 services which constitute authorized expendi21 tures in connection with the election cycle in22 volved. 

23 ‘‘(2) IMMEDIATE FAMILY MEMBER DEFINED.— 

24 In this subsection, the term ‘immediate family mem25 ber’ means, with respect to a candidate— 


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1 ‘‘(A) the candidate’s spouse; 

2 ‘‘(B) a child, stepchild, parent, grand3 parent, brother, half-brother, sister, or half-sis4 ter of the candidate or the candidate’s spouse; 

5 and 

6 ‘‘(C) the spouse of any person described in 

7 subparagraph (B). 

8 ‘‘(c) EXCEPTIONS.— 

9 ‘‘(1) EXCEPTION FOR CONTRIBUTIONS RE10 CEIVED PRIOR TO FILING OF STATEMENT OF IN11 TENT.—A candidate who has accepted contributions 

12 that are not described in subsection (a) is not in vio13 lation of subsection (a), but only if all such contribu14 tions are— 

15 ‘‘(A) returned to the contributor; 

16 ‘‘(B) submitted to the Commission for de17 posit in the Freedom From Influence Fund es18 tablished under section 541; or 

19 ‘‘(C) spent in accordance with paragraph 

20 (2). 

21 ‘‘(2) EXCEPTION FOR EXPENDITURES MADE

22 PRIOR TO FILING OF STATEMENT OF INTENT.—If a 

23 candidate has made expenditures prior to the date 

24 the candidate files a statement of intent under sec25 tion 511(a)(1) that the candidate is prohibited from 


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1 making under subsection (a) or subsection (b), the 

2 candidate is not in violation of such subsection if the 

3 aggregate amount of the prohibited expenditures is 

4 less than the amount referred to in section 

5 512(a)(2) (relating to the total dollar amount of 

6 qualified small dollar contributions which the can7 didate is required to obtain) which is applicable to 

8 the candidate. 

9 ‘‘(3) EXCEPTION FOR CAMPAIGN SURPLUSES

10 FROM A PREVIOUS ELECTION.—Notwithstanding 

11 paragraph (1), unexpended contributions received by 

12 the candidate or an authorized committee of the 

13 candidate with respect to a previous election may be 

14 retained, but only if the candidate places the funds 

15 in escrow and refrains from raising additional funds 

16 for or spending funds from that account during the 

17 election cycle in which a candidate is a participating 

18 candidate. 

19 ‘‘(4) EXCEPTION FOR CONTRIBUTIONS RE20 CEIVED BEFORE THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS

21 TITLE.—Contributions received and expenditures 

22 made by the candidate or an authorized committee 

23 of the candidate prior to the effective date of this 

24 title shall not constitute a violation of subsection (a) 

25 or (b). Unexpended contributions shall be treated 


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1 the same as campaign surpluses under paragraph 

2 (3), and expenditures made shall count against the 

3 limit in paragraph (2). 

4 ‘‘(d) SPECIAL RULE FOR COORDINATED PARTY EX5 PENDITURES.—For purposes of this section, a payment 

6 made by a political party in coordination with a partici7 pating candidate shall not be treated as a contribution to 

8 or as an expenditure made by the participating candidate. 

9 ‘‘(e) PROHIBITION ON JOINT FUNDRAISING COMMIT10 TEES.— 

11 ‘‘(1) PROHIBITION.—An authorized committee 

12 of a candidate who is certified as a participating 

13 candidate under this title with respect to an election 

14 may not establish a joint fundraising committee with 

15 a political committee other than another authorized 

16 committee of the candidate. 

17 ‘‘(2) STATUS OF EXISTING COMMITTEES FOR

18 PRIOR ELECTIONS.—If a candidate established a 

19 joint fundraising committee described in paragraph 

20 (1) with respect to a prior election for which the 

21 candidate was not certified as a participating can22 didate under this title and the candidate does not 

23 terminate the committee, the candidate shall not be 

24 considered to be in violation of paragraph (1) so 

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1 ceive any contributions or make any disbursements 

2 during the election cycle for which the candidate is 

3 certified as a participating candidate under this title. 

4 ‘‘(f) PROHIBITION ON LEADERSHIP PACS.— 

5 ‘‘(1) PROHIBITION.—A candidate who is cer6 tified as a participating candidate under this title 

7 with respect to an election may not associate with, 

8 establish, finance, maintain, or control a leadership 

9 PAC. 

10 ‘‘(2) STATUS OF EXISTING LEADERSHIP

11 PACS.—If a candidate established, financed, main12 tained, or controlled a leadership PAC prior to being 

13 certified as a participating candidate under this title 

14 and the candidate does not terminate the leadership 

15 PAC, the candidate shall not be considered to be in 

16 violation of paragraph (1) so long as the leadership 

17 PAC does not receive any contributions or make any 

18 disbursements during the election cycle for which the 

19 candidate is certified as a participating candidate 

20 under this title. 

21 ‘‘(3) LEADERSHIP PAC DEFINED.—In this sub22 section, the term ‘leadership PAC’ has the meaning 

23 given such term in section 304(i)(8)(B). 


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1 ‘‘SEC. 522. ADMINISTRATION OF CAMPAIGN. 

