468 
HR 1 PCS
for the general election or the candidate is otherwise quali-
fied to be on the ballot under State law. 
‘‘(c) SMALL DOLLAR DEMOCRACY QUALIFYING PE-
RIOD DEFINED.—The term ‘Small Dollar Democracy 
qualifying period’ means, with respect to any candidate 
for an office, the 180-day period (during the election cycle 
for such office) which begins on the date on which the 
candidate files a statement of intent under section 
511(a)(1), except that such period may not continue after 
the date that is 30 days before the date of the general 
election for the office. 
‘‘SEC. 512. QUALIFYING REQUIREMENTS. 
‘‘(a) RECEIPT OF QUALIFIED SMALL DOLLAR CON-
TRIBUTIONS.—A candidate for the office of Representative 
in, or Delegate or Resident Commissioner to, the Congress 
meets the requirement of this section if, during the Small 
Dollar Democracy qualifying period described in section 
511(c), each of the following occurs: 
‘‘(1) Not fewer than 1,000 individuals make a 
qualified small dollar contribution to the candidate. 
‘‘(2) The candidate obtains a total dollar 
amount of qualified small dollar contributions which 
is equal to or greater than $50,000. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:09 Mar 14, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00468
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1.PCS
H1
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
469 
HR 1 PCS
‘‘(b) REQUIREMENTS RELATING
TO RECEIPT
OF 
QUALIFIED
SMALL
DOLLAR
CONTRIBUTION.—Each 
qualified small dollar contribution— 
‘‘(1) may be made by means of a personal 
check, money order, debit card, credit card, elec-
tronic payment account, or any other method 
deemed appropriate by the Commission; 
‘‘(2) shall be accompanied by a signed state-
ment (or, in the case of a contribution made online 
or through other electronic means, an electronic 
equivalent) containing the contributor’s name and 
address; and 
‘‘(3) shall be acknowledged by a receipt that is 
sent to the contributor with a copy (in paper or elec-
tronic form) kept by the candidate for the Commis-
sion. 
‘‘(c) VERIFICATION OF CONTRIBUTIONS.—The Com-
mission shall establish procedures for the auditing and 
verification of the contributions received and expenditures 
made by participating candidates under this title, includ-
ing procedures for random audits, to ensure that such con-
tributions and expenditures meet the requirements of this 
title. 
‘‘SEC. 513. CERTIFICATION. 
‘‘(a) DEADLINE AND NOTIFICATION.— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:09 Mar 14, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00469
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1.PCS
H1
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
470 
HR 1 PCS
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 5 business 
days after a candidate files an affidavit under sec-
tion 511(a)(4), the Commission shall— 
‘‘(A) determine whether or not the can-
didate meets the requirements for certification 
as a participating candidate; 
‘‘(B) if the Commission determines that 
the candidate meets such requirements, certify 
the candidate as a participating candidate; and 
‘‘(C) notify the candidate of the Commis-
sion’s determination. 
‘‘(2) DEEMED CERTIFICATION FOR ALL ELEC-
TIONS IN ELECTION CYCLE.—If the Commission cer-
tifies a candidate as a participating candidate with 
respect to the first election of the election cycle in-
volved, the Commission shall be deemed to have cer-
tified the candidate as a participating candidate with 
respect to all subsequent elections of the election 
cycle. 
‘‘(b) REVOCATION OF CERTIFICATION.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall re-
voke a certification under subsection (a) if— 
‘‘(A) a candidate fails to qualify to appear 
on the ballot at any time after the date of cer-
tification (other than a candidate certified as a 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:09 Mar 14, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00470
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1.PCS
H1
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
471 
HR 1 PCS
participating candidate with respect to a pri-
mary election who fails to qualify to appear on 
the ballot for a subsequent election in that elec-
tion cycle); 
‘‘(B) a candidate ceases to be a candidate 
for the office involved, as determined on the 
basis of an official announcement by an author-
ized committee of the candidate or on the basis 
of a reasonable determination by the Commis-
sion; or 
‘‘(C) a candidate otherwise fails to comply 
with the requirements of this title, including 
any regulatory requirements prescribed by the 
Commission. 
‘‘(2) EXISTENCE OF CRIMINAL SANCTION.—The 
Commission shall revoke a certification under sub-
section (a) if a penalty is assessed against the can-
didate under section 309(d) with respect to the elec-
tion. 
