I
105TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 140
To amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to promote the disclo-
sure of contributions and expenditures made with respect to campaigns
for election for Federal office, to ban the use of soft money with respect
to such campaigns, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JANUARY 7, 1997
Mr. DINGELL introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on House Oversight
A BILL
To amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to
promote the disclosure of contributions and expenditures
made with respect to campaigns for election for Federal
office, to ban the use of soft money with respect to
such campaigns, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Federal Election Cam-
paign Reform Act of 1997’’.
SEC. 2. PROMOTING DISCLOSURE OF CAMPAIGN CON-
TRIBUTIONS AND EXPENDITURES.
(a) LOWERING THRESHOLD FOR REPORTING.—
(1) RESPONSIBILITIES OF POLITICAL COMMIT-
TEES.—Section 302(c) of the Federal Election Cam-
paign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 432(c)) is amended by
striking ‘‘$200’’ each place it appears in paragraphs
(3) and (5) and inserting ‘‘$20’’.
(2) CONTENTS OF REPORTS.—Section 304(b) of
such Act (2 U.S.C. 434(b)) is amended as follows:
(A) In paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘$200’’
each place it appears in subparagraphs (A),
(F), and (G) and inserting ‘‘$20’’.
(B) In paragraph (5)(A), by striking
‘‘$200’’ and inserting ‘‘$20’’.
(C) In paragraph (6), by striking ‘‘$200’’
each place it appears in subparagraphs (A),
(B)(iii), and (B)(v) and inserting ‘‘$20’’.
(3) REPORTS
ON
INDEPENDENT
EXPENDI-
TURES.—Section 304(c) of such Act (2 U.S.C.
434(c)) is amended—
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘$250’’
and inserting ‘‘$20’’; and
(B) in paragraph (2)(C), by striking
‘‘$200’’ and inserting ‘‘$20’’.
(b) INCREASE PENALTY FOR VIOLATION OF DISCLO-
SURE REQUIREMENTS.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 309(a) of such Act
(2 U.S.C. 437g(a)) is amended by inserting after
‘‘$5,000’’ each place it appears in paragraphs
(5)(A), (6)(A), and (6)(B) the following: ‘‘(or
$10,000 in the case of a violation of any provision
relating to the reporting of contributions or expendi-
tures)’’.
(2) KNOWING AND WILLFUL VIOLATIONS.—Sec-
tion 309(a) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 437g(a)) is
amended by inserting after ‘‘$10,000’’ each place it
appears in paragraphs (5)(B) and (6)(C) the follow-
ing: ‘‘(or $20,000 in the case of a violation of any
provision relating to the reporting of contributions
or expenditures)’’.
SEC. 3. BAN ON SOFT MONEY.
Title III of the Federal Election Campaign Act of
1971 (2 U.S.C. 431 et seq.) is amended by adding at the
end the following new section:
‘‘LIMITATIONS AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS FOR
AMOUNTS PAID FOR MIXED POLITICAL ACTIVITIES
‘‘SEC. 323. (a) IN GENERAL.—Any payment by the
national committee of a political party or a State commit-
tee of a political party for a mixed political activity—
(b) INDEXING OF AMOUNTS.—Section 315(c) of the
Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C.
441a(c)) is amended by adding at the end the following
new paragraph:
‘‘(3)(A) The amount of each limitation established
under subsection (a) shall be adjusted as follows:
‘‘(i) For calendar year 1999, each such amount
shall be equal to the amount described in such sub-
section, increased (in a compounded manner) by the
percentage increase in the price index (as defined in
subsection (c)(2)) for 1997 and 1998.
‘‘(ii) For calendar year 2001 and each second
subsequent year, each such amount shall be equal to
the amount for the second previous year (as ad-
justed under this subparagraph), increased (in a
compounded manner) by the percentage increase in
the price index for the previous year and the second
previous year.
‘‘(B) In the case of any amount adjusted under this
subparagraph which is not a multiple of $500, the amount
shall be rounded to the nearest highest multiple of $500.’’.
SEC. 5. PROHIBITING CONTRIBUTIONS BY NONCITIZENS.
Section 319(b) of the Federal Election Campaign Act
of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 441e(b)) is amended to read as follows:
‘‘(b) In this section, the term ‘foreign national’
means—
‘‘(1) in the case of an individual, an individual
who is not a citizen of the United States; or
‘‘(2) in the case of any other person, a person
who makes a contribution any portion of which is at-
tributable to funds of individuals who are not citi-
zens of the United States.’’.
SEC. 6. TREATMENT OF CERTAIN EXPENDITURES AS INDE-
PENDENT EXPENDITURES FOR PURPOSES OF
DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS.
Section 301(17) of the Federal Election Campaign
Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 431(17)) is amended by inserting
after ‘‘clearly identified candidate’’ the following: ‘‘(to-
gether with, in the case of an expenditure made during
the 120-day period ending on the date of an election, any
expenditure made with respect to any written or broadcast
material which includes the name or likeness of a can-
didate in that election)’’.
SEC. 7. EFFECTIVE DATE.
The amendments made by this Act shall apply with
respect to elections occurring after 1996.
Æ