2 ‘‘(a) SEPARATE ACCOUNTING FOR VARIOUS PER3 MITTED CONTRIBUTIONS.—Each authorized committee of 

4 a candidate certified as a participating candidate under 

5 this title— 

6 ‘‘(1) shall provide for separate accounting of 

7 each type of contribution described in section 521(a) 

8 which is received by the committee; and 

9 ‘‘(2) shall provide for separate accounting for 

10 the payments received under this title. 

11 ‘‘(b) ENHANCED DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION ON

12 DONORS.— 

13 ‘‘(1) MANDATORY IDENTIFICATION OF INDIVID14 UALS MAKING QUALIFIED SMALL DOLLAR CON15 TRIBUTIONS.—Each authorized committee of a par16 ticipating candidate under this title shall, in accord17 ance with section 304(b)(3)(A), include in the re18 ports the committee submits under section 304 the 

19 identification of each person who makes a qualified 

20 small dollar contribution to the committee. 

21 ‘‘(2) MANDATORY DISCLOSURE THROUGH

22 INTERNET.—Each authorized committee of a partici23 pating candidate under this title shall ensure that all 

24 information reported to the Commission under this 

25 Act with respect to contributions and expenditures 

26 of the committee is available to the public on the 


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1 internet (whether through a site established for pur2 poses of this subsection, a hyperlink on another pub3 lic site of the committee, or a hyperlink on a report 

4 filed electronically with the Commission) in a search5 able, sortable, and downloadable manner. 

6 ‘‘SEC. 523. PREVENTING UNNECESSARY SPENDING OF PUB7 LIC FUNDS. 

8 ‘‘(a) MANDATORY SPENDING OF AVAILABLE PRI9 VATE FUNDS.—An authorized committee of a candidate 

10 certified as a participating candidate under this title may 

11 not make any expenditure of any payments received under 

12 this title in any amount unless the committee has made 

13 an expenditure in an equivalent amount of funds received 

14 by the committee which are described in paragraphs (1), 

15 (3), (4), (5), and (6) of section 521(a). 

16 ‘‘(b) LIMITATION.—Subsection (a) applies to an au17 thorized committee only to the extent that the funds re18 ferred to in such subsection are available to the committee 

19 at the time the committee makes an expenditure of a pay20 ment received under this title. 

21 ‘‘SEC. 524. REMITTING UNSPENT FUNDS AFTER ELECTION. 

22 ‘‘(a) REMITTANCE REQUIRED.—Not later than the 

23 date that is 180 days after the last election for which a 

24 candidate certified as a participating candidate qualifies 

25 to be on the ballot during the election cycle involved, such 


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1 participating candidate shall remit to the Commission for 

2 deposit in the Freedom From Influence Fund established 

3 under section 541 an amount equal to the balance of the 

4 payments received under this title by the authorized com5 mittees of the candidate which remain unexpended as of 

6 such date. 

7 ‘‘(b) PERMITTING CANDIDATES PARTICIPATING IN

8 NEXT ELECTION CYCLE TO RETAIN PORTION OF

9 UNSPENT FUNDS.—Notwithstanding subsection (a), a 

10 participating candidate may withhold not more than 

11 $100,000 from the amount required to be remitted under 

12 subsection (a) if the candidate files a signed affidavit with 

13 the Commission that the candidate will seek certification 

14 as a participating candidate with respect to the next elec15 tion cycle, except that the candidate may not use any por16 tion of the amount withheld until the candidate is certified 

17 as a participating candidate with respect to that next elec18 tion cycle. If the candidate fails to seek certification as 

19 a participating candidate prior to the last day of the Small 

20 Dollar Democracy qualifying period for the next election 

21 cycle (as described in section 511), or if the Commission 

22 notifies the candidate of the Commission’s determination 

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1 didate shall immediately remit to the Commission the 

2 amount withheld. 

3 ‘‘Subtitle D—Enhanced Match 

4 Support 

5 ‘‘SEC. 531. ENHANCED SUPPORT FOR GENERAL ELECTION. 

6 ‘‘(a) AVAILABILITY OF ENHANCED SUPPORT.—In 

7 addition to the payments made under subtitle A, the Com8 mission shall make an additional payment to an eligible 

9 candidate under this subtitle. 

10 ‘‘(b) USE OF FUNDS.—A candidate shall use the ad11 ditional payment under this subtitle only for authorized 

12 expenditures in connection with the election involved. 

13 ‘‘SEC. 532. ELIGIBILITY. 

14 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—A candidate is eligible to receive 

15 an additional payment under this subtitle if the candidate 

16 meets each of the following requirements: 

17 ‘‘(1) The candidate is on the ballot for the gen18 eral election for the office the candidate seeks. 

19 ‘‘(2) The candidate is certified as a partici20 pating candidate under this title with respect to the 

21 election. 

22 ‘‘(3) During the enhanced support qualifying 

23 period, the candidate receives qualified small dollar 

24 contributions in a total amount of not less than 

25 $50,000. 


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1 ‘‘(4) During the enhanced support qualifying 

2 period, the candidate submits to the Commission a 

3 request for the payment which includes— 

4 ‘‘(A) a statement of the number and 

5 amount of qualified small dollar contributions 

6 received by the candidate during the enhanced 

7 support qualifying period; 

8 ‘‘(B) a statement of the amount of the 

9 payment the candidate anticipates receiving 

10 with respect to the request; and 

11 ‘‘(C) such other information and assur12 ances as the Commission may require. 