‘‘(3) EFFECT
OF
REVOCATION.—If a can-
didate’s certification is revoked under this sub-
section— 
‘‘(A) the candidate may not receive pay-
ments under this title during the remainder of 
the election cycle involved; and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:09 Mar 14, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00471
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1.PCS
H1
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
472 
HR 1 PCS
‘‘(B) in the case of a candidate whose cer-
tification is revoked pursuant to subparagraph 
(A) or subparagraph (C) of paragraph (1)— 
‘‘(i) the candidate shall repay to the 
Freedom From Influence Fund established 
under section 541 an amount equal to the 
payments received under this title with re-
spect to the election cycle involved plus in-
terest (at a rate determined by the Com-
mission on the basis of an appropriate an-
nual percentage rate for the month in-
volved) on any such amount received; and 
‘‘(ii) the candidate may not be cer-
tified as a participating candidate under 
this title with respect to the next election 
cycle. 
‘‘(4) PROHIBITING PARTICIPATION IN FUTURE 
ELECTIONS FOR CANDIDATES WITH MULTIPLE REV-
OCATIONS.—If the Commission revokes the certifi-
cation of an individual as a participating candidate 
under this title pursuant to subparagraph (A) or 
subparagraph (C) of paragraph (1) a total of 3 
times, the individual may not be certified as a par-
ticipating candidate under this title with respect to 
any subsequent election. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:09 Mar 14, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00472
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1.PCS
H1
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
473 
HR 1 PCS
‘‘(c) VOLUNTARY
WITHDRAWAL
FROM
PARTICI-
PATING DURING QUALIFYING PERIOD.—At any time dur-
ing the Small Dollar Democracy qualifying period de-
scribed in section 511(c), a candidate may withdraw from 
participation in the program under this title by submitting 
to the Commission a statement of withdrawal (without re-
gard to whether or not the Commission has certified the 
candidate as a participating candidate under this title as 
of the time the candidate submits such statement), so long 
as the candidate has not submitted a request for payment 
under section 502. 
‘‘(d) PARTICIPATING CANDIDATE DEFINED.—In this 
title, a ‘participating candidate’ means a candidate for the 
office of Representative in, or Delegate or Resident Com-
missioner to, the Congress who is certified under this sec-
tion as eligible to receive benefits under this title. 
‘‘Subtitle C—Requirements for Can-
didates 
Certified 
as 
Partici-
pating Candidates 
‘‘SEC. 521. CONTRIBUTION AND EXPENDITURE REQUIRE-
MENTS. 
‘‘(a) PERMITTED SOURCES OF CONTRIBUTIONS AND 
EXPENDITURES.—Except as provided in subsection (c), a 
participating candidate with respect to an election shall, 
with respect to all elections occurring during the election 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:09 Mar 14, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00473
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1.PCS
H1
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
474 
HR 1 PCS
cycle for the office involved, accept no contributions from 
any source and make no expenditures from any amounts, 
other than the following: 
‘‘(1) Qualified small dollar contributions. 
‘‘(2) Payments under this title. 
‘‘(3) Contributions from political committees es-
tablished and maintained by a national or State po-
litical party, subject to the applicable limitations of 
section 315. 
‘‘(4) Subject to subsection (b), personal funds 
of the candidate or of any immediate family member 
of the candidate (other than funds received through 
qualified small dollar contributions). 
‘‘(5) Contributions from individuals who are 
otherwise permitted to make contributions under 
this Act, subject to the applicable limitations of sec-
tion 315, except that the aggregate amount of con-
tributions a participating candidate may accept from 
any individual with respect to any election during 
the election cycle may not exceed $1,000. 
‘‘(6) Contributions from multicandidate political 
committees, subject to the applicable limitations of 
section 315. 
‘‘(b) SPECIAL RULES FOR PERSONAL FUNDS.— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:09 Mar 14, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00474
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1.PCS
H1
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
475 
HR 1 PCS
‘‘(1) LIMIT ON AMOUNT.—A candidate who is 
certified as a participating candidate may use per-
sonal funds (including personal funds of any imme-
diate family member of the candidate) so long as— 
‘‘(A) the aggregate amount used with re-
spect to the election cycle (including any period 
of the cycle occurring prior to the candidate’s 
certification as a participating candidate) does 
not exceed $50,000; and 
‘‘(B) the funds are used only for making 
direct payments for the receipt of goods and 
services which constitute authorized expendi-
tures in connection with the election cycle in-
volved. 