13 ‘‘(5) After submitting a request for the addi14 tional payment under paragraph (4), the candidate 

15 does not submit any other application for an addi16 tional payment under this subtitle. 

17 ‘‘(b) ENHANCED SUPPORT QUALIFYING PERIOD DE18 SCRIBED.—In this subtitle, the term ‘enhanced support 

19 qualifying period’ means, with respect to a general elec20 tion, the period which begins 60 days before the date of 

21 the election and ends 14 days before the date of the elec22 tion. 

23 ‘‘SEC. 533. AMOUNT. 

24 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Subject to subsection (b), the 

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1 didate under this subtitle shall be an amount equal to 50 

2 percent of— 

3 ‘‘(1) the amount of the payment made to the 

4 candidate under section 501(b) with respect to the 

5 qualified small dollar contributions which are re6 ceived by the candidate during the enhanced support 

7 qualifying period (as included in the request sub8 mitted by the candidate under section 532(a)(4)); or 

9 ‘‘(2) in the case of a candidate who is not eligi10 ble to receive a payment under section 501(b) with 

11 respect to such qualified small dollar contributions 

12 because the candidate has reached the limit on the 

13 aggregate amount of payments under subtitle A for 

14 the election cycle under section 501(c), the amount 

15 of the payment which would have been made to the 

16 candidate under section 501(b) with respect to such 

17 qualified small dollar contributions if the candidate 

18 had not reached such limit. 

19 ‘‘(b) LIMIT.—The amount of the additional payment 

20 determined under subsection (a) with respect to a can21 didate may not exceed $500,000. 

22 ‘‘(c) NO EFFECT ON AGGREGATE LIMIT.—The 

23 amount of the additional payment made to a candidate 

24 under this subtitle shall not be included in determining 

25 the aggregate amount of payments made to a participating 


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1 candidate with respect to an election cycle under section 

2 501(c). 

3 ‘‘SEC. 534. WAIVER OF AUTHORITY TO RETAIN PORTION OF 

4 UNSPENT FUNDS AFTER ELECTION. 

5 ‘‘Notwithstanding section 524(a)(2), a candidate who 

6 receives an additional payment under this subtitle with re7 spect to an election is not permitted to withhold any por8 tion from the amount of unspent funds the candidate is 

9 required to remit to the Commission under section 

10 524(a)(1). 

11 ‘‘Subtitle E—Administrative 

12 Provisions 

13 ‘‘SEC. 541. FREEDOM FROM INFLUENCE FUND. 

14 ‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established in the 

15 Treasury a fund to be known as the ‘Freedom From Influ16 ence Fund’. 

17 ‘‘(b) AMOUNTS HELD BY FUND.—The Fund shall 

18 consist of the following amounts: 

19 ‘‘(1) ASSESSMENTS AGAINST FINES, SETTLE20 MENTS, AND PENALTIES.—Amounts transferred 

21 under section 3015 of title 18, United States Code, 

22 section 9706 of title 31, United States Code, and 

23 section 6761 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. 

24 ‘‘(2) DEPOSITS.—Amounts deposited into the 

25 Fund under— 


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1 ‘‘(A) section 521(c)(1)(B) (relating to ex2 ceptions to contribution requirements); 

3 ‘‘(B) section 523 (relating to remittance of 

4 unused payments from the Fund); and 

5 ‘‘(C) section 544 (relating to violations). 

6 ‘‘(c) USE OF FUND TO MAKE PAYMENTS TO PAR7 TICIPATING CANDIDATES.— 

8 ‘‘(1) PAYMENTS TO PARTICIPATING CAN9 DIDATES.—Amounts in the Fund shall be available 

10 without further appropriation or fiscal year limita11 tion to make payments to participating candidates 

12 as provided in this title. 

13 ‘‘(2) MANDATORY REDUCTION OF PAYMENTS IN

14 CASE OF INSUFFICIENT AMOUNTS IN FUND.— 

15 ‘‘(A) ADVANCE AUDITS BY COMMISSION.— 

16 Not later than 90 days before the first day of 

17 each election cycle (beginning with the first 

18 election cycle that begins after the date of the 

19 enactment of this title), the Commission shall— 

20 ‘‘(i) audit the Fund to determine 

21 whether the amounts in the Fund will be 

22 sufficient to make payments to partici23 pating candidates in the amounts provided 

24 in this title during such election cycle; and 


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1 ‘‘(ii) submit a report to Congress de2 scribing the results of the audit. 

3 ‘‘(B) REDUCTIONS IN AMOUNT OF PAY4 MENTS.— 

5 ‘‘(i) AUTOMATIC REDUCTION ON PRO

6 RATA BASIS.—If, on the basis of the audit 

7 described in subparagraph (A), the Com8 mission determines that the amount antici9 pated to be available in the Fund with re10 spect to the election cycle involved is not, 

11 or may not be, sufficient to satisfy the full 

12 entitlements of participating candidates to 

13 payments under this title for such election 

14 cycle, the Commission shall reduce each 

15 amount which would otherwise be paid to 

16 a participating candidate under this title 

17 by such pro rata amount as may be nec18 essary to ensure that the aggregate 

19 amount of payments anticipated to be 

20 made with respect to the election cycle will 

21 not exceed the amount anticipated to be 

22 available for such payments in the Fund 

23 with respect to such election cycle. 

24 ‘‘(ii) RESTORATION OF REDUCTIONS

25 IN CASE OF AVAILABILITY OF SUFFICIENT


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1 FUNDS DURING ELECTION CYCLE.—If, 

2 after reducing the amounts paid to partici3 pating candidates with respect to an elec4 tion cycle under clause (i), the Commission 

5 determines that there are sufficient 

6 amounts in the Fund to restore the 

7 amount by which such payments were re8 duced (or any portion thereof), to the ex9 tent that such amounts are available, the 

10 Commission may make a payment on a pro 

11 rata basis to each such participating can12 didate with respect to the election cycle in 

13 the amount by which such candidate’s pay14 ments were reduced under clause (i) (or 

15 any portion thereof, as the case may be). 

16 ‘‘(iii) NO USE OF AMOUNTS FROM

17 OTHER SOURCES.—In any case in which 

18 the Commission determines that there are 

19 insufficient moneys in the Fund to make 

20 payments to participating candidates under 

21 this title, moneys shall not be made avail22 able from any other source for the purpose 

23 of making such payments. 

24 ‘‘(d) USE OF FUND TO MAKE OTHER PAYMENTS.— 

25 In addition to the use described in subsection (d), amounts 


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1 in the Fund shall be available without further appropria2 tion or fiscal year limitation— 

3 ‘‘(1) to make payments to States under the My 

4 Voice Voucher Program under the Government By 

5 the People Act of 2021, subject to reductions under 

6 section 5101(f)(3) of such Act; 

7 ‘‘(2) to make payments to candidates under 

8 chapter 95 of subtitle H of the Internal Revenue 

9 Code of 1986, subject to reductions under section 

10 9013(b) of such Code; and 

11 ‘‘(3) to make payments to candidates under 

12 chapter 96 of subtitle H of the Internal Revenue 

13 Code of 1986, subject to reductions under section 

14 9043(b) of such Code. 

15 ‘‘(e) NO TAXPAYER FUNDS PERMITTED.—No tax16 payer funds may be deposited into the Fund. 

17 ‘‘(f) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section shall take ef18 fect on the date of the enactment of this title. 

19 ‘‘SEC. 542. REVIEWS AND REPORTS BY GOVERNMENT AC20 COUNTABILITY OFFICE. 

21 ‘‘(a) REVIEW OF SMALL DOLLAR FINANCING.— 

22 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—After each regularly sched23 uled general election for Federal office, the Comp24 troller General of the United States shall conduct a 


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1 comprehensive review of the Small Dollar financing 

2 program under this title, including— 

3 ‘‘(A) the maximum and minimum dollar 

4 amounts of qualified small dollar contributions 

5 under section 504; 

6 ‘‘(B) the number and value of qualified 

7 small dollar contributions a candidate is re8 quired to obtain under section 512(a) to be eli9 gible for certification as a participating can10 didate; 

11 ‘‘(C) the maximum amount of payments a 

12 candidate may receive under this title; 

13 ‘‘(D) the overall satisfaction of partici14 pating candidates and the American public with 

15 the program; 

16 ‘‘(E) the extent to which the program in17 creased opportunities for participation by can18 didates of diverse racial, gender, and socio-eco19 nomic backgrounds; and 

20 ‘‘(F) such other matters relating to financ21 ing of campaigns as the Comptroller General 

22 determines are appropriate. 

23 ‘‘(2) CRITERIA FOR REVIEW.—In conducting 

24 the review under subparagraph (A), the Comptroller 

25 General shall consider the following: 


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1 ‘‘(A) QUALIFIED SMALL DOLLAR CON2 TRIBUTIONS.—Whether the number and dollar 

3 amounts of qualified small dollar contributions 

4 required strikes an appropriate balance regard5 ing the importance of voter involvement, the 

6 need to assure adequate incentives for partici7 pating, and fiscal responsibility, taking into 

8 consideration the number of primary and gen9 eral election participating candidates, the elec10 toral performance of those candidates, program 

11 cost, and any other information the Comptroller 

12 General determines is appropriate. 

13 ‘‘(B) REVIEW OF PAYMENT LEVELS.— 

14 Whether the totality of the amount of funds al15 lowed to be raised by participating candidates 

16 (including through qualified small dollar con17 tributions) and payments under this title are 

18 sufficient for voters in each State to learn about 

19 the candidates to cast an informed vote, taking 

20 into account the historic amount of spending by 

21 winning candidates, media costs, primary elec22 tion dates, and any other information the 

23 Comptroller General determines is appropriate. 

24 ‘‘(3) RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ADJUSTMENT OF

25 AMOUNTS.—Based on the review conducted under 


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1 subparagraph (A), the Comptroller General may rec2 ommend to Congress adjustments of the following 

3 amounts: 

4 ‘‘(A) The number and value of qualified 

5 small dollar contributions a candidate is re6 quired to obtain under section 512(a) to be eli7 gible for certification as a participating can8 didate. 

9 ‘‘(B) The maximum amount of payments a 

10 candidate may receive under this title. 