‘‘(2) IMMEDIATE FAMILY MEMBER DEFINED.— 
In this subsection, the term ‘immediate family mem-
ber’ means, with respect to a candidate— 
‘‘(A) the candidate’s spouse; 
‘‘(B) a child, stepchild, parent, grand-
parent, brother, half-brother, sister, or half-sis-
ter of the candidate or the candidate’s spouse; 
and 
‘‘(C) the spouse of any person described in 
subparagraph (B). 
‘‘(c) EXCEPTIONS.— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:09 Mar 14, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00475
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1.PCS
H1
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
476 
HR 1 PCS
‘‘(1) EXCEPTION
FOR
CONTRIBUTIONS
RE-
CEIVED PRIOR TO FILING OF STATEMENT OF IN-
TENT.—A candidate who has accepted contributions 
that are not described in subsection (a) is not in vio-
lation of subsection (a), but only if all such contribu-
tions are— 
‘‘(A) returned to the contributor; 
‘‘(B) submitted to the Commission for de-
posit in the Freedom From Influence Fund es-
tablished under section 541; or 
‘‘(C) spent in accordance with paragraph 
(2). 
‘‘(2) EXCEPTION
FOR
EXPENDITURES
MADE 
PRIOR TO FILING OF STATEMENT OF INTENT.—If a 
candidate has made expenditures prior to the date 
the candidate files a statement of intent under sec-
tion 511(a)(1) that the candidate is prohibited from 
making under subsection (a) or subsection (b), the 
candidate is not in violation of such subsection if the 
aggregate amount of the prohibited expenditures is 
less than the amount referred to in section 
512(a)(2) (relating to the total dollar amount of 
qualified small dollar contributions which the can-
didate is required to obtain) which is applicable to 
the candidate. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:09 Mar 14, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00476
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1.PCS
H1
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
477 
HR 1 PCS
‘‘(3) EXCEPTION
FOR
CAMPAIGN
SURPLUSES 
FROM
A
PREVIOUS
ELECTION.—Notwithstanding 
paragraph (1), unexpended contributions received by 
the candidate or an authorized committee of the 
candidate with respect to a previous election may be 
retained, but only if the candidate places the funds 
in escrow and refrains from raising additional funds 
for or spending funds from that account during the 
election cycle in which a candidate is a participating 
candidate. 
‘‘(4) EXCEPTION
FOR
CONTRIBUTIONS
RE-
CEIVED
BEFORE
THE
EFFECTIVE
DATE
OF
THIS 
TITLE.—Contributions received and expenditures 
made by the candidate or an authorized committee 
of the candidate prior to the effective date of this 
title shall not constitute a violation of subsection (a) 
or (b). Unexpended contributions shall be treated 
the same as campaign surpluses under paragraph 
(3), and expenditures made shall count against the 
limit in paragraph (2). 
‘‘(d) SPECIAL RULE FOR COORDINATED PARTY EX-
PENDITURES.—For purposes of this section, a payment 
made by a political party in coordination with a partici-
pating candidate shall not be treated as a contribution to 
or as an expenditure made by the participating candidate. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:09 Mar 14, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00477
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1.PCS
H1
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
478 
HR 1 PCS
‘‘(e) PROHIBITION ON JOINT FUNDRAISING COMMIT-
TEES.— 
‘‘(1) PROHIBITION.—An authorized committee 
of a candidate who is certified as a participating 
candidate under this title with respect to an election 
may not establish a joint fundraising committee with 
a political committee other than another authorized 
committee of the candidate. 
‘‘(2) STATUS OF EXISTING COMMITTEES FOR 
PRIOR
ELECTIONS.—If a candidate established a 
joint fundraising committee described in paragraph 
(1) with respect to a prior election for which the 
candidate was not certified as a participating can-
didate under this title and the candidate does not 
terminate the committee, the candidate shall not be 
considered to be in violation of paragraph (1) so 
long as that joint fundraising committee does not re-
ceive any contributions or make any disbursements 
during the election cycle for which the candidate is 
certified as a participating candidate under this title. 
‘‘(f) PROHIBITION ON LEADERSHIP PACS.— 
‘‘(1) PROHIBITION.—A candidate who is cer-
tified as a participating candidate under this title 
with respect to an election may not associate with, 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:09 Mar 14, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00478
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1.PCS
H1
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
479 
HR 1 PCS
establish, finance, maintain, or control a leadership 
PAC. 