11 ‘‘(b) REPORTS.—Not later than each June 1 which 

12 follows a regularly scheduled general election for Federal 

13 office for which payments were made under this title, the 

14 Comptroller General shall submit to the Committee on 

15 House Administration of the House of Representatives a 

16 report— 

17 ‘‘(1) containing an analysis of the review con18 ducted under subsection (a), including a detailed 

19 statement of Comptroller General’s findings, conclu20 sions, and recommendations based on such review, 

21 including any recommendations for adjustments of 

22 amounts described in subsection (a)(3); and 

23 ‘‘(2) documenting, evaluating, and making rec24 ommendations relating to the administrative impleVerDate Sep 11 2014 20:26 Jul 17, 2024 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00051 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H8572.IH H8572

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1 mentation and enforcement of the provisions of this 

2 title. 

3 ‘‘(c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 

4 are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are nec5 essary to carry out the purposes of this section. 

6 ‘‘SEC. 543. ADMINISTRATION BY COMMISSION. 

7 ‘‘The Commission shall prescribe regulations to carry 

8 out the purposes of this title, including regulations to es9 tablish procedures for— 

10 ‘‘(1) verifying the amount of qualified small dol11 lar contributions with respect to a candidate; 

12 ‘‘(2) effectively and efficiently monitoring and 

13 enforcing the limits on the raising of qualified small 

14 dollar contributions; 

15 ‘‘(3) effectively and efficiently monitoring and 

16 enforcing the limits on the use of personal funds by 

17 participating candidates; and 

18 ‘‘(4) monitoring the use of allocations from the 

19 Freedom From Influence Fund established under 

20 section 541 and matching contributions under this 

title through audits of not fewer than 1 21 ⁄10 (or, in the 

22 case of the first 3 election cycles during which the 

23 program under this title is in effect, not fewer than 

1 24 ⁄3) of all participating candidates or other mecha25 nisms. 


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1 ‘‘SEC. 544. VIOLATIONS AND PENALTIES. 

2 ‘‘(a) CIVIL PENALTY FOR VIOLATION OF CONTRIBU3 TION AND EXPENDITURE REQUIREMENTS.—If a can4 didate who has been certified as a participating candidate 

5 accepts a contribution or makes an expenditure that is 

6 prohibited under section 521, the Commission may assess 

7 a civil penalty against the candidate in an amount that 

8 is not more than 3 times the amount of the contribution 

9 or expenditure. Any amounts collected under this sub10 section shall be deposited into the Freedom From Influ11 ence Fund established under section 541. 

12 ‘‘(b) REPAYMENT FOR IMPROPER USE OF FREEDOM

13 FROM INFLUENCE FUND.— 

14 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—If the Commission deter15 mines that any payment made to a participating 

16 candidate was not used as provided for in this title 

17 or that a participating candidate has violated any of 

18 the dates for remission of funds contained in this 

19 title, the Commission shall so notify the candidate 

20 and the candidate shall pay to the Fund an amount 

21 equal to— 

22 ‘‘(A) the amount of payments so used or 

23 not remitted, as appropriate; and 

24 ‘‘(B) interest on any such amounts (at a 

25 rate determined by the Commission). 


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1 ‘‘(2) OTHER ACTION NOT PRECLUDED.—Any 

2 action by the Commission in accordance with this 

3 subsection shall not preclude enforcement pro4 ceedings by the Commission in accordance with sec5 tion 309(a), including a referral by the Commission 

6 to the Attorney General in the case of an apparent 

7 knowing and willful violation of this title. 

8 ‘‘(c) PROHIBITING CERTAIN CANDIDATES FROM

9 QUALIFYING AS PARTICIPATING CANDIDATES.— 

10 ‘‘(1) CANDIDATES WITH MULTIPLE CIVIL PEN11 ALTIES.—If the Commission assesses 3 or more civil 

12 penalties under subsection (a) against a candidate 

13 (with respect to either a single election or multiple 

14 elections), the Commission may refuse to certify the 

15 candidate as a participating candidate under this 

16 title with respect to any subsequent election, except 

17 that if each of the penalties were assessed as the re18 sult of a knowing and willful violation of any provi19 sion of this Act, the candidate is not eligible to be 

20 certified as a participating candidate under this title 

21 with respect to any subsequent election. 

22 ‘‘(2) CANDIDATES SUBJECT TO CRIMINAL PEN23 ALTY.—A candidate is not eligible to be certified as 

24 a participating candidate under this title with re25 spect to an election if a penalty has been assessed 


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1 against the candidate under section 309(d) with re2 spect to any previous election. 

3 ‘‘(d) IMPOSITION OF CRIMINAL PENALTIES.—For 

4 criminal penalties for the failure of a participating can5 didate to comply with the requirements of this title, see 

6 section 309(d). 

7 ‘‘SEC. 545. APPEALS PROCESS. 

8 ‘‘(a) REVIEW OF ACTIONS.—Any action by the Com9 mission in carrying out this title shall be subject to review 

10 by the United States Court of Appeals for the District 

11 of Columbia upon petition filed in the Court not later than 

12 30 days after the Commission takes the action for which 

13 the review is sought. 

14 ‘‘(b) PROCEDURES.—The provisions of chapter 7 of 

15 title 5, United States Code, apply to judicial review under 

16 this section. 

17 ‘‘SEC. 546. INDEXING OF AMOUNTS. 