‘‘(2) 
STATUS
OF
EXISTING
LEADERSHIP 
PACS.—If a candidate established, financed, main-
tained, or controlled a leadership PAC prior to being 
certified as a participating candidate under this title 
and the candidate does not terminate the leadership 
PAC, the candidate shall not be considered to be in 
violation of paragraph (1) so long as the leadership 
PAC does not receive any contributions or make any 
disbursements during the election cycle for which the 
candidate is certified as a participating candidate 
under this title. 
‘‘(3) LEADERSHIP PAC DEFINED.—In this sub-
section, the term ‘leadership PAC’ has the meaning 
given such term in section 304(i)(8)(B). 
‘‘SEC. 522. ADMINISTRATION OF CAMPAIGN. 
‘‘(a) SEPARATE ACCOUNTING
FOR VARIOUS PER-
MITTED CONTRIBUTIONS.—Each authorized committee of 
a candidate certified as a participating candidate under 
this title— 
‘‘(1) shall provide for separate accounting of 
each type of contribution described in section 521(a) 
which is received by the committee; and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:09 Mar 14, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00479
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1.PCS
H1
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
480 
HR 1 PCS
‘‘(2) shall provide for separate accounting for 
the payments received under this title. 
‘‘(b) ENHANCED DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION ON 
DONORS.— 
‘‘(1) MANDATORY IDENTIFICATION OF INDIVID-
UALS
MAKING
QUALIFIED
SMALL
DOLLAR
CON-
TRIBUTIONS.—Each authorized committee of a par-
ticipating candidate under this title shall elect, in ac-
cordance with section 304(b)(3)(A), to include in the 
reports the committee submits under section 304 the 
identification of each person who makes a qualified 
small dollar contribution to the committee. 
‘‘(2) 
MANDATORY
DISCLOSURE
THROUGH 
INTERNET.—Each authorized committee of a partici-
pating candidate under this title shall ensure that all 
information reported to the Commission under this 
Act with respect to contributions and expenditures 
of the committee is available to the public on the 
internet (whether through a site established for pur-
poses of this subsection, a hyperlink on another pub-
lic site of the committee, or a hyperlink on a report 
filed electronically with the Commission) in a search-
able, sortable, and downloadable manner. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:09 Mar 14, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00480
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1.PCS
H1
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
481 
HR 1 PCS
‘‘SEC. 523. PREVENTING UNNECESSARY SPENDING OF PUB-
LIC FUNDS. 
‘‘(a) MANDATORY SPENDING
OF AVAILABLE PRI-
VATE FUNDS.—An authorized committee of a candidate 
certified as a participating candidate under this title may 
not make any expenditure of any payments received under 
this title in any amount unless the committee has made 
an expenditure in an equivalent amount of funds received 
by the committee which are described in paragraphs (1), 
(3), (4), (5), and (6) of section 521(a). 
‘‘(b) LIMITATION.—Subsection (a) applies to an au-
thorized committee only to the extent that the funds re-
ferred to in such subsection are available to the committee 
at the time the committee makes an expenditure of a pay-
ment received under this title. 
‘‘SEC. 524. REMITTING UNSPENT FUNDS AFTER ELECTION. 
‘‘(a) REMITTANCE REQUIRED.—Not later than the 
date that is 180 days after the last election for which a 
candidate certified as a participating candidate qualifies 
to be on the ballot during the election cycle involved, such 
participating candidate shall remit to the Commission for 
deposit in the Freedom From Influence Fund established 
under section 541 an amount equal to the balance of the 
payments received under this title by the authorized com-
mittees of the candidate which remain unexpended as of 
such date. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:09 Mar 14, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00481
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1.PCS
H1
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
482 
HR 1 PCS
‘‘(b) PERMITTING CANDIDATES PARTICIPATING IN 
NEXT
ELECTION
CYCLE
TO
RETAIN
PORTION
OF 
UNSPENT FUNDS.—Notwithstanding subsection (a), a 
participating candidate may withhold not more than 
$100,000 from the amount required to be remitted under 
subsection (a) if the candidate files a signed affidavit with 
the Commission that the candidate will seek certification 
as a participating candidate with respect to the next elec-
tion cycle, except that the candidate may not use any por-
tion of the amount withheld until the candidate is certified 
as a participating candidate with respect to that next elec-
tion cycle. If the candidate fails to seek certification as 
a participating candidate prior to the last day of the Small 
Dollar Democracy qualifying period for the next election 
cycle (as described in section 511), or if the Commission 
notifies the candidate of the Commission’s determination 
does not meet the requirements for certification as a par-
ticipating candidate with respect to such cycle, the can-
didate shall immediately remit to the Commission the 
amount withheld. 
‘‘Subtitle D—Enhanced Match 
Support 
‘‘SEC. 531. ENHANCED SUPPORT FOR GENERAL ELECTION. 
‘‘(a) AVAILABILITY
OF ENHANCED SUPPORT.—In 
addition to the payments made under subtitle A, the Com-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:09 Mar 14, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00482
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1.PCS
H1
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
483 
HR 1 PCS
mission shall make an additional payment to an eligible 
candidate under this subtitle. 
‘‘(b) USE OF FUNDS.—A candidate shall use the ad-
ditional payment under this subtitle only for authorized 
expenditures in connection with the election involved. 
‘‘SEC. 532. ELIGIBILITY. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—A candidate is eligible to receive 
an additional payment under this subtitle if the candidate 
meets each of the following requirements: 
‘‘(1) The candidate is on the ballot for the gen-
eral election for the office the candidate seeks. 
‘‘(2) The candidate is certified as a partici-
pating candidate under this title with respect to the 
election. 
‘‘(3) During the enhanced support qualifying 
period, the candidate receives qualified small dollar 
contributions in a total amount of not less than 
$50,000. 
‘‘(4) During the enhanced support qualifying 
period, the candidate submits to the Commission a 
request for the payment which includes— 
‘‘(A) a statement of the number and 
amount of qualified small dollar contributions 
received by the candidate during the enhanced 
support qualifying period; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:09 Mar 14, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00483
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1.PCS
H1
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
484 
HR 1 PCS
‘‘(B) a statement of the amount of the 
payment the candidate anticipates receiving 
with respect to the request; and 
‘‘(C) such other information and assur-
ances as the Commission may require. 
‘‘(5) After submitting a request for the addi-
tional payment under paragraph (4), the candidate 
does not submit any other application for an addi-
tional payment under this subtitle. 
‘‘(b) ENHANCED SUPPORT QUALIFYING PERIOD DE-
SCRIBED.—In this subtitle, the term ‘enhanced support 
qualifying period’ means, with respect to a general elec-
tion, the period which begins 60 days before the date of 
the election and ends 14 days before the date of the elec-
tion. 
‘‘SEC. 533. AMOUNT. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Subject to subsection (b), the 
amount of the additional payment made to an eligible can-
didate under this subtitle shall be an amount equal to 50 
percent of— 
‘‘(1) the amount of the payment made to the 
candidate under section 501(b) with respect to the 
qualified small dollar contributions which are re-
ceived by the candidate during the enhanced support 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:09 Mar 14, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00484
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1.PCS
H1
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
485 
HR 1 PCS
qualifying period (as included in the request sub-
mitted by the candidate under section 532(a)(4)); or 
‘‘(2) in the case of a candidate who is not eligi-
ble to receive a payment under section 501(b) with 
respect to such qualified small dollar contributions 
because the candidate has reached the limit on the 
aggregate amount of payments under subtitle A for 
the election cycle under section 501(c), the amount 
of the payment which would have been made to the 
candidate under section 501(b) with respect to such 
qualified small dollar contributions if the candidate 
had not reached such limit. 
‘‘(b) LIMIT.—The amount of the additional payment 
determined under subsection (a) with respect to a can-
didate may not exceed $500,000. 
‘‘(c) NO
EFFECT
ON
AGGREGATE
LIMIT.—The 
amount of the additional payment made to a candidate 
under this subtitle shall not be included in determining 
the aggregate amount of payments made to a participating 
candidate with respect to an election cycle under section 
501(c). 
‘‘SEC. 534. WAIVER OF AUTHORITY TO RETAIN PORTION OF 
UNSPENT FUNDS AFTER ELECTION. 
‘‘Notwithstanding section 524(a)(2), a candidate who 
receives an additional payment under this subtitle with re-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:09 Mar 14, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00485
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1.PCS
H1
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
486 
HR 1 PCS
spect to an election is not permitted to withhold any por-
tion from the amount of unspent funds the candidate is 
required to remit to the Commission under section 
524(a)(1). 
‘‘Subtitle E—Administrative 
Provisions 
‘‘SEC. 541. FREEDOM FROM INFLUENCE FUND. 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established in the 
Treasury a fund to be known as the ‘Freedom From Influ-
ence Fund’. 