18 ‘‘(a) INDEXING.—In any calendar year after 2026, 

19 section 315(c)(1)(B) shall apply to each amount described 

20 in subsection (b) in the same manner as such section ap21 plies to the limitations established under subsections 

22 (a)(1)(A), (a)(1)(B), (a)(3), and (h) of such section, ex23 cept that for purposes of applying such section to the 

24 amounts described in subsection (b), the ‘base period’ 

25 shall be 2026. 


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1 ‘‘(b) AMOUNTS DESCRIBED.—The amounts described 

2 in this subsection are as follows: 

3 ‘‘(1) The amount referred to in section 

4 502(b)(1) (relating to the minimum amount of quali5 fied small dollar contributions included in a request 

6 for payment). 

7 ‘‘(2) The amounts referred to in section 

8 504(a)(1) (relating to the amount of a qualified 

9 small dollar contribution). 

10 ‘‘(3) The amount referred to in section 

11 512(a)(2) (relating to the total dollar amount of 

12 qualified small dollar contributions). 

13 ‘‘(4) The amount referred to in section 

14 521(a)(5) (relating to the aggregate amount of con15 tributions a participating candidate may accept from 

16 any individual with respect to an election). 

17 ‘‘(5) The amount referred to in section 

18 521(b)(1)(A) (relating to the amount of personal 

19 funds that may be used by a candidate who is cer20 tified as a participating candidate). 

21 ‘‘(6) The amounts referred to in section 

22 524(a)(2) (relating to the amount of unspent funds 

23 a candidate may retain for use in the next election 

24 cycle). 


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1 ‘‘(7) The amount referred to in section 

2 532(a)(3) (relating to the total dollar amount of 

3 qualified small dollar contributions for a candidate 

4 seeking an additional payment under subtitle D). 

5 ‘‘(8) The amount referred to in section 533(b) 

6 (relating to the limit on the amount of an additional 

7 payment made to a candidate under subtitle D). 

8 ‘‘SEC. 547. ELECTION CYCLE DEFINED. 

9 ‘‘In this title, the term ‘election cycle’ means, with 

10 respect to an election for an office, the period beginning 

11 on the day after the date of the most recent general elec12 tion for that office (or, if the general election resulted in 

13 a runoff election, the date of the runoff election) and end14 ing on the date of the next general election for that office 

15 (or, if the general election resulted in a runoff election, 

16 the date of the runoff election).’’. 

17 SEC. 202. CONTRIBUTIONS AND EXPENDITURES BY MULTI18 CANDIDATE AND POLITICAL PARTY COMMIT19 TEES ON BEHALF OF PARTICIPATING CAN20 DIDATES. 

21 (a) AUTHORIZING CONTRIBUTIONS ONLY FROM SEP22 ARATE ACCOUNTS CONSISTING OF QUALIFIED SMALL

23 DOLLAR CONTRIBUTIONS.—Section 315(a) of the Federal 

24 Election Campaign Act of 1971 (52 U.S.C. 30116(a)) is 


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1 amended by adding at the end the following new para2 graph: 

3 ‘‘(10) In the case of a multicandidate political com4 mittee or any political committee of a political party, the 

5 committee may make a contribution to a candidate who 

6 is a participating candidate under title V with respect to 

7 an election only if the contribution is paid from a separate, 

8 segregated account of the committee which consists solely 

9 of contributions which meet the following requirements: 

10 ‘‘(A) Each such contribution is in an amount 

11 which meets the requirements for the amount of a 

12 qualified small dollar contribution under section 

13 504(a)(1) with respect to the election involved. 

14 ‘‘(B) Each such contribution is made by an in15 dividual who is not otherwise prohibited from mak16 ing a contribution under this Act. 

17 ‘‘(C) The individual who makes the contribution 

18 does not make contributions to the committee during 

19 the year in an aggregate amount that exceeds the 

20 limit described in section 504(a)(1).’’. 

21 (b) PERMITTING UNLIMITED COORDINATED EX22 PENDITURES FROM SMALL DOLLAR SOURCES BY POLIT23 ICAL PARTIES.—Section 315(d) of such Act (52 U.S.C. 

24 30116(d)) is amended— 


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1 (1) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘The national 

2 committee’’ and inserting ‘‘Except as provided in 

3 paragraph (6), the national committee’’; and 

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

5 paragraph: 

6 ‘‘(6) The limits described in paragraph (3) do not 

7 apply in the case of expenditures in connection with the 

8 general election campaign of a candidate for the office of 

9 Representative in, or Delegate or Resident Commissioner 

10 to, the Congress who is a participating candidate under 

11 title V with respect to the election, but only if— 

12 ‘‘(A) the expenditures are paid from a separate, 

13 segregated account of the committee which is de14 scribed in subsection (a)(10); and 

15 ‘‘(B) the expenditures are the sole source of 

16 funding provided by the committee to the can17 didate.’’. 

18 SEC. 203. PROHIBITING USE OF CONTRIBUTIONS BY PAR19 TICIPATING CANDIDATES FOR PURPOSES 

20 OTHER THAN CAMPAIGN FOR ELECTION. 

21 Section 313 of the Federal Election Campaign Act 

22 of 1971 (52 U.S.C. 30114) is amended by adding at the 

23 end the following new subsection: 

24 ‘‘(d) RESTRICTIONS ON PERMITTED USES OF FUNDS

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1 ING.—Notwithstanding paragraph (2), (3), or (4) of sub2 section (a), if a candidate for election for the office of Rep3 resentative in, or Delegate or Resident Commissioner to, 

4 the Congress is certified as a participating candidate 

5 under title V with respect to the election, any contribution 

6 which the candidate is permitted to accept under such title 

7 may be used only for authorized expenditures in connec8 tion with the candidate’s campaign for such office, subject 

9 to section 503(b).’’. 