‘‘(b) AMOUNTS HELD BY FUND.—The Fund shall 
consist of the following amounts: 
‘‘(1) ASSESSMENTS
AGAINST
FINES, SETTLE-
MENTS, 
AND
PENALTIES.—Amounts transferred 
under section 3015 of title 18, United States Code, 
section 9707 of title 31, United States Code, and 
section 6761 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. 
‘‘(2) DEPOSITS.—Amounts deposited into the 
Fund under— 
‘‘(A) section 521(c)(1)(B) (relating to ex-
ceptions to contribution requirements); 
‘‘(B) section 523 (relating to remittance of 
unused payments from the Fund); and 
‘‘(C) section 544 (relating to violations). 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:09 Mar 14, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00486
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1.PCS
H1
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
487 
HR 1 PCS
‘‘(3) INVESTMENT RETURNS.—Interest on, and 
the proceeds from, the sale or redemption of any ob-
ligations held by the Fund under subsection (c). 
‘‘(c) INVESTMENT.—The Commission shall invest 
portions of the Fund in obligations of the United States 
in the same manner as provided under section 9602(b) 
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. 
‘‘(d) USE OF FUND TO MAKE PAYMENTS TO PAR-
TICIPATING CANDIDATES.— 
‘‘(1) 
PAYMENTS
TO
PARTICIPATING
CAN-
DIDATES.—Amounts in the Fund shall be available 
without further appropriation or fiscal year limita-
tion to make payments to participating candidates 
as provided in this title. 
‘‘(2) MANDATORY REDUCTION OF PAYMENTS IN 
CASE OF INSUFFICIENT AMOUNTS IN FUND.— 
‘‘(A) ADVANCE AUDITS BY COMMISSION.— 
Not later than 90 days before the first day of 
each election cycle (beginning with the first 
election cycle that begins after the date of the 
enactment of this title), the Commission shall— 
‘‘(i) audit the Fund to determine 
whether the amounts in the Fund will be 
sufficient to make payments to partici-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:09 Mar 14, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00487
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1.PCS
H1
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
488 
HR 1 PCS
pating candidates in the amounts provided 
in this title during such election cycle; and 
‘‘(ii) submit a report to Congress de-
scribing the results of the audit. 
‘‘(B) REDUCTIONS
IN
AMOUNT
OF
PAY-
MENTS.— 
‘‘(i) AUTOMATIC REDUCTION ON PRO 
RATA BASIS.—If, on the basis of the audit 
described in subparagraph (A), the Com-
mission determines that the amount antici-
pated to be available in the Fund with re-
spect to the election cycle involved is not, 
or may not be, sufficient to satisfy the full 
entitlements of participating candidates to 
payments under this title for such election 
cycle, the Commission shall reduce each 
amount which would otherwise be paid to 
a participating candidate under this title 
by such pro rata amount as may be nec-
essary to ensure that the aggregate 
amount of payments anticipated to be 
made with respect to the election cycle will 
not exceed the amount anticipated to be 
available for such payments in the Fund 
with respect to such election cycle. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:09 Mar 14, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00488
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1.PCS
H1
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
489 
HR 1 PCS
‘‘(ii) RESTORATION
OF
REDUCTIONS 
IN CASE OF AVAILABILITY OF SUFFICIENT 
FUNDS
DURING
ELECTION
CYCLE.—If, 
after reducing the amounts paid to partici-
pating candidates with respect to an elec-
tion cycle under clause (i), the Commission 
determines 
that 
there 
are 
sufficient 
amounts in the Fund to restore the 
amount by which such payments were re-
duced (or any portion thereof), to the ex-
tent that such amounts are available, the 
Commission may make a payment on a pro 
rata basis to each such participating can-
didate with respect to the election cycle in 
the amount by which such candidate’s pay-
ments were reduced under clause (i) (or 
any portion thereof, as the case may be). 