10 SEC. 204. ASSESSMENTS AGAINST FINES AND PENALTIES. 

11 (a) ASSESSMENTS RELATING TO CRIMINAL OF12 FENSES.— 

13 (1) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 201 of title 18, 

14 United States Code, is amended by adding at the 

15 end the following new section: 

16 ‘‘§ 3015. Special assessments for Freedom From Influ17 ence Fund 

18 ‘‘(a) ASSESSMENTS.— 

19 ‘‘(1) CONVICTIONS OF CRIMES.—In addition to 

20 any assessment imposed under this chapter, the 

21 court shall assess on any organizational defendant or 

22 any defendant who is a corporate officer or person 

23 with equivalent authority in any other organization 

24 who is convicted of a criminal offense under Federal 

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1 posed on that defendant in the sentence imposed for 

2 that conviction. 

3 ‘‘(2) SETTLEMENTS.—The court shall assess on 

4 any organizational defendant or defendant who is a 

5 corporate officer or person with equivalent authority 

6 in any other organization who has entered into a 

7 settlement agreement or consent decree with the 

8 United States in satisfaction of any allegation that 

9 the defendant committed a criminal offense under 

10 Federal law an amount equal to 4.75 percent of the 

11 amount of the settlement. 

12 ‘‘(b) MANNER OF COLLECTION.—An amount as13 sessed under subsection (a) shall be collected in the man14 ner in which fines are collected in criminal cases. 

15 ‘‘(c) TRANSFERS.—In a manner consistent with sec16 tion 3302(b) of title 31, there shall be transferred from 

17 the General Fund of the Treasury to the Freedom From 

18 Influence Fund under section 541 of the Federal Election 

19 Campaign Act of 1971 an amount equal to the amount 

20 of the assessments collected under this section.’’. 

21 (2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec22 tions of chapter 201 of title 18, United States Code, 

23 is amended by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘3015. Special assessments for Freedom From Influence Fund.’’. 

24 (b) ASSESSMENTS RELATING TO CIVIL PEN25 ALTIES.— 


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1 (1) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 97 of title 31, 

2 United States Code, is amended by adding at the 

3 end the following new section: 

4 ‘‘§ 9706. Special assessments for Freedom From Influ5 ence Fund 

6 ‘‘(a) ASSESSMENTS.— 

7 ‘‘(1) CIVIL PENALTIES.—Any entity of the Fed8 eral Government which is authorized under any law, 

9 rule, or regulation to impose a civil penalty shall as10 sess on each person, other than a natural person 

11 who is not a corporate officer or person with equiva12 lent authority in any other organization, on whom 

13 such a penalty is imposed an amount equal to 4.75 

14 percent of the amount of the penalty. 

15 ‘‘(2) ADMINISTRATIVE PENALTIES.—Any entity 

16 of the Federal Government which is authorized 

17 under any law, rule, or regulation to impose an ad18 ministrative penalty shall assess on each person, 

19 other than a natural person who is not a corporate 

20 officer or person with equivalent authority in any 

21 other organization, on whom such a penalty is im22 posed an amount equal to 4.75 percent of the 

23 amount of the penalty. 

24 ‘‘(3) SETTLEMENTS.—Any entity of the Federal 

25 Government which is authorized under any law, rule, 


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1 or regulation to enter into a settlement agreement or 

2 consent decree with any person, other than a natural 

3 person who is not a corporate officer or person with 

4 equivalent authority in any other organization, in 

5 satisfaction of any allegation of an action or omis6 sion by the person which would be subject to a civil 

7 penalty or administrative penalty shall assess on 

8 such person an amount equal to 4.75 percent of the 

9 amount of the settlement. 

10 ‘‘(b) MANNER OF COLLECTION.—An amount as11 sessed under subsection (a) shall be collected— 

12 ‘‘(1) in the case of an amount assessed under 

13 paragraph (1) of such subsection, in the manner in 

14 which civil penalties are collected by the entity of the 

15 Federal Government involved; 

16 ‘‘(2) in the case of an amount assessed under 

17 paragraph (2) of such subsection, in the manner in 

18 which administrative penalties are collected by the 

19 entity of the Federal Government involved; and 

20 ‘‘(3) in the case of an amount assessed under 

21 paragraph (3) of such subsection, in the manner in 

22 which amounts are collected pursuant to settlement 

23 agreements or consent decrees entered into by the 

24 entity of the Federal Government involved. 


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1 ‘‘(c) TRANSFERS.—In a manner consistent with sec2 tion 3302(b) of this title, there shall be transferred from 

3 the General Fund of the Treasury to the Freedom From 

4 Influence Fund under section 541 of the Federal Election 

5 Campaign Act of 1971 an amount equal to the amount 

6 of the assessments collected under this section. 

7 ‘‘(d) EXCEPTION FOR PENALTIES AND SETTLE8 MENTS UNDER AUTHORITY OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE

9 CODE OF 1986.— 

10 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—No assessment shall be 

11 made under subsection (a) with respect to any civil 

12 or administrative penalty imposed, or any settlement 

13 agreement or consent decree entered into, under the 

14 authority of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. 

15 ‘‘(2) CROSS REFERENCE.—For application of 

16 special assessments for the Freedom From Influence 

17 Fund with respect to certain penalties under the In18 ternal Revenue Code of 1986, see section 6761 of 

19 the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.’’. 

20 (2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec21 tions of chapter 97 of title 31, United States Code, 

22 is amended by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘9706. Special assessments for Freedom From Influence Fund.’’. 

23 (c) ASSESSMENTS RELATING TO CERTAIN PEN24 ALTIES UNDER THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF

25 1986.— 


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1 (1) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 68 of the Internal 

2 Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the 

3 end the following new subchapter: 

4 ‘‘Subchapter D—Special Assessments for 

5 Freedom From Influence Fund 

6 ‘‘SEC. 6761. SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS FOR FREEDOM FROM 

7 INFLUENCE FUND. 

8 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Each person required to pay a 

9 covered penalty shall pay an additional amount equal to 

10 4.75 percent of the amount of such penalty. 

11 ‘‘(b) COVERED PENALTY.—For purposes of this sec12 tion, the term ‘covered penalty’ means any addition to tax, 

13 additional amount, penalty, or other liability provided 

14 under subchapter A or B. 

15 ‘‘(c) EXCEPTION FOR CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS.— 

16 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—In the case of a taxpayer 

17 who is an individual, subsection (a) shall not apply 

18 to any covered penalty if such taxpayer is an exempt 

19 taxpayer for the taxable year for which such covered 

20 penalty is assessed. 

21 ‘‘(2) EXEMPT TAXPAYER.—For purposes of this 

22 subsection, a taxpayer is an exempt taxpayer for any 

23 taxable year if the taxable income of such taxpayer 

24 for such taxable year does not exceed the dollar 

25 amount at which begins the highest rate bracket in 


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1 effect under section 1 with respect to such taxpayer 

2 for such taxable year. 

3 ‘‘(d) APPLICATION OF CERTAIN RULES.—Except as 

4 provided in subsection (e), the additional amount deter5 mined under subsection (a) shall be treated for purposes 

6 of this title in the same manner as the covered penalty 

7 to which such additional amount relates. 

8 ‘‘(e) TRANSFER TO FREEDOM FROM INFLUENCE

9 FUND.—The Secretary shall deposit any additional 

10 amount under subsection (a) in the General Fund of the 

11 Treasury and shall transfer from such General Fund to 

12 the Freedom From Influence Fund established under sec13 tion 541 of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 

14 an amount equal to the amounts so deposited (and, not15 withstanding subsection (d), such additional amount shall 

16 not be the basis for any deposit, transfer, credit, appro17 priation, or any other payment, to any other trust fund 

18 or account). Rules similar to the rules of section 9601 

19 shall apply for purposes of this subsection.’’. 

20 (2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sub21 chapters for chapter 68 of such Code is amended by 

22 adding at the end the following new item: 

‘‘SUBCHAPTER D—SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS FOR FREEDOM FROM INFLUENCE

FUND’’. 

23 (d) EFFECTIVE DATES.— 


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1 (1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para2 graph (2), the amendments made by this section 

3 shall apply with respect to convictions, agreements, 

4 and penalties which occur on or after the date of the 

5 enactment of this Act. 

6 (2) ASSESSMENTS RELATING TO CERTAIN PEN7 ALTIES UNDER THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF

8 1986.—The amendments made by subsection (c) 

9 shall apply to covered penalties assessed after the 

10 date of the enactment of this Act. 

11 SEC. 205. STUDY AND REPORT ON SMALL DOLLAR FINANC12 ING PROGRAM. 

13 (a) STUDY AND REPORT.—Not later than 2 years 

14 after the completion of the first election cycle in which 

15 the program established under title V of the Federal Elec16 tion Campaign Act of 1971, as added by section 201, is 

17 in effect, the Federal Election Commission shall— 

18 (1) assess— 

19 (A) the amount of payment referred to in 

20 section 501 of such Act; and 

21 (B) the amount of a qualified small dollar 

22 contribution referred to in section 504(a)(1) of 

23 such Act; and 


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1 (2) submit to Congress a report that discusses 

2 whether such amounts are sufficient to meet the 

3 goals of the program. 

4 (b) UPDATE.—The Commission shall update and re5 vise the study and report required by subsection (a) on 

6 a biennial basis. 

7 (c) TERMINATION.—The requirements of this section 

8 shall terminate 10 years after the date on which the first 

9 study and report required by subsection (a) is submitted 

10 to Congress. 

11 SEC. 206. EFFECTIVE DATE. 

12 (a) IN GENERAL.—Except as may otherwise be pro13 vided in this title and in the amendments made by this 

14 title, this title and the amendments made by this title shall 

15 apply with respect to elections occurring during 2030 or 

16 any succeeding year, without regard to whether or not the 

17 Federal Election Commission has promulgated the final 

18 regulations necessary to carry out this title and the 

19 amendments made by this title by the deadline set forth 

20 in subsection (b). 

21 (b) DEADLINE FOR REGULATIONS.—Not later than 

22 June 30, 2028, the Federal Election Commission shall 

23 promulgate such regulations as may be necessary to carry 

24 out this title and the amendments made by this title. 

Æ 


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