‘‘(iii) NO
USE
OF
AMOUNTS
FROM 
OTHER SOURCES.—In any case in which 
the Commission determines that there are 
insufficient moneys in the Fund to make 
payments to participating candidates under 
this title, moneys shall not be made avail-
able from any other source for the purpose 
of making such payments. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:09 Mar 14, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00489
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1.PCS
H1
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
490 
HR 1 PCS
‘‘(e) USE OF FUND TO MAKE OTHER PAYMENTS.— 
In addition to the use described in subsection (d), amounts 
in the Fund shall be available without further appropria-
tion or fiscal year limitation— 
‘‘(1) to make payments to States under the My 
Voice Voucher Program under the Government By 
the People Act of 2019, subject to reductions under 
section 5101(f)(3) of such Act; 
‘‘(2) to make payments to candidates under 
chapter 95 of subtitle H of the Internal Revenue 
Code of 1986, subject to reductions under section 
9013(b) of such Code; and 
‘‘(3) to make payments to candidates under 
chapter 96 of subtitle H of the Internal Revenue 
Code of 1986, subject to reductions under section 
9043(b) of such Code. 
‘‘(f) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section shall take ef-
fect on the date of the enactment of this title. 
‘‘SEC. 542. REVIEWS AND REPORTS BY GOVERNMENT AC-
COUNTABILITY OFFICE. 
‘‘(a) REVIEW OF SMALL DOLLAR FINANCING.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—After each regularly sched-
uled general election for Federal office, the Comp-
troller General of the United States shall conduct a 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:09 Mar 14, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00490
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1.PCS
H1
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
491 
HR 1 PCS
comprehensive review of the Small Dollar financing 
program under this title, including— 
‘‘(A) the maximum and minimum dollar 
amounts of qualified small dollar contributions 
under section 504; 
‘‘(B) the number and value of qualified 
small dollar contributions a candidate is re-
quired to obtain under section 512(a) to be eli-
gible for certification as a participating can-
didate; 
‘‘(C) the maximum amount of payments a 
candidate may receive under this title; 
‘‘(D) the overall satisfaction of partici-
pating candidates and the American public with 
the program; and 
‘‘(E) such other matters relating to financ-
ing of campaigns as the Comptroller General 
determines are appropriate. 
‘‘(2) CRITERIA
FOR
REVIEW.—In conducting 
the review under subparagraph (A), the Comptroller 
General shall consider the following: 
‘‘(A) QUALIFIED
SMALL
DOLLAR
CON-
TRIBUTIONS.—Whether the number and dollar 
amounts of qualified small dollar contributions 
required strikes an appropriate balance regard-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:09 Mar 14, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00491
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1.PCS
H1
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
528 
HR 1 PCS
makes the certification required under subsection 
(a)(3).’’. 
(b) DEFINITION
OF QUALIFIED CAMPAIGN CON-
TRIBUTION.—Section 9002 of such Code is amended by 
adding at the end the following new paragraph: 
‘‘(13) QUALIFIED CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION.— 
The term ‘qualified campaign contribution’ means, 
with respect to any election for the office of Presi-
dent of the United States, a contribution from an in-
dividual to a candidate or an authorized committee 
of a candidate which— 
‘‘(A) does not exceed $1,000 for the elec-
tion; and 
‘‘(B) with respect to which the candidate 
has certified in writing that— 
‘‘(i) the individual making such con-
tribution has not made aggregate contribu-
tions (including such qualified contribu-
tion) to such candidate and the authorized 
committees of such candidate in excess of 
the amount described in subparagraph (A), 
and 
‘‘(ii) such candidate and the author-
ized committees of such candidate will not 
accept contributions from such individual 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:09 Mar 14, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00528
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1.PCS
H1
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
529 
HR 1 PCS
(including such qualified contribution) ag-
gregating more than the amount described 
in subparagraph (A) with respect to such 
election.’’. 
(c) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 
(1) REPEAL OF EXPENDITURE LIMITS.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Section 315 of the Fed-
eral Election Campaign Act of 1971 (52 U.S.C. 
30116) is amended by striking subsection (b). 
(B) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—Section 
315(c) of such Act (52 U.S.C. 30116(c)) is 
amended— 
(i) in paragraph (1)(B)(i), by striking 
‘‘, (b)’’; and 
(ii) in paragraph (2)(B)(i), by striking 
‘‘subsections (b) and (d)’’ and inserting 
‘‘subsection (d)’’. 
(2) REPEAL OF REPAYMENT REQUIREMENT.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Section 9007(b) of the 
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by 
striking paragraph (2) and redesignating para-
graphs (3), (4), and (5) as paragraphs (2), (3), 
and (4), respectively. 
(B) 
CONFORMING
AMENDMENT.—Para-
graph (2) of section 9007(b) of such Code, as 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:09 Mar 14, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00529
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1.PCS
H1
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS