340 
‘‘(A) sells qualified political advertise-
ments; and 
‘‘(B) has 50,000,000 or more unique 
monthly United States visitors or users for a 
majority of months during the preceding 12 
months. 
‘‘(4) QUALIFIED POLITICAL ADVERTISEMENT.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—For purposes of this 
subsection, the term ‘qualified political adver-
tisement’ means any advertisement (including 
search engine marketing, display advertise-
ments, video advertisements, native advertise-
ments, and sponsorships) that— 
‘‘(i) is made by or on behalf of a can-
didate; or 
‘‘(ii) communicates a message relating 
to any political matter of national impor-
tance, including— 
‘‘(I) a candidate; 
‘‘(II) any election to Federal of-
fice; or 
‘‘(III) a national legislative issue 
of public importance. 
‘‘(5) TIME TO MAINTAIN FILE.—The informa-
tion required under this subsection shall be made 
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available as soon as possible and shall be retained by 
the online platform for a period of not less than 4 
years. 
‘‘(6) PENALTIES.—For penalties for failure by 
online platforms, and persons requesting to purchase 
a qualified political advertisement on online plat-
forms, to comply with the requirements of this sub-
section, see section 309.’’. 
(b) RULEMAKING.—Not later than 90 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Federal Election 
Commission shall establish rules— 
(1) requiring common data formats for the 
record required to be maintained under section 
304(j) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 
1971 (as added by subsection (a)) so that all online 
platforms submit and maintain data online in a com-
mon, machine-readable and publicly accessible for-
mat; and 
(2) establishing search interface requirements 
relating to such record, including searches by can-
didate name, issue, purchaser, and date. 
(c) REPORTING.—Not later than 2 years after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, and biannually there-
after, the Chairman of the Federal Election Commission 
shall submit a report to Congress on— 
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(1) matters relating to compliance with and the 
enforcement of the requirements of section 304(j) of 
the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971, as 
added by subsection (a); 
(2) recommendations for any modifications to 
such section to assist in carrying out its purposes; 
and 
(3) identifying ways to bring transparency and 
accountability to political advertisements distributed 
online for free. 
SEC. 4209. PREVENTING CONTRIBUTIONS, EXPENDITURES, 
INDEPENDENT 
EXPENDITURES, 
AND 
DIS-
BURSEMENTS FOR ELECTIONEERING COM-
MUNICATIONS BY FOREIGN NATIONALS IN 
THE FORM OF ONLINE ADVERTISING. 
Section 319 of the Federal Election Campaign Act 
of 1971 (52 U.S.C. 30121), as amended by section 
4101(b), is further amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing new subsection: 
‘‘(d) RESPONSIBILITIES OF BROADCAST STATIONS, 
PROVIDERS OF CABLE AND SATELLITE TELEVISION, AND 
ONLINE PLATFORMS.—Each television or radio broadcast 
station, provider of cable or satellite television, or online 
platform (as defined in section 304(j)(3)) shall make rea-
sonable efforts to ensure that communications described 
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in section 318(a) and made available by such station, pro-
vider, or platform are not purchased by a foreign national, 
directly or indirectly.’’. 
Subtitle D—Stand By Every Ad 
SEC. 4301. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Stand By Every Ad 
Act’’. 
SEC. 4302. STAND BY EVERY AD. 
(a) EXPANDED DISCLAIMER REQUIREMENTS
FOR 
CERTAIN COMMUNICATIONS.—Section 318 of the Federal 
Election Campaign Act of 1971 (52 U.S.C. 30120), as 
amended by section 4207(b)(1), is further amended— 
(1) by redesignating subsection (e) as sub-
section (f); and 
(2) by inserting after subsection (d) the fol-
lowing new subsection: 
‘‘(e) EXPANDED DISCLAIMER REQUIREMENTS FOR 
COMMUNICATIONS NOT AUTHORIZED BY CANDIDATES OR 
COMMITTEES.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para-
graph (6), any communication described in para-
graph (3) of subsection (a) which is transmitted in 
an audio or video format (including an internet or 
digital communication), or which is an internet or 
digital communication transmitted in a text or 
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graphic format, shall include, in addition to the re-
quirements of paragraph (3) of subsection (a), the 
following: 
‘‘(A) The individual disclosure statement 
described in paragraph (2)(A) (if the person 
paying for the communication is an individual) 
or the organizational disclosure statement de-
scribed in paragraph (2)(B) (if the person pay-
ing for the communication is not an individual). 
‘‘(B) If the communication is transmitted 
in a video format, or is an internet or digital 
communication which is transmitted in a text or 
graphic format, and is paid for in whole or in 
part with a payment which is treated as a cam-
paign-related disbursement under section 324, 
the Top Five Funders list (if applicable), un-
less, on the basis of criteria established in regu-
lations issued by the Commission, the commu-
nication is of such short duration that including 
the Top Five Funders list in the communication 
would constitute a hardship to the person pay-
ing for the communication by requiring a dis-
proportionate amount of the content of the 
communication to consist of the Top Five 
Funders list. 
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‘‘(C) If the communication is transmitted 
in an audio format and is paid for in whole or 
in part with a payment which is treated as a 
campaign-related disbursement under section 
324, the Top Two Funders list (if applicable), 
unless, on the basis of criteria established in 
regulations issued by the Commission, the com-
munication is of such short duration that in-
cluding the Top Two Funders list in the com-
munication would constitute a hardship to the 
person paying for the communication by requir-
ing a disproportionate amount of the content of 
the communication to consist of the Top Two 
Funders list. 
‘‘(2) DISCLOSURE STATEMENTS DESCRIBED.— 
‘‘(A) INDIVIDUAL
DISCLOSURE
STATE-
MENTS.—The individual disclosure statement 
described in this subparagraph is the following: 
‘I am llllllll, and I approve this 
message.’, with the blank filled in with the 
name of the applicable individual. 
‘‘(B) 
ORGANIZATIONAL
DISCLOSURE 
STATEMENTS.—The organizational disclosure 
statement described in this subparagraph is the 
following: 
‘I 
am 
llllllll, 
the 
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statements required under paragraph (1) shall 
be made by audio by the applicable individual 
in a clear and conspicuous manner. 
‘‘(C) COMMUNICATIONS TRANSMITTED IN 
VIDEO FORMAT.—In the case of a communica-
tion to which this subsection applies which is 
transmitted in a video format, the information 
required under paragraph (1)— 
‘‘(i) shall appear in writing at the end 
of the communication or in a crawl along 
the bottom of the communication in a clear 
and conspicuous manner, with a reasonable 
degree of color contrast between the back-
ground and the printed statement, for a 
period of at least 6 seconds; and 
‘‘(ii) shall also be conveyed by an 
unobscured, full-screen view of the applica-
ble individual or by the applicable indi-
vidual making the statement in voice-over 
accompanied by a clearly identifiable pho-
tograph or similar image of the individual, 
except in the case of a Top Five Funders 
list. 
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‘‘(4) APPLICABLE INDIVIDUAL DEFINED.—The 
term ‘applicable individual’ means, with respect to a 
communication to which this subsection applies— 
‘‘(A) if the communication is paid for by 
an individual, the individual involved; 
‘‘(B) if the communication is paid for by a 
corporation, the chief executive officer of the 
corporation (or, if the corporation does not have 
a chief executive officer, the highest ranking of-
ficial of the corporation); 
‘‘(C) if the communication is paid for by a 
labor organization, the highest ranking officer 
of the labor organization; and 
‘‘(D) if the communication is paid for by 
any other person, the highest ranking official of 
such person. 
‘‘(5) TOP FIVE FUNDERS LIST AND TOP TWO 
FUNDERS LIST DEFINED.— 
‘‘(A) TOP FIVE FUNDERS LIST.—The term 
‘Top Five Funders list’ means, with respect to 
a communication which is paid for in whole or 
in part with a campaign-related disbursement 
(as defined in section 324), a list of the five 
persons who, during the 12-month period end-
ing on the date of the disbursement, provided 
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the largest payments of any type in an aggre-
gate amount equal to or exceeding $10,000 to 
the person who is paying for the communication 
and the amount of the payments each such per-
son provided. If two or more people provided 
the fifth largest of such payments, the person 
paying for the communication shall select one of 
those persons to be included on the Top Five 
Funders list. 
‘‘(B) TOP TWO FUNDERS LIST.—The term 
‘Top Two Funders list’ means, with respect to 
a communication which is paid for in whole or 
in part with a campaign-related disbursement 
(as defined in section 324), a list of the persons 
who, during the 12-month period ending on the 
date of the disbursement, provided the largest 
and the second largest payments of any type in 
an aggregate amount equal to or exceeding 
$10,000 to the person who is paying for the 
communication and the amount of the pay-
ments each such person provided. If two or 
more persons provided the second largest of 
such payments, the person paying for the com-
munication shall select one of those persons to 
be included on the Top Two Funders list. 
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‘‘(C) 
EXCLUSION
OF
CERTAIN
PAY-
MENTS.—For purposes of subparagraphs (A) 
and (B), in determining the amount of pay-
ments made by a person to a person paying for 
a communication, there shall be excluded the 
following: 
‘‘(i) Any amounts provided in the or-
dinary course of any trade or business con-
ducted by the person paying for the com-
munication or in the form of investments 
in the person paying for the communica-
tion. 
‘‘(ii) Any payment which the person 
prohibited, in writing, from being used for 
campaign-related disbursements, but only 
if the person paying for the communication 
agreed to follow the prohibition and depos-
ited the payment in an account which is 
segregated from any account used to make 
campaign-related disbursements. 
‘‘(6) EXCEPTION FOR COMMUNICATIONS PAID 
FOR BY POLITICAL PARTIES AND CERTAIN POLIT-
ICAL COMMITTEES.—This subsection does not apply 
to any communication to which subsection (d)(2) ap-
plies.’’. 
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351 
(b) APPLICATION OF EXPANDED REQUIREMENTS TO 
PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS CONSISTING
OF CAMPAIGN- 
RELATED DISBURSEMENTS.—Section 318(a) of such Act 
(52 U.S.C. 30120(a)) is amended by striking ‘‘for the pur-
pose of financing communications expressly advocating the 
election or defeat of a clearly identified candidate’’ and 
inserting ‘‘for a campaign-related disbursement, as de-
fined in section 324, consisting of a public communica-
tion’’. 
(c) EXCEPTION FOR COMMUNICATIONS PAID FOR BY 
POLITICAL PARTIES AND CERTAIN POLITICAL COMMIT-
TEES.—Section 318(d)(2) of such Act (52 U.S.C. 
30120(d)(2)) is amended— 
(1) in the heading, by striking ‘‘OTHERS’’ and 
inserting ‘‘CERTAIN POLITICAL COMMITTEES’’; 
(2) by striking ‘‘Any communication’’ and in-
serting ‘‘(A) Any communication’’; 
(3) by inserting ‘‘which (except to the extent 
provided in subparagraph (B)) is paid for by a polit-
ical committee (including a political committee of a 
political party) and’’ after ‘‘subsection (a)’’; 
(4) by striking ‘‘or other person’’ each place it 
appears; and 
(5) by adding at the end the following new sub-
paragraph: 
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‘‘(B)(i) This paragraph does not apply to a 
communication paid for in whole or in part during 
a calendar year with a campaign-related disburse-
ment, but only if the covered organization making 
the campaign-related disbursement made campaign- 
related disbursements (as defined in section 324) ag-
gregating more than $10,000 during such calendar 
year. 
‘‘(ii) For purposes of clause (i), in determining 
the amount of campaign-related disbursements made 
by a covered organization during a year, there shall 
be excluded the following: 
‘‘(I) Any amounts received by the covered 
organization in the ordinary course of any trade 
or business conducted by the covered organiza-
tion or in the form of investments in the cov-
ered organization. 
‘‘(II) Any amounts received by the covered 
organization from a person who prohibited, in 
writing, the organization from using such 
amounts for campaign-related disbursements, 
but only if the covered organization agreed to 
follow the prohibition and deposited the 
amounts in an account which is segregated 
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from any account used to make campaign-re-
lated disbursements.’’. 
SEC. 4303. DISCLAIMER REQUIREMENTS FOR COMMUNICA-
TIONS MADE THROUGH PRERECORDED TELE-
PHONE CALLS. 
(a) APPLICATION OF REQUIREMENTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 318(a) of the Fed-
eral Election Campaign Act of 1971 (52 U.S.C. 
30120(a)), as amended by section 4205(c), is 
amended by inserting after ‘‘public communication’’ 
each place it appears the following: ‘‘(including a 
telephone call consisting in substantial part of a 
prerecorded audio message)’’. 
(2) APPLICATION
TO
COMMUNICATIONS
SUB-
JECT TO EXPANDED DISCLAIMER REQUIREMENTS.— 
Section 
318(e)(1) 
of 
such 
Act 
(52 
U.S.C. 
30120(e)(1)), as added by section 4302(a), is 
amended in the matter preceding subparagraph (A) 
by striking ‘‘which is transmitted in an audio or 
video format’’ and inserting ‘‘which is transmitted in 
an audio or video format or which consists of a tele-
phone call consisting in substantial part of a 
prerecorded audio message’’. 
(b) TREATMENT AS COMMUNICATION TRANSMITTED 
IN AUDIO FORMAT.— 
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(1) COMMUNICATIONS BY CANDIDATES OR AU-
THORIZED PERSONS.—Section 318(d) of such Act 
(52 U.S.C. 30120(d)) is amended by adding at the 
end the following new paragraph: 
‘‘(3) PRERECORDED TELEPHONE CALLS.—Any 
communication described in paragraph (1), (2), or 
(3) of subsection (a) (other than a communication 
which is subject to subsection (e)) which is a tele-
phone call consisting in substantial part of a 
prerecorded audio message shall include, in addition 
to the requirements of such paragraph, the audio 
statement required under subparagraph (A) of para-
graph (1) or the audio statement required under 
paragraph (2) (whichever is applicable), except that 
the statement shall be made at the beginning of the 
telephone call.’’. 
(2) COMMUNICATIONS SUBJECT TO EXPANDED 
DISCLAIMER REQUIREMENTS.—Section 318(e)(3) of 
such Act (52 U.S.C. 30120(e)(3)), as added by sec-
tion 4302(a), is amended by adding at the end the 
following new subparagraph: 
‘‘(C) PRERECORDED TELEPHONE CALLS.— 
In the case of a communication to which this 
subsection applies which is a telephone call con-
sisting in substantial part of a prerecorded 
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audio message, the communication shall be con-
sidered to be transmitted in an audio format.’’. 
SEC. 4304. NO EXPANSION OF PERSONS SUBJECT TO DIS-
CLAIMER 
REQUIREMENTS 
ON 
INTERNET 
COMMUNICATIONS. 
Nothing in this subtitle or the amendments made by 
this subtitle may be construed to require any person who 
is not required under section 318 of the Federal Election 
Campaign Act of 1971 (as provided under section 110.11 
of title 11 of the Code of Federal Regulations) to include 
a disclaimer on communications made by the person 
through the internet to include any disclaimer on any such 
communications. 
SEC. 4305. EFFECTIVE DATE. 
The amendments made by this subtitle shall apply 
with respect to communications made on or after January 
1, 2020, and shall take effect without regard to whether 
or not the Federal Election Commission has promulgated 
regulations to carry out such amendments. 
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356 
Subtitle E—Secret Money 
Transparency 
SEC. 4401. REPEAL OF RESTRICTION OF USE OF FUNDS BY 
INTERNAL 
REVENUE 
SERVICE 
TO 
BRING 
TRANSPARENCY TO POLITICAL ACTIVITY OF 
CERTAIN NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS. 
Notwithstanding section 101 of division C of Public 
Law 115–245, section 125 of Division E of the Consoli-
dated Appropriations Act, 2018 shall have no force or ef-
fect during fiscal year 2019. 
Subtitle F—Shareholder Right-To- 
Know 
SEC. 4501. REPEAL OF RESTRICTION ON USE OF FUNDS BY 
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION TO 
ENSURE SHAREHOLDERS OF CORPORATIONS 
HAVE KNOWLEDGE OF CORPORATION POLIT-
ICAL ACTIVITY. 
Notwithstanding section 101 of division C of Public 
Law 115–245, section 631 of Division E of the Consoli-
dated Appropriations Act, 2019 shall have no force or ef-
fect during fiscal year 2019. 
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357 
Subtitle G—Disclosure of Political 
Spending by Government Con-
tractors 
SEC. 4601. REPEAL OF RESTRICTION ON USE OF FUNDS TO 
REQUIRE DISCLOSURE OF POLITICAL SPEND-
ING BY GOVERNMENT CONTRACTORS. 
Notwithstanding section 101 of division C of Public 
Law 115–245, section 735 of Division E of the Consoli-
dated Appropriations Act, 2019 shall have no force or ef-
fect during fiscal year 2019. 
Subtitle H—Limitation and Disclo-
sure Requirements for Presi-
dential Inaugural Committees 
SEC. 4701. SHORT TITLE. 
This subtitle may be cited as the ‘‘Presidential Inau-
gural Committee Oversight Act’’. 
SEC. 4702. LIMITATIONS AND DISCLOSURE OF CERTAIN DO-
NATIONS TO, AND DISBURSEMENTS BY, INAU-
GURAL COMMITTEES. 
(a) REQUIREMENTS
FOR
INAUGURAL
COMMIT-
TEES.—Title III of the Federal Election Campaign Act 
of 1971 (52 U.S.C. 30101 et seq.) is amended by adding 
at the end the following new section: 
‘‘SEC. 325. INAUGURAL COMMITTEES. 
‘‘(a) PROHIBITED DONATIONS.— 
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‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—It shall be unlawful— 
‘‘(A) for an Inaugural Committee— 
‘‘(i) to solicit, accept, or receive a do-
nation from a person that is not an indi-
vidual; or 
‘‘(ii) to solicit, accept, or receive a do-
nation from a foreign national; 
‘‘(B) for a person— 
‘‘(i) to make a donation to an Inau-
gural Committee in the name of another 
person, or to knowingly authorize his or 
her name to be used to effect such a dona-
tion; 
‘‘(ii) to knowingly accept a donation 
to an Inaugural Committee made by a per-
son in the name of another person; or 
‘‘(iii) to convert a donation to an In-
augural Committee to personal use as de-
scribed in paragraph (2); and 
‘‘(C) for a foreign national to, directly or 
indirectly, make a donation, or make an express 
or implied promise to make a donation, to an 
Inaugural Committee. 
‘‘(2) CONVERSION OF DONATION TO PERSONAL 
USE.—For purposes of paragraph (1)(B)(iii), a do-
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nation shall be considered to be converted to per-
sonal use if any part of the donated amount is used 
to fulfill a commitment, obligation, or expense of a 
person that would exist irrespective of the respon-
sibilities of the Inaugural Committee under chapter 
5 of title 36, United States Code. 
‘‘(3) NO EFFECT ON DISBURSEMENT OF UN-
USED
FUNDS
TO
NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATIONS.— 
Nothing in this subsection may be construed to pro-
hibit an Inaugural Committee from disbursing un-
used funds to an organization which is described in 
section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 
1986 and is exempt from taxation under section 
501(a) of such Code. 
‘‘(b) LIMITATION ON DONATIONS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—It shall be unlawful for an 
individual to make donations to an Inaugural Com-
mittee which, in the aggregate, exceed $50,000. 
‘‘(2) INDEXING.—At the beginning of each 
Presidential election year (beginning with 2024), the 
amount described in paragraph (1) shall be in-
creased by the cumulative percent difference deter-
mined in section 315(c)(1)(A) since the previous 
Presidential election year. If any amount after such 
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increase is not a multiple of $1,000, such amount 
shall be rounded to the nearest multiple of $1,000. 
‘‘(c) DISCLOSURE OF CERTAIN DONATIONS AND DIS-
BURSEMENTS.— 
‘‘(1) DONATIONS OVER $1,000.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—An Inaugural Com-
mittee shall file with the Commission a report 
disclosing any donation by an individual to the 
committee in an amount of $1,000 or more not 
later than 24 hours after the receipt of such do-
nation. 
‘‘(B) CONTENTS
OF
REPORT.—A report 
filed under subparagraph (A) shall contain— 
‘‘(i) the amount of the donation; 
‘‘(ii) the date the donation is received; 
and 
‘‘(iii) the name and address of the in-
dividual making the donation. 
‘‘(2) FINAL REPORT.—Not later than the date 
that is 90 days after the date of the Presidential in-
augural ceremony, the Inaugural Committee shall 
file with the Commission a report containing the fol-
lowing information: 
‘‘(A) For each donation of money or any-
thing of value made to the committee in an ag-
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gregate amount equal to or greater than 
$200— 
‘‘(i) the amount of the donation; 
‘‘(ii) the date the donation is received; 
and 
‘‘(iii) the name and address of the in-
dividual making the donation. 
‘‘(B) The total amount of all disburse-
ments, and all disbursements in the following 
categories: 
‘‘(i) Disbursements made to meet 
committee operating expenses. 
‘‘(ii) Repayment of all loans. 
‘‘(iii) Donation refunds and other off-
sets to donations. 
‘‘(iv) Any other disbursements. 
‘‘(C) The name and address of each per-
son— 
‘‘(i) to whom a disbursement in an ag-
gregate amount or value in excess of $200 
is made by the committee to meet a com-
mittee operating expense, together with 
date, amount, and purpose of such oper-
ating expense; 
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‘‘(ii) who receives a loan repayment 
from the committee, together with the date 
and amount of such loan repayment; 
‘‘(iii) who receives a donation refund 
or other offset to donations from the com-
mittee, together with the date and amount 
of such disbursement; and 
‘‘(iv) to whom any other disbursement 
in an aggregate amount or value in excess 
of $200 is made by the committee, to-
gether with the date and amount of such 
disbursement. 
‘‘(d) DEFINITIONS.—For purposes of this section: 
‘‘(1)(A) The term ‘donation’ includes— 
‘‘(i) any gift, subscription, loan, ad-
vance, or deposit of money or anything of 
value made by any person to the com-
mittee; or 
‘‘(ii) the payment by any person of 
compensation for the personal services of 
another person which are rendered to the 
committee without charge for any purpose. 
‘‘(B) The term ‘donation’ does not include the 
value of services provided without compensation by 
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any individual who volunteers on behalf of the com-
mittee. 
‘‘(2) The term ‘foreign national’ has the mean-
ing given that term by section 319(b). 
‘‘(3) The term ‘Inaugural Committee’ has the 
meaning given that term by section 501 of title 36, 
United States Code.’’. 
(b) CONFIRMING AMENDMENT RELATED
TO RE-
PORTING REQUIREMENTS.—Section 304 of the Federal 
Election Campaign Act (52 U.S.C. 30104) is amended— 
(1) by striking subsection (h); and 
(2) by redesignating subsection (i) as subsection 
(h). 
(c) CONFORMING AMENDMENT RELATED TO STATUS 
OF COMMITTEE.—Section 510 of title 36, United States 
Code, is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘§ 510. Disclosure of and prohibition on certain dona-
tions 
‘‘A committee shall not be considered to be the Inau-
gural Committee for purposes of this chapter unless the 
committee agrees to, and meets, the requirements of sec-
tion 325 of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971.’’. 
(d) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 
this Act shall apply with respect to Inaugural Committees 
established under chapter 5 of title 36, United States 
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Code, for inaugurations held in 2021 and any succeeding 
year. 
Subtitle I—Severability 
SEC. 4801. SEVERABILITY. 
If any provision of this title or amendment made by 
this title, or the application of a provision or amendment 
to any person or circumstance, is held to be unconstitu-
tional, the remainder of this title and amendments made 
by this title, and the application of the provisions and 
amendment to any person or circumstance, shall not be 
affected by the holding. 
TITLE V—CAMPAIGN FINANCE 
EMPOWERMENT 
Subtitle A—Findings Relating to Citizens United Decision 
Sec. 5001. Findings relating to Citizens United decision. 
Subtitle B—Congressional Elections 
Sec. 5100. Short title. 
PART 1—MY VOICE VOUCHER PILOT PROGRAM 
Sec. 5101. Establishment of pilot program. 
Sec. 5102. Voucher program described. 
Sec. 5103. Reports. 
Sec. 5104. Definitions. 
PART 2—SMALL DOLLAR FINANCING OF CONGRESSIONAL ELECTION 
CAMPAIGNS 
Sec. 5111. 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. 
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‘‘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. 
‘‘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. 5112. Contributions and expenditures by multicandidate and political 
party committees on behalf of participating candidates. 
Sec. 5113. Prohibiting use of contributions by participating candidates for pur-
poses other than campaign for election. 
Sec. 5114. Effective date. 
Subtitle C—Presidential Elections 
Sec. 5200. Short title. 
PART 1—PRIMARY ELECTIONS 
Sec. 5201. Increase in and modifications to matching payments. 
Sec. 5202. Eligibility requirements for matching payments. 
Sec. 5203. Repeal of expenditure limitations. 
Sec. 5204. Period of availability of matching payments. 
Sec. 5205. Examination and audits of matchable contributions. 
Sec. 5206. Modification to limitation on contributions for Presidential primary 
candidates. 
PART 2—GENERAL ELECTIONS 
Sec. 5211. Modification of eligibility requirements for public financing. 
Sec. 5212. Repeal of expenditure limitations and use of qualified campaign con-
tributions. 
Sec. 5213. Matching payments and other modifications to payment amounts. 
Sec. 5214. Increase in limit on coordinated party expenditures. 
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Sec. 5215. Establishment of uniform date for release of payments. 
Sec. 5216. Amounts in Presidential Election Campaign Fund. 
Sec. 5217. Use of general election payments for general election legal and ac-
counting compliance. 
PART 3—EFFECTIVE DATE 
Sec. 5221. Effective date. 
Subtitle D—Personal Use Services as Authorized Campaign Expenditures 
Sec. 5301. Short title. 
Sec. 5302. Treatment of payments for child care and other personal use serv-
ices as authorized campaign expenditure. 
Subtitle E—Severability 
Sec. 5401. Severability. 
Subtitle A—Findings Relating to 
Citizens United Decision 
SEC. 5001. FINDINGS RELATING TO CITIZENS UNITED DECI-
SION. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) The American Republic was founded on the 
principle that all people are created equal, with 
rights and responsibilities as citizens to vote, be rep-
resented, speak, debate, and participate in self-gov-
ernment on equal terms regardless of wealth. To se-
cure these rights and responsibilities, our Constitu-
tion not only protects the equal rights of all Ameri-
cans but also provides checks and balances to pre-
vent corruption and prevent concentrated power and 
wealth from undermining effective self-government. 
(2) The Supreme Court’s decisions in Citizens 
United v. Federal Election Commission, 558 U.S. 
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310 (2010) and McCutcheon v. FEC, 572 U.S. 185 
(2014), as well as other court decisions, erroneously 
invalidated even-handed rules about the spending of 
money in local, State, and Federal elections. These 
flawed decisions have empowered large corporations, 
extremely wealthy individuals, and special interests 
to dominate election spending, corrupt our politics, 
and degrade our democracy through tidal waves of 
unlimited and anonymous spending. These decisions 
also stand in contrast to a long history of efforts by 
Congress and the States to regulate money in poli-
tics to protect democracy, and they illustrate a trou-
bling deregulatory trend in campaign finance-related 
court decisions. Additionally, an unknown amount of 
foreign money continues to be spent in our political 
system as subsidiaries of foreign-based corporations 
and hostile foreign actors sometimes connected to 
nation-States work to influence our elections. 
(3) The Supreme Court’s misinterpretation of 
the Constitution to empower monied interests at the 
expense of the American people in elections has seri-
ously eroded over 100 years of congressional action 
to promote fairness and protect elections from the 
toxic influence of money. 
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(4) In 1907, Congress passed the Tillman Act 
in response to the concentration of corporate power 
in the post-Civil War Gilded Age. The Act prohibited 
corporations from making contributions in connec-
tion with Federal elections, aiming ‘‘not merely to 
prevent the subversion of the integrity of the elec-
toral process [but] . . . to sustain the active, alert 
responsibility of the individual citizen in a democ-
racy for the wise conduct of government’’. 
(5) By 1910, Congress began passing disclosure 
requirements and campaign expenditure limits, and 
dozens of States passed corrupt practices Acts to 
prohibit corporate spending in elections. States also 
enacted campaign spending limits, and some States 
limited the amount that people could contribute to 
campaigns. 
(6) In 1947, the Taft-Hartley Act prohibited 
corporations and unions from making campaign con-
tributions or other expenditures to influence elec-
tions. In 1962, a Presidential commission on election 
spending recommended spending limits and incen-
tives to increase small contributions from more peo-
ple. 
(7) The Federal Election Campaign Act of 
1971 (FECA), as amended in 1974, required disclo-
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sure of contributions and expenditures, imposed con-
tribution and expenditure limits for individuals and 
groups, set spending limits for campaigns, can-
didates, and groups, implemented a public funding 
system for Presidential campaigns, and created the 
Federal Election Commission to oversee and enforce 
the new rules. 
(8) In the wake of Citizens United and other 
damaging Federal court decisions, Americans have 
witnessed an explosion of outside spending in elec-
tions. Outside spending increased nearly 900 percent 
between the 2008 and 2016 Presidential election 
years. Indeed, the 2018 elections once again made 
clear the overwhelming political power of wealthy 
special interests, to the tune of over $5,000,000,000. 
And as political entities adapt to a post-Citizens 
United, post-McCutcheon landscape, these trends 
are getting worse, as evidenced by the experience in 
the 2018 midterm congressional elections, where 
outside spending more than doubled from the pre-
vious midterm cycle. 
(9) The torrent of money flowing into our polit-
ical system has a profound effect on the democratic 
process for everyday Americans, whose voices and 
policy preferences are increasingly being drowned 
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out by those of wealthy special interests. The more 
campaign cash from wealthy special interests can 
flood our elections, the more policies that favor those 
interests are reflected in the national political agen-
da. When it comes to policy preferences, our Na-
tion’s wealthiest tend to have fundamentally dif-
ferent views than do average Americans when it 
comes to issues ranging from unemployment benefits 
to the minimum wage to health care coverage. 
(10) The Court has tied the hands of Congress 
and the States, severely restricting them from set-
ting reasonable limits on campaign spending. For 
example, the Court has held that only the Govern-
ment’s interest in preventing quid pro quo corrup-
tion, like bribery, or the appearance of such corrup-
tion, can justify limits on campaign contributions. 
More broadly, the Court has severely curtailed at-
tempts to reduce the ability of the Nation’s wealthi-
est and most powerful to skew our democracy in 
their favor by buying outsized influence in our elec-
tions. Because this distortion of the Constitution has 
prevented truly meaningful regulation or reform of 
the way we finance elections in America, a constitu-
tional amendment is needed to achieve a democracy 
for all the people. 
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(11) Since the landmark Citizens United deci-
sion, 19 States and nearly 800 municipalities, in-
cluding large cities like New York, Los Angeles, Chi-
cago, and Philadelphia, have gone on record sup-
porting a constitutional amendment. Transcending 
political leanings and geographic location, voters in 
States and municipalities across the country that 
have placed amendment questions on the ballot have 
routinely supported these initiatives by considerably 
large margins. 
(12) At the same time millions of Americans 
have signed petitions, marched, called their Members 
of Congress, written letters to the editor, and other-
wise demonstrated their public support for a con-
stitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United 
that will allow Congress to reign in the outsized in-
fluence of unchecked money in politics. Dozens of 
organizations, representing tens of millions of indi-
viduals, have come together in a shared strategy of 
supporting such an amendment. 
(13) In order to protect the integrity of democ-
racy and the electoral process and to ensure political 
equality for all, the Constitution should be amended 
so that Congress and the States may regulate and 
set limits on the raising and spending of money to 
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influence elections and may distinguish between nat-
ural persons and artificial entities, like corporations, 
that are created by law, including by prohibiting 
such artificial entities from spending money to influ-
ence elections. 
Subtitle B—Congressional 
Elections 
SEC. 5100. SHORT TITLE. 
This subtitle may be cited as the ‘‘Government By 
the People Act of 2019’’. 
PART 1—MY VOICE VOUCHER PILOT PROGRAM 
SEC. 5101. ESTABLISHMENT OF PILOT PROGRAM. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Federal Election Com-
mission (hereafter in this part referred to as the ‘‘Commis-
sion’’) shall establish a pilot program under which the 
Commission shall select 3 eligible States to operate a 
voucher pilot program which is described in section 5102 
during the program operation period. 
(b) ELIGIBILITY OF STATES.—A State is eligible to 
be selected to operate a voucher pilot program under this 
part if, not later than 180 days after the beginning of the 
program application period, the State submits to the Com-
mission an application containing— 
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(1) information and assurances that the State 
will operate a voucher program which contains the 
elements described in section 5102(a); 
(2) information and assurances that the State 
will establish fraud prevention mechanisms described 
in section 5102(b); 
(3) information and assurances that the State 
will establish a commission to oversee and implement 
the program as described in section 5102(c); 
(4) information and assurances that the State 
will carry out a public information campaign as de-
scribed in section 5102(d); 
(5) information and assurances that the State 
will submit reports as required under section 5103; 
and 
(6) such other information and assurances as 
the Commission may require. 
(c) SELECTION OF PARTICIPATING STATES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after 
the beginning of the program application period, the 
Commission shall select the 3 States which will oper-
ate voucher pilot programs under this part. 
(2) CRITERIA.—In selecting States for the oper-
ation of the voucher pilot programs under this part, 
the Commission shall apply such criteria and metrics 
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374 
as the Commission considers appropriate to deter-
mine the ability of a State to operate the program 
successfully, and shall attempt to select States in a 
variety of geographic regions and with a variety of 
political party preferences. 
(3) NO SUPERMAJORITY REQUIRED FOR SELEC-
TION.—The selection of States by the Commission 
under this subsection shall require the approval of 
only half of the Members of the Commission. 
(d) DUTIES OF STATES DURING PROGRAM PREPARA-
TION PERIOD.—During the program preparation period, 
each State selected to operate a voucher pilot program 
under this part shall take such actions as may be nec-
essary to ensure that the State will be ready to operate 
the program during the program operation period, and 
shall complete such actions not later than 90 days before 
the beginning of the program operation period. 
(e) TERMINATION.—Each voucher pilot program 
under this part shall terminate as of the first day after 
the program operation period. 
(f) REIMBURSEMENT OF COSTS.—Upon receiving the 
report submitted by a State under section 5103(a) with 
respect to an election cycle, the Commission shall transmit 
a payment to the State in an amount equal to the reason-
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able costs incurred by the State in operating the voucher 
pilot program under this part during the cycle. 
SEC. 5102. VOUCHER PROGRAM DESCRIBED. 
(a) GENERAL ELEMENTS OF PROGRAM.— 
(1) ELEMENTS DESCRIBED.—The elements of a 
voucher pilot program operated by a State under 
this part are as follows: 
(A) The State shall provide each qualified 
individual upon the individual’s request with a 
voucher worth $25 to be known as a ‘‘My Voice 
Voucher’’ during the election cycle which will be 
assigned a routing number and which at the op-
tion of the individual will be provided in either 
paper or electronic form. 
(B) Using the routing number assigned to 
the My Voice Voucher, the individual may sub-
mit the My Voice Voucher in either electronic 
or paper form to qualified candidates for elec-
tion for the office of Representative in, or Dele-
gate or Resident Commissioner to, the Congress 
and allocate such portion of the value of the My 
Voice Voucher in increments of $5 as the indi-
vidual may select to any such candidate. 
(C) If the candidate transmits the My 
Voice Voucher to the Commission, the Commis-
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(b) FRAUD PREVENTION MECHANISM.—In addition 
to the elements described in subsection (a), a State oper-
ating a voucher pilot program under this part shall permit 
an individual to revoke a My Voice Voucher not later than 
2 days after submitting the My Voice Voucher to a can-
didate. 
(c) OVERSIGHT COMMISSION.—In addition to the ele-
ments described in subsection (a), a State operating a 
voucher pilot program under this part shall establish a 
commission or designate an existing entity to oversee and 
implement the program in the State, except that no such 
commission or entity may be comprised of elected officials. 
(d) PUBLIC INFORMATION CAMPAIGN.—In addition 
to the elements described in subsection (a), a State oper-
ating a voucher pilot program under this part shall carry 
out a public information campaign to disseminate aware-
ness of the program among qualified individuals. 
SEC. 5103. REPORTS. 
(a) PRELIMINARY
REPORT.—Not later than 6 
months after the first election cycle of the program oper-
ation period, a State which operates a voucher pilot pro-
gram under this part shall submit a report to the Commis-
sion analyzing the operation and effectiveness of the pro-
gram during the cycle and including such other informa-
tion as the Commission may require. 
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(b) FINAL REPORT.—Not later than 6 months after 
the end of the program operation period, the State shall 
submit a final report to the Commission analyzing the op-
eration and effectiveness of the program and including 
such other information as the Commission may require. 
(c) REPORT BY COMMISSION.—Not later than the 
end of the first election cycle which begins after the pro-
gram operation period, the Commission shall submit a re-
port to Congress which summarizes and analyzes the re-
sults of the voucher pilot program, and shall include in 
the report such recommendations as the Commission con-
siders appropriate regarding the expansion of the pilot 
program to all States and territories, along with such 
other recommendations and other information as the Com-
mission considers appropriate. 
SEC. 5104. DEFINITIONS. 
(a) ELECTION CYCLE.—In this part, the term ‘‘elec-
tion cycle’’ means the period beginning on the day after 
the date of the most recent regularly scheduled general 
election for Federal office and ending on the date of the 
next regularly scheduled general election for Federal of-
fice. 
(b) DEFINITIONS RELATING TO PERIODS.—In this 
part, the following definitions apply: 
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(1) PROGRAM APPLICATION PERIOD.—The term 
‘‘program application period’’ means the first elec-
tion cycle which begins after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act. 
(2) PROGRAM
PREPARATION
PERIOD.—The 
term ‘‘program preparation period’’ means the first 
election cycle which begins after the program appli-
cation period. 
(3) PROGRAM OPERATION PERIOD.—The term 
‘‘program operation period’’ means the first 2 elec-
tion cycles which begin after the program prepara-
tion period. 
PART 2—SMALL DOLLAR FINANCING OF 
CONGRESSIONAL ELECTION CAMPAIGNS 
SEC. 5111. BENEFITS AND ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS 
FOR CANDIDATES. 
The Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (52 
U.S.C. 30101 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end 
the following: 
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‘‘TITLE V—SMALL DOLLAR FI-
NANCING 
OF 
CONGRES-
SIONAL 
ELECTION 
CAM-
PAIGNS 
‘‘Subtitle A—Benefits 
‘‘SEC. 501. BENEFITS FOR PARTICIPATING CANDIDATES. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—If a candidate for election to the 
office of Representative in, or Delegate or Resident Com-
missioner to, the Congress is certified as a participating 
candidate under this title with respect to an election for 
such office, the candidate shall be entitled to payments 
as provided under this title. 
‘‘(b) AMOUNT OF PAYMENT.—The amount of a pay-
ment made under this title shall be equal to 600 percent 
of the amount of qualified small dollar contributions re-
ceived by the candidate since the most recent payment 
made to the candidate under this title during the election 
cycle, without regard to whether or not the candidate re-
ceived any of the contributions before, during, or after the 
Small Dollar Democracy qualifying period applicable to 
the candidate under section 511(c). 
‘‘(c) LIMIT
ON
AGGREGATE
AMOUNT
OF
PAY-
MENTS.—The aggregate amount of payments made to a 
participating candidate with respect to an election cycle 
under this title may not exceed 50 percent of the average 
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of the 20 greatest amounts of disbursements made by the 
authorized committees of any winning candidate for the 
office of Representative in, or Delegate or Resident Com-
missioner to, the Congress during the most recent election 
cycle, rounded to the nearest $100,000. 
‘‘SEC. 502. PROCEDURES FOR MAKING PAYMENTS. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall make a 
payment under section 501 to a candidate who is certified 
as a participating candidate upon receipt from the can-
didate of a request for a payment which includes— 
‘‘(1) a statement of the number and amount of 
qualified small dollar contributions received by the 
candidate since the most recent payment made to 
the candidate under this title during the election 
cycle; 
‘‘(2) a statement of the amount of the payment 
the candidate anticipates receiving with respect to 
the request; 
‘‘(3) a statement of the total amount of pay-
ments the candidate has received under this title as 
of the date of the statement; and 
‘‘(4) such other information and assurances as 
the Commission may require. 
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‘‘(b) RESTRICTIONS
ON
SUBMISSION
OF
RE-
QUESTS.—A candidate may not submit a request under 
subsection (a) unless each of the following applies: 
‘‘(1) The amount of the qualified small dollar 
contributions in the statement referred to in sub-
section (a)(1) is equal to or greater than $5,000, un-
less the request is submitted during the 30-day pe-
riod which ends on the date of a general election. 
‘‘(2) The candidate did not receive a payment 
under this title during the 7-day period which ends 
on the date the candidate submits the request. 
‘‘(c) TIME OF PAYMENT.—The Commission shall, in 
coordination with the Secretary of the Treasury, take such 
steps as may be necessary to ensure that the Secretary 
is able to make payments under this section from the 
Treasury not later than 2 business days after the receipt 
of a request submitted under subsection (a). 
‘‘SEC. 503. USE OF FUNDS. 
‘‘(a) USE OF FUNDS FOR AUTHORIZED CAMPAIGN 
EXPENDITURES.—A candidate shall use payments made 
under this title, including payments provided with respect 
to a previous election cycle which are withheld from remit-
tance to the Commission in accordance with section 
524(a)(2), only for making direct payments for the receipt 
of goods and services which constitute authorized expendi-
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tures (as determined in accordance with title III) in con-
nection with the election cycle involved. 
‘‘(b) PROHIBITING USE OF FUNDS FOR LEGAL EX-
PENSES, FINES, OR PENALTIES.—Notwithstanding title 
III, a candidate may not use payments made under this 
title for the payment of expenses incurred in connection 
with any action, claim, or other matter before the Commis-
sion or before any court, hearing officer, arbitrator, or 
other dispute resolution entity, or for the payment of any 
fine or civil monetary penalty. 
‘‘SEC. 504. QUALIFIED SMALL DOLLAR CONTRIBUTIONS DE-
SCRIBED. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—In this title, the term ‘qualified 
small dollar contribution’ means, with respect to a can-
didate and the authorized committees of a candidate, a 
contribution that meets the following requirements: 
‘‘(1) The contribution is in an amount that is— 
‘‘(A) not less than $1; and 
‘‘(B) not more than $200. 
‘‘(2)(A) The contribution is made directly by an 
individual to the candidate or an authorized com-
mittee of the candidate and is not— 
‘‘(i) forwarded from the individual making 
the contribution to the candidate or committee 
by another person; or 
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‘‘(ii) received by the candidate or com-
mittee with the knowledge that the contribution 
was made at the request, suggestion, or rec-
ommendation of another person. 
‘‘(B) In this paragraph— 
‘‘(i) the term ‘person’ does not include an 
individual (other than an individual described in 
section 304(i)(7) of the Federal Election Cam-
paign Act of 1971), a political committee of a 
political party, or any political committee which 
is not a separate segregated fund described in 
section 316(b) of the Federal Election Cam-
paign Act of 1971 and which does not make 
independent expenditures, does not engage in 
lobbying activity under the Lobbying Disclosure 
Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.), and is not 
established by, controlled by, or affiliated with 
a registered lobbyist under such Act, an agent 
of a registered lobbyist under such Act, or an 
organization which retains or employs a reg-
istered lobbyist under such Act; and 
‘‘(ii) a contribution is not ‘made at the re-
quest, suggestion, or recommendation of an-
other person’ solely on the grounds that the 
contribution is made in response to information 
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provided to the individual making the contribu-
tion by any person, so long as the candidate or 
authorized committee does not know the iden-
tity of the person who provided the information 
to such individual. 
‘‘(3) The individual who makes the contribution 
does not make contributions to the candidate or the 
authorized committees of the candidate with respect 
to the election involved in an aggregate amount that 
exceeds the amount described in paragraph (1)(B), 
or any contribution to the candidate or the author-
ized committees of the candidate with respect to the 
election involved that otherwise is not a qualified 
small dollar contribution. 
‘‘(b) TREATMENT OF MY VOICE VOUCHERS.—Any 
payment received by a candidate and the authorized com-
mittees of a candidate which consists of a My Voice 
Voucher under the Government By the People Act of 2019 
shall be considered a qualified small dollar contribution 
for purposes of this title, so long as the individual making 
the payment meets the requirements of paragraphs (2) 
and (3) of subsection (a). 
‘‘(c) RESTRICTION
ON
SUBSEQUENT
CONTRIBU-
TIONS.— 
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‘‘(1) PROHIBITING DONOR FROM MAKING SUB-
SEQUENT
NONQUALIFIED
CONTRIBUTIONS
DURING 
ELECTION CYCLE.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—An individual who 
makes a qualified small dollar contribution to a 
candidate or the authorized committees of a 
candidate with respect to an election may not 
make any subsequent contribution to such can-
didate or the authorized committees of such 
candidate with respect to the election cycle 
which is not a qualified small dollar contribu-
tion. 
‘‘(B) EXCEPTION FOR CONTRIBUTIONS TO 
CANDIDATES
WHO
VOLUNTARILY
WITHDRAW 
FROM PARTICIPATION DURING QUALIFYING PE-
RIOD.—Subparagraph (A) does not apply with 
respect to a contribution made to a candidate 
who, during the Small Dollar Democracy quali-
fying period described in section 511(c), sub-
mits a statement to the Commission under sec-
tion 513(c) to voluntarily withdraw from par-
ticipating in the program under this title. 
‘‘(2) 
TREATMENT
OF
SUBSEQUENT
NON-
QUALIFIED
CONTRIBUTIONS.—If, notwithstanding 
the prohibition described in paragraph (1), an indi-
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vidual who makes a qualified small dollar contribu-
tion to a candidate or the authorized committees of 
a candidate with respect to an election makes a sub-
sequent contribution to such candidate or the au-
thorized committees of such candidate with respect 
to the election which is prohibited under paragraph 
(1) because it is not a qualified small dollar con-
tribution, the candidate may take one of the fol-
lowing actions: 
‘‘(A) Not later than 2 weeks after receiving 
the contribution, the candidate may return the 
subsequent contribution to the individual. In 
the case of a subsequent contribution which is 
not a qualified small dollar contribution because 
the contribution fails to meet the requirements 
of paragraph (3) of subsection (a) (relating to 
the aggregate amount of contributions made to 
the candidate or the authorized committees of 
the candidate by the individual making the con-
tribution), the candidate may return an amount 
equal to the difference between the amount of 
the subsequent contribution and the amount de-
scribed in paragraph (1)(B) of subsection (a). 
‘‘(B) The candidate may retain the subse-
quent contribution, so long as not later than 2 
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weeks after receiving the subsequent contribu-
tion, the candidate remits to the Commission 
for deposit in the Freedom From Influence 
Fund under section 541 an amount equal to 
any payments received by the candidate under 
this title which are attributable to the qualified 
small dollar contribution made by the individual 
involved. 
‘‘(3) NO EFFECT ON ABILITY TO MAKE MUL-
TIPLE
CONTRIBUTIONS.—Nothing in this section 
may be construed to prohibit an individual from 
making multiple qualified small dollar contributions 
to any candidate or any number of candidates, so 
long as each contribution meets each of the require-
ments of paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) of subsection 
(a). 
‘‘(d) NOTIFICATION
REQUIREMENTS
FOR
CAN-
DIDATES.— 
‘‘(1) NOTIFICATION.—Each authorized com-
mittee of a candidate who seeks to be a participating 
candidate under this title shall provide the following 
information in any materials for the solicitation of 
contributions, including any internet site through 
which individuals may make contributions to the 
committee: 
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‘‘(A) A statement that if the candidate is 
certified as a participating candidate under this 
title, the candidate will receive matching pay-
ments in an amount which is based on the total 
amount of qualified small dollar contributions 
received. 
‘‘(B) A statement that a contribution 
which meets the requirements set forth in sub-
section (a) shall be treated as a qualified small 
dollar contribution under this title. 
‘‘(C) A statement that if a contribution is 
treated as qualified small dollar contribution 
under this title, the individual who makes the 
contribution may not make any contribution to 
the candidate or the authorized committees of 
the candidate during the election cycle which is 
not a qualified small dollar contribution. 
‘‘(2) ALTERNATIVE METHODS OF MEETING RE-
QUIREMENTS.—An authorized committee may meet 
the requirements of paragraph (1)— 
‘‘(A) by including the information de-
scribed in paragraph (1) in the receipt provided 
under section 512(b)(3) to a person making a 
qualified small dollar contribution; or 
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390 
‘‘(B) by modifying the information it pro-
vides to persons making contributions which is 
otherwise required under title III (including in-
formation it provides through the internet). 
‘‘Subtitle B—Eligibility and 
Certification 
‘‘SEC. 511. ELIGIBILITY. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—A candidate for the office of 
Representative in, or Delegate or Resident Commissioner 
to, the Congress is eligible to be certified as a participating 
candidate under this title with respect to an election if 
the candidate meets the following requirements: 
‘‘(1) The candidate files with the Commission a 
statement of intent to seek certification as a partici-
pating candidate. 
‘‘(2) The candidate meets the qualifying re-
quirements of section 512. 
‘‘(3) The candidate files with the Commission a 
statement certifying that the authorized committees 
of the candidate meet the requirements of section 
504(d). 
‘‘(4) Not later than the last day of the Small 
Dollar Democracy qualifying period, the candidate 
files with the Commission an affidavit signed by the 
candidate and the treasurer of the candidate’s prin-
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391 
cipal campaign committee declaring that the can-
didate— 
‘‘(A) has complied and, if certified, will 
comply with the contribution and expenditure 
requirements of section 521; 
‘‘(B) if certified, will run only as a partici-
pating candidate for all elections for the office 
that such candidate is seeking during that elec-
tion cycle; and 
‘‘(C) has either qualified or will take steps 
to qualify under State law to be on the ballot. 
‘‘(b) GENERAL ELECTION.—Notwithstanding sub-
section (a), a candidate shall not be eligible to be certified 
as a participating candidate under this title for a general 
election or a general runoff election unless the candidate’s 
party nominated the candidate to be placed on the ballot 
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 
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392 
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. 
‘‘(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 
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393 
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.— 
‘‘(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 
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394 
‘‘(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 
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 
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395 
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 
‘‘(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-
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396 
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. 
‘‘(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 
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397 
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 
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-
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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.— 
‘‘(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 
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399 
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.— 
‘‘(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; 
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400 
‘‘(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. 
‘‘(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 
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401 
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. 
‘‘(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 
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402 
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, 
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 
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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 
‘‘(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-
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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. 
‘‘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). 
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‘‘(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. 
‘‘(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-
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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-
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: 
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‘‘(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; 
‘‘(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. 
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‘‘(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 
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 
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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-
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’. 
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‘‘(b) AMOUNTS HELD BY FUND.—The Fund shall 
consist of the following amounts: 
‘‘(1) APPROPRIATED AMOUNTS.—Amounts ap-
propriated to the Fund, including trust fund 
amounts appropriated pursuant to applicable provi-
sions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. 
‘‘(2) OTHER
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); 
‘‘(C) section 544 (relating to violations); 
and 
‘‘(D) any other section of this Act. 
‘‘(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.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Amounts in the Fund shall 
be available without further appropriation or fiscal 
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year limitation to make payments to participating 
candidates as provided in this title. 
‘‘(2) INSUFFICIENT AMOUNTS.—Under regula-
tions established by the Commission, rules similar to 
the rules of section 9006(c) of the Internal Revenue 
Code of 1986 shall apply. 
‘‘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 
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; 
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‘‘(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-
ing the importance of voter involvement, the 
need to assure adequate incentives for partici-
pating, and fiscal responsibility, taking into 
consideration the number of primary and gen-
eral election participating candidates, the elec-
toral performance of those candidates, program 
cost, and any other information the Comptroller 
General determines is appropriate. 
‘‘(B) REVIEW
OF
PAYMENT
LEVELS.— 
Whether the totality of the amount of funds al-
lowed to be raised by participating candidates 
(including through qualified small dollar con-
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tributions) and payments under this title are 
sufficient for voters in each State to learn about 
the candidates to cast an informed vote, taking 
into account the historic amount of spending by 
winning candidates, media costs, primary elec-
tion dates, and any other information the 
Comptroller General determines is appropriate. 
‘‘(3) RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ADJUSTMENT OF 
AMOUNTS.—Based on the review conducted under 
subparagraph (A), the Comptroller General may rec-
ommend to Congress adjustments of the following 
amounts: 
‘‘(A) 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. 
‘‘(B) The maximum amount of payments a 
candidate may receive under this title. 
‘‘(b) REPORTS.—Not later than each June 1 which 
follows a regularly scheduled general election for Federal 
office for which payments were made under this title, the 
Comptroller General shall submit to the Committee on 
House Administration of the House of Representatives a 
report— 
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‘‘(1) containing an analysis of the review con-
ducted under subsection (a), including a detailed 
statement of Comptroller General’s findings, conclu-
sions, and recommendations based on such review, 
including any recommendations for adjustments of 
amounts described in subsection (a)(3); and 
‘‘(2) documenting, evaluating, and making rec-
ommendations relating to the administrative imple-
mentation and enforcement of the provisions of this 
title. 
‘‘(c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are nec-
essary to carry out the purposes of this subtitle. 
‘‘SEC. 543. ADMINISTRATION BY COMMISSION. 
‘‘The Commission shall prescribe regulations to carry 
out the purposes of this title, including regulations to es-
tablish procedures for— 
‘‘(1) verifying the amount of qualified small dol-
lar contributions with respect to a candidate; 
‘‘(2) effectively and efficiently monitoring and 
enforcing the limits on the raising of qualified small 
dollar contributions; 
‘‘(3) effectively and efficiently monitoring and 
enforcing the limits on the use of personal funds by 
participating candidates; and 
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‘‘(4) monitoring the use of allocations from the 
Freedom From Influence Fund established under 
section 541 and matching contributions under this 
title through audits of not fewer than 1⁄10 (or, in the 
case of the first 3 election cycles during which the 
program under this title is in effect, not fewer than 
1⁄3) of all participating candidates or other mecha-
nisms. 
‘‘SEC. 544. VIOLATIONS AND PENALTIES. 
‘‘(a) CIVIL PENALTY FOR VIOLATION OF CONTRIBU-
TION
AND EXPENDITURE REQUIREMENTS.—If a can-
didate who has been certified as a participating candidate 
accepts a contribution or makes an expenditure that is 
prohibited under section 521, the Commission may assess 
a civil penalty against the candidate in an amount that 
is not more than 3 times the amount of the contribution 
or expenditure. Any amounts collected under this sub-
section shall be deposited into the Freedom From Influ-
ence Fund established under section 541. 
‘‘(b) REPAYMENT FOR IMPROPER USE OF FREEDOM 
FROM INFLUENCE FUND.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—If the Commission deter-
mines that any payment made to a participating 
candidate was not used as provided for in this title 
or that a participating candidate has violated any of 
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the dates for remission of funds contained in this 
title, the Commission shall so notify the candidate 
and the candidate shall pay to the Fund an amount 
equal to— 
‘‘(A) the amount of payments so used or 
not remitted, as appropriate; and 
‘‘(B) interest on any such amounts (at a 
rate determined by the Commission). 
‘‘(2) OTHER
ACTION
NOT
PRECLUDED.—Any 
action by the Commission in accordance with this 
subsection shall not preclude enforcement pro-
ceedings by the Commission in accordance with sec-
tion 309(a), including a referral by the Commission 
to the Attorney General in the case of an apparent 
knowing and willful violation of this title. 
‘‘(c) PROHIBITING CANDIDATES SUBJECT TO CRIMI-
NAL PENALTY FROM QUALIFYING
AS PARTICIPATING 
CANDIDATES.—A candidate is not eligible to be certified 
as a participating candidate under this title with respect 
to an election if a penalty has been assessed against the 
candidate under section 309(d) with respect to any pre-
vious election. 
‘‘SEC. 545. APPEALS PROCESS. 
‘‘(a) REVIEW OF ACTIONS.—Any action by the Com-
mission in carrying out this title shall be subject to review 
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by the United States Court of Appeals for the District 
of Columbia upon petition filed in the Court not later than 
30 days after the Commission takes the action for which 
the review is sought. 
‘‘(b) PROCEDURES.—The provisions of chapter 7 of 
title 5, United States Code, apply to judicial review under 
this section. 
‘‘SEC. 546. INDEXING OF AMOUNTS. 
‘‘(a) INDEXING.—In any calendar year after 2024, 
section 315(c)(1)(B) shall apply to each amount described 
in subsection (b) in the same manner as such section ap-
plies to the limitations established under subsections 
(a)(1)(A), (a)(1)(B), (a)(3), and (h) of such section, ex-
cept that for purposes of applying such section to the 
amounts described in subsection (b), the ‘base period’ 
shall be 2024. 
‘‘(b) AMOUNTS DESCRIBED.—The amounts described 
in this subsection are as follows: 
‘‘(1) The amount referred to in section 
502(b)(1) (relating to the minimum amount of quali-
fied small dollar contributions included in a request 
for payment). 
‘‘(2) The amounts referred to in section 
504(a)(1) (relating to the amount of a qualified 
small dollar contribution). 
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‘‘(3) The amount referred to in section 
512(a)(2) (relating to the total dollar amount of 
qualified small dollar contributions). 
‘‘(4) The amount referred to in section 
521(a)(5) (relating to the aggregate amount of con-
tributions a participating candidate may accept from 
any individual with respect to an election). 
‘‘(5) The amount referred to in section 
521(b)(1)(A) (relating to the amount of personal 
funds that may be used by a candidate who is cer-
tified as a participating candidate). 
‘‘(6) The amounts referred to in section 
524(a)(2) (relating to the amount of unspent funds 
a candidate may retain for use in the next election 
cycle). 
‘‘(7) The amount referred to in section 
532(a)(3) (relating to the total dollar amount of 
qualified small dollar contributions for a candidate 
seeking an additional payment under subtitle D). 
‘‘(8) The amount referred to in section 533(b) 
(relating to the limit on the amount of an additional 
payment made to a candidate under subtitle D). 
‘‘SEC. 547. ELECTION CYCLE DEFINED. 
‘‘In this title, the term ‘election cycle’ means, with 
respect to an election for an office, the period beginning 
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on the day after the date of the most recent general elec-
tion for that office (or, if the general election resulted in 
a runoff election, the date of the runoff election) and end-
ing on the date of the next general election for that office 
(or, if the general election resulted in a runoff election, 
the date of the runoff election).’’. 
SEC. 5112. CONTRIBUTIONS AND EXPENDITURES BY MULTI-
CANDIDATE AND POLITICAL PARTY COMMIT-
TEES ON BEHALF OF PARTICIPATING CAN-
DIDATES. 
(a) AUTHORIZING CONTRIBUTIONS ONLY FROM SEP-
ARATE ACCOUNTS CONSISTING
OF QUALIFIED SMALL 
DOLLAR CONTRIBUTIONS.—Section 315(a) of the Federal 
Election Campaign Act of 1971 (52 U.S.C. 30116(a)) is 
amended by adding at the end the following new para-
graph: 
‘‘(9) In the case of a multicandidate political com-
mittee or any political committee of a political party, the 
committee may make a contribution to a candidate who 
is a participating candidate under title V with respect to 
an election only if the contribution is paid from a separate, 
segregated account of the committee which consists solely 
of contributions which meet the following requirements: 
‘‘(A) Each such contribution is in an amount 
which meets the requirements for the amount of a 
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qualified small dollar contribution under section 
504(a)(1) with respect to the election involved. 
‘‘(B) Each such contribution is made by an in-
dividual who is not otherwise prohibited from mak-
ing a contribution under this Act. 
‘‘(C) The individual who makes the contribution 
does not make contributions to the committee during 
the year in an aggregate amount that exceeds the 
limit described in section 504(a)(1).’’. 
(b) PERMITTING UNLIMITED COORDINATED EX-
PENDITURES FROM SMALL DOLLAR SOURCES BY POLIT-
ICAL PARTIES.—Section 315(d) of such Act (52 U.S.C. 
30116(d)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘The national 
committee’’ and inserting ‘‘Except as provided in 
paragraph (5), the national committee’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph: 
‘‘(5) The limits described in paragraph (3) do not 
apply in the case of expenditures in connection with the 
general election campaign of a candidate for the office of 
Representative in, or Delegate or Resident Commissioner 
to, the Congress who is a participating candidate under 
title V with respect to the election, but only if— 
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‘‘(A) the expenditures are paid from a separate, 
segregated account of the committee which is de-
scribed in subsection (a)(9); and 
‘‘(B) the expenditures are the sole source of 
funding provided by the committee to the can-
didate.’’. 
SEC. 5113. PROHIBITING USE OF CONTRIBUTIONS BY PAR-
TICIPATING 
CANDIDATES 
FOR 
PURPOSES 
OTHER THAN CAMPAIGN FOR ELECTION. 
Section 313 of the Federal Election Campaign Act 
of 1971 (52 U.S.C. 30114) is amended by adding at the 
end the following new subsection: 
‘‘(d) RESTRICTIONS ON PERMITTED USES OF FUNDS 
BY CANDIDATES RECEIVING SMALL DOLLAR FINANC-
ING.—Notwithstanding paragraph (2), (3), or (4) of sub-
section (a), if a candidate for election for the office of Rep-
resentative in, or Delegate or Resident Commissioner to, 
the Congress is certified as a participating candidate 
under title V with respect to the election, any contribution 
which the candidate is permitted to accept under such title 
may be used only for authorized expenditures in connec-
tion with the candidate’s campaign for such office, subject 
to section 503(b).’’. 
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SEC. 5114. EFFECTIVE DATE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—This part and the amendments 
made by this part shall apply with respect to elections oc-
curring during 2024 or any succeeding year, without re-
gard to whether or not the Federal Election Commission 
has promulgated the final regulations necessary to carry 
out this part and the amendments made by this part by 
the deadline set forth in subsection (b). 
(b) DEADLINE FOR REGULATIONS.—Not later than 
June 30, 2022, the Federal Election Commission shall 
promulgate such regulations as may be necessary to carry 
out this part and the amendments made by this part. 
Subtitle C—Presidential Elections 
SEC. 5200. SHORT TITLE. 
This subtitle may be cited as the ‘‘Empower Act of 
2019’’. 
PART 1—PRIMARY ELECTIONS 
SEC. 5201. INCREASE IN AND MODIFICATIONS TO MATCH-
ING PAYMENTS. 
(a) INCREASE AND MODIFICATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The first sentence of section 
9034(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is 
amended— 
(A) by striking ‘‘an amount equal to the 
amount of each contribution’’ and inserting ‘‘an 
amount equal to 600 percent of the amount of 
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each matchable contribution (disregarding any 
amount of contributions from any person to the 
extent that the total of the amounts contributed 
by such person for the election exceeds $200)’’; 
and 
(B) by striking ‘‘authorized committees’’ 
and all that follows through ‘‘$250’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘authorized committees’’. 
(2) 
MATCHABLE
CONTRIBUTIONS.—Section 
9034 of such Code is amended— 
(A) by striking the last sentence of sub-
section (a); and 
(B) by adding at the end the following new 
subsection: 
‘‘(c) MATCHABLE CONTRIBUTION DEFINED.—For 
purposes of this section and section 9033(b)— 
‘‘(1) MATCHABLE
CONTRIBUTION.—The term 
‘matchable contribution’ means, with respect to the 
nomination for election to the office of President of 
the United States, a contribution by an individual to 
a candidate or an authorized committee of a can-
didate with respect to which the candidate has cer-
tified in writing that— 
‘‘(A) the individual making such contribu-
tion has not made aggregate contributions (in-
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cluding such matchable contribution) to such 
candidate and the authorized committees of 
such candidate in excess of $1,000 for the elec-
tion; 
‘‘(B) such candidate and the authorized 
committees of such candidate will not accept 
contributions from such individual (including 
such matchable contribution) aggregating more 
than the amount described in subparagraph 
(A); and 
‘‘(C) such contribution was a direct con-
tribution. 
‘‘(2) CONTRIBUTION.—For purposes of this 
subsection, the term ‘contribution’ means a gift of 
money made by a written instrument which identi-
fies the individual making the contribution by full 
name and mailing address, but does not include a 
subscription, loan, advance, or deposit of money, or 
anything of value or anything described in subpara-
graph (B), (C), or (D) of section 9032(4). 
‘‘(3) DIRECT CONTRIBUTION.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—For purposes of this 
subsection, 
the 
term 
‘direct 
contribution’ 
means, with respect to a candidate, a contribu-
tion which is made directly by an individual to 
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the candidate or an authorized committee of the 
candidate and is not— 
‘‘(i) forwarded from the individual 
making the contribution to the candidate 
or committee by another person; or 
‘‘(ii) received by the candidate or com-
mittee with the knowledge that the con-
tribution was made at the request, sugges-
tion, or recommendation of another person. 
‘‘(B) OTHER
DEFINITIONS.—In subpara-
graph (A)— 
‘‘(i) the term ‘person’ does not include 
an individual (other than an individual de-
scribed in section 304(i)(7) of the Federal 
Election Campaign Act of 1971), a polit-
ical committee of a political party, or any 
political committee which is not a separate 
segregated 
fund 
described 
in 
section 
316(b) of the Federal Election Campaign 
Act of 1971 and which does not make 
independent expenditures, does not engage 
in lobbying activity under the Lobbying 
Disclosure Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1601 et 
seq.), and is not established by, controlled 
by, or affiliated with a registered lobbyist 
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under such Act, an agent of a registered 
lobbyist under such Act, or an organization 
which retains or employs a registered lob-
byist under such Act; and 
‘‘(ii) a contribution is not ‘made at 
the request, suggestion, or recommendation 
of another person’ solely on the grounds 
that the contribution is made in response 
to information provided to the individual 
making the contribution by any person, so 
long as the candidate or authorized com-
mittee does not know the identity of the 
person who provided the information to 
such individual.’’. 
(3) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 
(A) Section 9032(4) of such Code is 
amended by striking ‘‘section 9034(a)’’ and in-
serting ‘‘section 9034’’. 
(B) Section 9033(b)(3) of such Code is 
amended by striking ‘‘matching contributions’’ 
and inserting ‘‘matchable contributions’’. 
(b) MODIFICATION OF PAYMENT LIMITATION.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Section 9034(b) of such 
Code is amended— 
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(A) by striking ‘‘Every’’ and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Every’’, 
(2) by striking ‘‘shall not exceed’’ and all that 
follows 
and 
inserting 
‘‘shall 
not 
exceed 
$250,000,000.’’, and 
(3) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph: 
‘‘(3) INFLATION ADJUSTMENT.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—In the case of any ap-
plicable period beginning after 2025, the dollar 
amount in paragraph (1) shall be increased by 
an amount equal to— 
‘‘(i) such dollar amount, multiplied by 
‘‘(ii) the cost-of-living adjustment de-
termined under section 1(f)(3) for the cal-
endar year following the year which such 
applicable period begins, determined by 
substituting ‘calendar year 2024’ for ‘cal-
endar year 1992’ in subparagraph (B) 
thereof. 
‘‘(B) APPLICABLE PERIOD.—For purposes 
of this paragraph, the term ‘applicable period’ 
means the 4-year period beginning with the 
first day following the date of the general elec-
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tion for the office of President and ending on 
the date of the next such general election. 
‘‘(C) ROUNDING.—If any amount as ad-
justed under subparagraph (1) is not a multiple 
of $10,000, such amount shall be rounded to 
the nearest multiple of $10,000.’’. 
SEC. 5202. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR MATCHING 
PAYMENTS. 
(a) AMOUNT OF AGGREGATE CONTRIBUTIONS PER 
STATE; DISREGARDING OF AMOUNTS CONTRIBUTED IN 
EXCESS OF $200.—Section 9033(b)(3) of the Internal 
Revenue Code of 1986 is amended— 
(1) 
by 
striking 
‘‘$5,000’’ 
and 
inserting 
‘‘$25,000’’; and 
(2) by striking ‘‘20 States’’ and inserting the 
following: ‘‘20 States (disregarding any amount of 
contributions from any such resident to the extent 
that the total of the amounts contributed by such 
resident for the election exceeds $200)’’. 
(b) CONTRIBUTION LIMIT.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Paragraph (4) of section 
9033(b) of such Code is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(4) the candidate and the authorized commit-
tees of the candidate will not accept aggregate con-
tributions from any person with respect to the nomi-
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429 
nation for election to the office of President of the 
United States in excess of $1,000 for the election.’’. 
(2) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 
(A) Section 9033(b) of such Code is 
amended by adding at the end the following 
new flush sentence: 
‘‘For purposes of paragraph (4), the term ‘contribution’ 
has the meaning given such term in section 301(8) of the 
Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971.’’. 
(B) Section 9032(4) of such Code, as 
amended by section 1001(a)(3)(A) is amended 
by inserting ‘‘or 9033(b)’’ after ‘‘9034’’. 
(c) BAN ON ACCEPTANCE OF BUNDLED CONTRIBU-
TIONS.—Section 9033(b) of such Code, as amended by 
subsection (b), is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of paragraph 
(3); 
(2) by striking the period at the end of para-
graph (4) and inserting ‘‘, and’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph: 
‘‘(5) the candidate and the authorized com-
mittee of the candidate will not accept any contribu-
tion which is not a direct contribution (as defined in 
section 9034(c)(3)).’’. 
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(d) PARTICIPATION IN SYSTEM FOR PAYMENTS FOR 
GENERAL ELECTION.—Section 9033(b) of such Code, as 
amended by subsection (c), is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of paragraph 
(4); 
(2) by striking the period at the end of para-
graph (5) and inserting ‘‘, and’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph: 
‘‘(6) if the candidate is nominated by a political 
party for election to the office of President, the can-
didate will apply for and accept payments with re-
spect to the general election for such office in ac-
cordance with chapter 95.’’. 
SEC. 5203. REPEAL OF EXPENDITURE LIMITATIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subsection (a) of section 9035 of 
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended to read 
as follows: 
‘‘(a) PERSONAL EXPENDITURE LIMITATION.—No 
candidate shall knowingly make expenditures from his per-
sonal funds, or the personal funds of his immediate family, 
in connection with his campaign for nomination for elec-
tion to the office of President in excess of, in the aggre-
gate, $50,000.’’. 
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(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Paragraph (1) of 
section 9033(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is 
amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(1) the candidate will comply with the per-
sonal expenditure limitation under section 9035,’’. 
SEC. 5204. PERIOD OF AVAILABILITY OF MATCHING PAY-
MENTS. 
Section 9032(6) of the Internal Revenue Code of 
1986 is amended by striking ‘‘the beginning of the cal-
endar year in which a general election for the office of 
President of the United States will be held’’ and inserting 
‘‘the date that is 6 months prior to the date of the earliest 
State primary election’’. 
SEC. 5205. EXAMINATION AND AUDITS OF MATCHABLE CON-
TRIBUTIONS. 
Section 9038(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 
1986 is amended by inserting ‘‘and matchable contribu-
tions accepted by’’ after ‘‘qualified campaign expenses of’’. 
SEC. 5206. MODIFICATION TO LIMITATION ON CONTRIBU-
TIONS FOR PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY CAN-
DIDATES. 
Section 315(a)(6) of the Federal Election Campaign 
Act of 1971 (52 U.S.C. 30116(a)(6)) is amended by strik-
ing ‘‘calendar year’’ and inserting ‘‘four-year election 
cycle’’. 
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PART 2—GENERAL ELECTIONS 
SEC. 5211. MODIFICATION OF ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS 
FOR PUBLIC FINANCING. 
Subsection (a) of section 9003 of the Internal Rev-
enue Code of 1986 is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—In order to be eligible to receive 
any payments under section 9006, the candidates of a po-
litical party in a Presidential election shall meet the fol-
lowing requirements: 
‘‘(1) PARTICIPATION
IN
PRIMARY
PAYMENT 
SYSTEM.—The candidate for President received pay-
ments under chapter 96 for the campaign for nomi-
nation for election to be President. 
‘‘(2) AGREEMENTS
WITH
COMMISSION.—The 
candidates, in writing— 
‘‘(A) agree to obtain and furnish to the 
Commission such evidence as it may request of 
the qualified campaign expenses of such can-
didates, 
‘‘(B) agree to keep and furnish to the 
Commission such records, books, and other in-
formation as it may request, and 
‘‘(C) agree to an audit and examination by 
the Commission under section 9007 and to pay 
any amounts required to be paid under such 
section. 
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‘‘(3) BAN ON BUNDLED CONTRIBUTIONS.—The 
candidates certify to the Commission, under penalty 
of perjury and within such time prior to the day of 
the Presidential election as the Commission shall 
prescribe by rules or regulations, that the candidates 
and the authorized committees of such candidates 
will not accept any contribution which is not a direct 
contribution (as defined in section 9034(c)(3)).’’. 
SEC. 5212. REPEAL OF EXPENDITURE LIMITATIONS AND 
USE OF QUALIFIED CAMPAIGN CONTRIBU-
TIONS. 
(a) USE OF QUALIFIED CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS 
WITHOUT EXPENDITURE LIMITS; APPLICATION OF SAME 
REQUIREMENTS FOR MAJOR, MINOR, AND NEW PAR-
TIES.—Section 9003 of the Internal Revenue Code of 
1986 is amended by striking subsections (b) and (c) and 
inserting the following: 
‘‘(b) USE OF QUALIFIED CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS 
TO DEFRAY EXPENSES.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—In order to be eligible to 
receive any payments under section 9006, the can-
didates of a party in a Presidential election shall 
certify to the Commission, under penalty of perjury, 
that— 
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‘‘(A) such candidates and their authorized 
committees have not and will not accept any 
contributions to defray qualified campaign ex-
penses other than— 
‘‘(i) qualified campaign contributions, 
and 
‘‘(ii) contributions to the extent nec-
essary to make up any deficiency payments 
received out of the fund on account of the 
application of section 9006(c), and 
‘‘(B) such candidates and their authorized 
committees have not and will not accept any 
contribution to defray expenses which would be 
qualified campaign expenses but for subpara-
graph (C) of section 9002(11). 
‘‘(2) TIMING
OF
CERTIFICATION.—The can-
didate shall make the certification required under 
this subsection at the same time the candidate 
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, 
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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 
(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.— 
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(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 
redesignated by subparagraph (A), is amend-
ed— 
(i) by striking ‘‘a major party’’ and 
inserting ‘‘a party’’; 
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(ii) by inserting ‘‘qualified contribu-
tions and’’ after ‘‘contributions (other 
than’’; and 
(iii) by striking ‘‘(other than qualified 
campaign expenses with respect to which 
payment is required under paragraph 
(2))’’. 
(3) CRIMINAL PENALTIES.— 
(A) REPEAL OF PENALTY FOR EXCESS EX-
PENSES.—Section 9012 of the Internal Revenue 
Code of 1986 is amended by striking subsection 
(a). 
(B) PENALTY FOR ACCEPTANCE OF DIS-
ALLOWED
CONTRIBUTIONS; APPLICATION
OF 
SAME PENALTY FOR CANDIDATES OF MAJOR, 
MINOR, AND NEW PARTIES.—Subsection (b) of 
section 9012 of such Code is amended to read 
as follows: 
‘‘(b) CONTRIBUTIONS.— 
‘‘(1) ACCEPTANCE OF DISALLOWED CONTRIBU-
TIONS.—It shall be unlawful for an eligible can-
didate of a party in a Presidential election or any of 
his authorized committees knowingly and willfully to 
accept— 
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‘‘(A) any contribution other than a quali-
fied campaign contribution to defray qualified 
campaign expenses, except to the extent nec-
essary to make up any deficiency in payments 
received out of the fund on account of the ap-
plication of section 9006(c); or 
‘‘(B) any contribution to defray expenses 
which would be qualified campaign expenses but 
for subparagraph (C) of section 9002(11). 
‘‘(2) PENALTY.—Any person who violates para-
graph (1) shall be fined not more than $5,000, or 
imprisoned not more than one year, or both. In the 
case of a violation by an authorized committee, any 
officer or member of such committee who knowingly 
and willfully consents to such violation shall be fined 
not more than $5,000, or imprisoned not more than 
one year, or both.’’. 
SEC. 5213. MATCHING PAYMENTS AND OTHER MODIFICA-
TIONS TO PAYMENT AMOUNTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.— 
(1) AMOUNT OF PAYMENTS; APPLICATION OF 
SAME AMOUNT FOR CANDIDATES OF MAJOR, MINOR, 
AND NEW PARTIES.—Subsection (a) of section 9004 
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended to 
read as follows: 
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‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Subject to the provisions of this 
chapter, the eligible candidates of a party in a Presidential 
election shall be entitled to equal payment under section 
9006 in an amount equal to 600 percent of the amount 
of each matchable contribution received by such candidate 
or by the candidate’s authorized committees (disregarding 
any amount of contributions from any person to the extent 
that the total of the amounts contributed by such person 
for the election exceeds $200), except that total amount 
to which a candidate is entitled under this paragraph shall 
not exceed $250,000,000.’’. 
(2) REPEAL
OF
SEPARATE
LIMITATIONS
FOR 
CANDIDATES OF MINOR AND NEW PARTIES; INFLA-
TION ADJUSTMENT.—Subsection (b) of section 9004 
of such Code is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(b) INFLATION ADJUSTMENT.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—In the case of any applica-
ble period beginning after 2025, the $250,000,000 
dollar amount in subsection (a) shall be increased by 
an amount equal to— 
‘‘(A) such dollar amount; multiplied by 
‘‘(B) the cost-of-living adjustment deter-
mined under section 1(f)(3) for the calendar 
year following the year which such applicable 
period begins, determined by substituting ‘cal-
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endar year 2024’ for ‘calendar year 1992’ in 
subparagraph (B) thereof. 
‘‘(2) APPLICABLE
PERIOD.—For purposes of 
this subsection, the term ‘applicable period’ means 
the 4-year period beginning with the first day fol-
lowing the date of the general election for the office 
of President and ending on the date of the next such 
general election. 
‘‘(3) ROUNDING.—If any amount as adjusted 
under paragraph (1) is not a multiple of $10,000, 
such amount shall be rounded to the nearest mul-
tiple of $10,000.’’. 
(3) 
CONFORMING
AMENDMENT.—Section 
9005(a) of such Code is amended by adding at the 
end the following new sentence: ‘‘The Commission 
shall make such additional certifications as may be 
necessary to receive payments under section 9004.’’. 
(b) MATCHABLE CONTRIBUTION.—Section 9002 of 
such Code, as amended by section 5212(b), is amended 
by adding at the end the following new paragraph: 
‘‘(14) MATCHABLE CONTRIBUTION.—The term 
‘matchable contribution’ means, with respect to the 
election to the office of President of the United 
States, a contribution by an individual to a can-
didate or an authorized committee of a candidate 
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with respect to which the candidate has certified in 
writing that— 
‘‘(A) the individual making such contribu-
tion has not made aggregate contributions (in-
cluding such matchable contribution) to such 
candidate and the authorized committees of 
such candidate in excess of $1,000 for the elec-
tion; 
‘‘(B) such candidate and the authorized 
committees of such candidate will not accept 
contributions from such individual (including 
such matchable contribution) aggregating more 
than the amount described in subparagraph (A) 
with respect to such election; and 
‘‘(C) such contribution was a direct con-
tribution (as defined in section 9034(c)(3)).’’. 
SEC. 5214. INCREASE IN LIMIT ON COORDINATED PARTY 
EXPENDITURES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 315(d)(2) of the Federal 
Election Campaign Act of 1971 (52 U.S.C. 30116(d)(2)) 
is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(2)(A) The national committee of a political party 
may not make any expenditure in connection with the gen-
eral election campaign of any candidate for President of 
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the United States who is affiliated with such party which 
exceeds $100,000,000. 
‘‘(B) For purposes of this paragraph— 
‘‘(i) any expenditure made by or on behalf of a 
national committee of a political party and in con-
nection with a Presidential election shall be consid-
ered to be made in connection with the general elec-
tion campaign of a candidate for President of the 
United States who is affiliated with such party; and 
‘‘(ii) any communication made by or on behalf 
of such party shall be considered to be made in con-
nection with the general election campaign of a can-
didate for President of the United States who is af-
filiated with such party if any portion of the commu-
nication is in connection with such election. 
‘‘(C) Any expenditure under this paragraph shall be 
in addition to any expenditure by a national committee 
of a political party serving as the principal campaign com-
mittee of a candidate for the office of President of the 
United States.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS RELATING TO TIM-
ING OF COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 315(c)(1) of such 
Act (52 U.S.C. 30116(c)(1)) is amended— 
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(A) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘(d)’’ 
and inserting ‘‘(d)(2)’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following new 
subparagraph: 
‘‘(D) In any calendar year after 2024— 
‘‘(i) the dollar amount in subsection (d)(2) shall 
be increased by the percent difference determined 
under subparagraph (A); 
‘‘(ii) the amount so increased shall remain in 
effect for the calendar year; and 
‘‘(iii) if the amount after adjustment under 
clause (i) is not a multiple of $100, such amount 
shall be rounded to the nearest multiple of $100.’’. 
(2) BASE YEAR.—Section 315(c)(2)(B) of such 
Act (52 U.S.C. 30116(c)(2)(B)) is amended— 
(A) in clause (i)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘(d)’’ and inserting 
‘‘(d)(3)’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end; 
(B) in clause (ii), by striking the period at 
the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following new 
clause: 
‘‘(iii) for purposes of subsection (d)(2), cal-
endar year 2023.’’. 
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SEC. 5215. ESTABLISHMENT OF UNIFORM DATE FOR RE-
LEASE OF PAYMENTS. 
(a) DATE FOR PAYMENTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 9006(b) of the In-
ternal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended to read as 
follows: 
‘‘(b) PAYMENTS FROM THE FUND.—If the Secretary 
of the Treasury receives a certification from the Commis-
sion under section 9005 for payment to the eligible can-
didates of a political party, the Secretary shall pay to such 
candidates out of the fund the amount certified by the 
Commission on the later of— 
‘‘(1) the last Friday occurring before the first 
Monday in September; or 
‘‘(2) 24 hours after receiving the certifications 
for the eligible candidates of all major political par-
ties. 
Amounts paid to any such candidates shall be under the 
control of such candidates.’’. 
(2) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The first sen-
tence of section 9006(c) of such Code is amended by 
striking ‘‘the time of a certification by the Commis-
sion under section 9005 for payment’’ and inserting 
‘‘the time of making a payment under subsection 
(b)’’. 
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445 
(b) TIME FOR CERTIFICATION.—Section 9005(a) of 
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking 
‘‘10 days’’ and inserting ‘‘24 hours’’. 
SEC. 5216. AMOUNTS IN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION CAM-
PAIGN FUND. 
(a) DETERMINATION OF AMOUNTS IN FUND.—Sec-
tion 9006(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is 
amended by adding at the end the following new sentence: 
‘‘In making a determination of whether there are insuffi-
cient moneys in the fund for purposes of the previous sen-
tence, the Secretary shall take into account in determining 
the balance of the fund for a Presidential election year 
the Secretary’s best estimate of the amount of moneys 
which will be deposited into the fund during the year, ex-
cept that the amount of the estimate may not exceed the 
average of the annual amounts deposited in the fund dur-
ing the previous 3 years.’’. 
(b) SPECIAL RULE FOR FIRST CAMPAIGN CYCLE 
UNDER THIS ACT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 9006 of the Internal 
Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the 
end the following new subsection: 
‘‘(d) SPECIAL AUTHORITY TO BORROW.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding subsection 
(c), there are authorized to be appropriated to the 
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446 
fund, as repayable advances, such sums as are nec-
essary to carry out the purposes of the fund during 
the period ending on the first Presidential election 
occurring after the effective date of this subsection. 
‘‘(2) REPAYMENT OF ADVANCES.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Advances made to the 
fund shall be repaid, and interest on such ad-
vances shall be paid, to the general fund of the 
Treasury when the Secretary determines that 
moneys are available for such purposes in the 
fund. 
‘‘(B) RATE OF INTEREST.—Interest on ad-
vances made to the fund shall be at a rate de-
termined by the Secretary of the Treasury (as 
of the close of the calendar month preceding the 
month in which the advance is made) to be 
equal to the current average market yield on 
outstanding marketable obligations of the 
United States with remaining periods to matu-
rity comparable to the anticipated period during 
which the advance will be outstanding and shall 
be compounded annually.’’. 
(2) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made 
by this subsection shall take effect January 1, 2022. 
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SEC. 5217. USE OF GENERAL ELECTION PAYMENTS FOR 
GENERAL ELECTION LEGAL AND ACCOUNT-
ING COMPLIANCE. 
Section 9002(11) of the Internal Revenue Code of 
1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new 
sentence: ‘‘For purposes of subparagraph (A), an expense 
incurred by a candidate or authorized committee for gen-
eral election legal and accounting compliance purposes 
shall be considered to be an expense to further the election 
of such candidate.’’. 
PART 3—EFFECTIVE DATE 
SEC. 5221. EFFECTIVE DATE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Except as otherwise provided, this 
subtitle and the amendments made by this subtitle shall 
apply with respect to the Presidential election held in 2024 
and each succeeding Presidential election, without regard 
to whether or not the Federal Election Commission has 
promulgated the final regulations necessary to carry out 
this part and the amendments made by this part by the 
deadline set forth in subsection (b). 
(b) DEADLINE FOR REGULATIONS.—Not later than 
June 30, 2022, the Federal Election Commission shall 
promulgate such regulations as may be necessary to carry 
out this part and the amendments made by this part. 
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448 
Subtitle D—Personal Use Services 
as Authorized Campaign Ex-
penditures 
SEC. 5301. SHORT TITLE. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This subtitle may be cited as the 
‘‘Help America Run Act’’. 
SEC. 5302. TREATMENT OF PAYMENTS FOR CHILD CARE 
AND OTHER PERSONAL USE SERVICES AS AU-
THORIZED CAMPAIGN EXPENDITURE. 
(a) PERSONAL USE SERVICES AS AUTHORIZED CAM-
PAIGN EXPENDITURES.—Section 313 of the Federal Elec-
tion Campaign Act of 1971 (52 U.S.C. 30114), as amend-
ed by section 5113, is amended by adding at the end the 
following new subsection: 
‘‘(e) TREATMENT OF PAYMENTS FOR CHILD CARE 
AND OTHER PERSONAL USE SERVICES AS AUTHORIZED 
CAMPAIGN EXPENDITURE.— 
‘‘(1) AUTHORIZED EXPENDITURES.—For pur-
poses of subsection (a), the payment by an author-
ized committee of a candidate for any of the per-
sonal use services described in paragraph (2) shall 
be treated as an authorized expenditure if the serv-
ices are necessary to enable the participation of the 
candidate or staff of the committee (including un-
paid staff) in campaign-connected activities. 
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‘‘(2) PERSONAL USE SERVICES DESCRIBED.— 
The personal use services described in this para-
graph are as follows: 
‘‘(A) Child care services. 
‘‘(B) Elder care services. 
‘‘(C) Professional development services. 
‘‘(D) Payments of premiums, copayments, 
deductibles and other costs associated with 
health insurance coverage.’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 
this subtitle shall take effect on the date of the enactment 
of this Act. 
Subtitle E—Severability 
SEC. 5401. SEVERABILITY. 
If any provision of this title or amendment made by 
this title, or the application of a provision or amendment 
to any person or circumstance, is held to be unconstitu-
tional, the remainder of this title and amendments made 
by this title, and the application of the provisions and 
amendment to any person or circumstance, shall not be 
affected by the holding. 
TITLE VI—CAMPAIGN FINANCE 
OVERSIGHT 
Subtitle A—Restoring Integrity to America’s Elections 
Sec. 6001. Short title. 
Sec. 6002. Membership of Federal Election Commission. 
Sec. 6003. Assignment of powers to Chair of Federal Election Commission. 
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Sec. 6004. Revision to enforcement process. 
Sec. 6005. Permitting appearance at hearings on requests for advisory opinions 
by persons opposing the requests. 
Sec. 6006. Permanent extension of administrative penalty authority. 
Sec. 6007. Effective date; transition. 
Subtitle B—Stopping Super PAC-Candidate Coordination 
Sec. 6101. Short title. 
Sec. 6102. Clarification of treatment of coordinated expenditures as contribu-
tions to candidates. 
Sec. 6103. Clarification of ban on fundraising for super PACs by Federal can-
didates and officeholders. 
Subtitle C—Severability 
Sec. 6201. Severability. 
Subtitle A—Restoring Integrity to 
America’s Elections 
SEC. 6001. SHORT TITLE. 
This subtitle may be cited as the ‘‘Restoring Integrity 
to America’s Elections Act’’. 
SEC. 6002. MEMBERSHIP OF FEDERAL ELECTION COMMIS-
SION. 
(a) REDUCTION IN NUMBER OF MEMBERS; REMOVAL 
OF SECRETARY OF SENATE AND CLERK OF HOUSE AS 
EX OFFICIO MEMBERS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL; QUORUM.—Section 306(a)(1) 
of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (52 
U.S.C. 30106(a)(1)) is amended by striking the sec-
ond and third sentences and inserting the following: 
‘‘The Commission is composed of 5 members ap-
pointed by the President by and with the advice and 
consent of the Senate, of whom no more than 2 may 
be affiliated with the same political party. A major-
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451 
ity of the number of members of the Commission 
who are serving at the time shall constitute a 
quorum, except that 3 members shall constitute a 
quorum if there are 4 members serving at the 
time.’’. 
(2) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS RELATING TO 
REDUCTION
IN
NUMBER
OF
MEMBERS.—(A) The 
second sentence of section 306(c) of such Act (52 
U.S.C. 30106(c)) is amended by striking ‘‘affirma-
tive vote of 4 members of the Commission’’ and in-
serting ‘‘affirmative vote of a majority of the mem-
bers of the Commission who are serving at the 
time’’. 
(B) Such Act is further amended by striking 
‘‘affirmative vote of 4 of its members’’ and inserting 
‘‘affirmative vote of a majority of the members of 
the Commission who are serving at the time’’ each 
place it appears in the following sections: 
(i) 
Section 
309(a)(2) 
(52 
U.S.C. 
30109(a)(2)). 
(ii) Section 309(a)(4)(A)(i) (52 U.S.C. 
30109(a)(4)(A)(i)). 
(iii) Section 309(a)(5)(C) (52 U.S.C. 
30109(a)(5)(C)). 
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452 
(iv) Section 309(a)(6)(A) (52 U.S.C. 
30109(a)(6)(A)). 
(v) Section 311(b) (52 U.S.C. 30111(b)). 
(3) CONFORMING
AMENDMENT
RELATING
TO 
REMOVAL
OF
EX
OFFICIO
MEMBERS.—Section 
306(a) of such Act (52 U.S.C. 30106(a)) is amend-
ed by striking ‘‘(other than the Secretary of the Sen-
ate and the Clerk of the House of Representatives)’’ 
each place it appears in paragraphs (4) and (5). 
(b) TERMS OF SERVICE.—Section 306(a)(2) of such 
Act (52 U.S.C. 30106(a)(2)) is amended to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(2) TERMS OF SERVICE.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Each member of the 
Commission shall serve for a single term of 6 
years. 
‘‘(B) SPECIAL RULE FOR INITIAL APPOINT-
MENTS.—Of the members first appointed to 
serve terms that begin in January 2022, the 
President shall designate 2 to serve for a 3-year 
term. 
‘‘(C) NO REAPPOINTMENT PERMITTED.— 
An individual who served a term as a member 
of the Commission may not serve for an addi-
tional term, except that— 
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‘‘(i) an individual who served a 3-year 
term under subparagraph (B) may also be 
appointed to serve a 6-year term under 
subparagraph (A); and 
‘‘(ii) for purposes of this subpara-
graph, an individual who is appointed to 
fill a vacancy under subparagraph (D) 
shall not be considered to have served a 
term if the portion of the unexpired term 
the individual fills is less than 50 percent 
of the period of the term. 
‘‘(D) VACANCIES.—Any vacancy occurring 
in the membership of the Commission shall be 
filled in the same manner as in the case of the 
original appointment. Except as provided in 
subparagraph (C), an individual appointed to 
fill a vacancy occurring other than by the expi-
ration of a term of office shall be appointed 
only for the unexpired term of the member he 
or she succeeds. 
‘‘(E) LIMITATION ON SERVICE AFTER EX-
PIRATION OF TERM.—A member of the Com-
mission may continue to serve on the Commis-
sion after the expiration of the member’s term 
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454 
for an additional period, but only until the ear-
lier of— 
‘‘(i) the date on which the member’s 
successor has taken office as a member of 
the Commission; or 
‘‘(ii) the expiration of the 1-year pe-
riod that begins on the last day of the 
member’s term.’’. 
(c) QUALIFICATIONS.—Section 306(a)(3) of such Act 
(52 U.S.C. 30106(a)(3)) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(3) QUALIFICATIONS.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The President may 
select an individual for service as a member of 
the Commission if the individual has experience 
in election law and has a demonstrated record 
of integrity, impartiality, and good judgment. 
‘‘(B) ASSISTANCE OF BLUE RIBBON ADVI-
SORY PANEL.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—Prior to the regu-
larly scheduled expiration of the term of a 
member of the Commission and upon the 
occurrence of a vacancy in the membership 
of the Commission prior to the expiration 
of a term, the President shall convene a 
Blue Ribbon Advisory Panel, consisting of 
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455 
an odd number of individuals selected by 
the President from retired Federal judges, 
former law enforcement officials, or indi-
viduals with experience in election law, ex-
cept that the President may not select any 
individual to serve on the panel who holds 
any public office at the time of selection. 
‘‘(ii) RECOMMENDATIONS.—With re-
spect to each member of the Commission 
whose term is expiring or each vacancy in 
the membership of the Commission (as the 
case may be), the Blue Ribbon Advisory 
Panel shall recommend to the President at 
least one but not more than 3 individuals 
for nomination for appointment as a mem-
ber of the Commission. 
‘‘(iii) PUBLICATION.—At the time the 
President submits to the Senate the nomi-
nations for individuals to be appointed as 
members of the Commission, the President 
shall publish the Blue Ribbon Advisory 
Panel’s recommendations for such nomina-
tions. 
‘‘(iv) EXEMPTION FROM FEDERAL AD-
VISORY
COMMITTEE
ACT.—The Federal 
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456 
Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) 
does not apply to a Blue Ribbon Advisory 
Panel convened under this subparagraph. 
‘‘(C) PROHIBITING
ENGAGEMENT
WITH 
OTHER
BUSINESS
OR
EMPLOYMENT
DURING 
SERVICE.—A member of the Commission shall 
not engage in any other business, vocation, or 
employment. Any individual who is engaging in 
any other business, vocation, or employment at 
the time of his or her appointment to the Com-
mission shall terminate or liquidate such activ-
ity no later than 90 days after such appoint-
ment.’’. 
SEC. 6003. ASSIGNMENT OF POWERS TO CHAIR OF FED-
ERAL ELECTION COMMISSION. 
(a) APPOINTMENT OF CHAIR BY PRESIDENT.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Section 306(a)(5) of the 
Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (52 U.S.C. 
30106(a)(5)) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(5) CHAIR.— 
‘‘(A) 
INITIAL
APPOINTMENT.—Of 
the 
members first appointed to serve terms that 
begin in January 2022, one such member (as 
designated by the President at the time the 
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President submits nominations to the Senate) 
shall serve as Chair of the Commission. 
‘‘(B) SUBSEQUENT APPOINTMENTS.—Any 
individual who is appointed to succeed the 
member who serves as Chair of the Commission 
for the term beginning in January 2022 (as 
well as any individual who is appointed to fill 
a vacancy if such member does not serve a full 
term as Chair) shall serve as Chair of the Com-
mission. 
‘‘(C) VICE CHAIR.—The Commission shall 
select, by majority vote of its members, one of 
its members to serve as Vice Chair, who shall 
act as Chair in the absence or disability of the 
Chair or in the event of a vacancy in the posi-
tion of Chair.’’. 
(2) 
CONFORMING
AMENDMENT.—Section 
309(a)(2) of such Act (52 U.S.C. 30109(a)(2)) is 
amended by striking ‘‘through its chairman or vice 
chairman’’ and inserting ‘‘through the Chair’’. 
(b) POWERS.— 
(1) ASSIGNMENT
OF
CERTAIN
POWERS
TO 
CHAIR.—Section 307(a) of such Act (52 U.S.C. 
30107(a)) is amended to read as follows: 
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‘‘(a) DISTRIBUTION OF POWERS BETWEEN CHAIR 
AND COMMISSION.— 
‘‘(1) POWERS ASSIGNED TO CHAIR.— 
‘‘(A) 
ADMINISTRATIVE
POWERS.—The 
Chair of the Commission shall be the chief ad-
ministrative officer of the Commission and shall 
have the authority to administer the Commis-
sion and its staff, and (in consultation with the 
other members of the Commission) shall have 
the power— 
‘‘(i) to appoint and remove the staff 
director of the Commission; 
‘‘(ii) to request the assistance (includ-
ing personnel and facilities) of other agen-
cies and departments of the United States, 
whose heads may make such assistance 
available to the Commission with or with-
out reimbursement; and 
‘‘(iii) to prepare and establish the 
budget of the Commission and to make 
budget requests to the President, the Di-
rector of the Office of Management and 
Budget, and Congress. 
‘‘(B) OTHER POWERS.—The Chair of the 
Commission shall have the power— 
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‘‘(i) to appoint and remove the gen-
eral counsel of the Commission with the 
concurrence of at least 2 other members of 
the Commission; 
‘‘(ii) to require by special or general 
orders, any person to submit, under oath, 
such written reports and answers to ques-
tions as the Chair may prescribe; 
‘‘(iii) to administer oaths or affirma-
tions; 
‘‘(iv) to require by subpoena, signed 
by the Chair, the attendance and testimony 
of witnesses and the production of all doc-
umentary evidence relating to the execu-
tion of its duties; 
‘‘(v) in any proceeding or investiga-
tion, to order testimony to be taken by 
deposition before any person who is des-
ignated by the Chair, and shall have the 
power to administer oaths and, in such in-
stances, to compel testimony and the pro-
duction of evidence in the same manner as 
authorized under clause (iv); and 
‘‘(vi) to pay witnesses the same fees 
and mileage as are paid in like cir-
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460 
cumstances in the courts of the United 
States. 
‘‘(2) POWERS ASSIGNED TO COMMISSION.—The 
Commission shall have the power— 
‘‘(A) to initiate (through civil actions for 
injunctive, declaratory, or other appropriate re-
lief), defend (in the case of any civil action 
brought under section 309(a)(8) of this Act) or 
appeal any civil action in the name of the Com-
mission to enforce the provisions of this Act 
and chapter 95 and chapter 96 of the Internal 
Revenue Code of 1986, through its general 
counsel; 
‘‘(B) to render advisory opinions under 
section 308 of this Act; 
‘‘(C) to develop such prescribed forms and 
to make, amend, and repeal such rules, pursu-
ant to the provisions of chapter 5 of title 5, 
United States Code, as are necessary to carry 
out the provisions of this Act and chapter 95 
and chapter 96 of the Internal Revenue Code of 
1986; 
‘‘(D) to conduct investigations and hear-
ings expeditiously, to encourage voluntary com-
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461 
pliance, and to report apparent violations to the 
appropriate law enforcement authorities; and 
‘‘(E) to transmit to the President and Con-
gress not later than June 1 of each year a re-
port which states in detail the activities of the 
Commission in carrying out its duties under 
this Act, and which includes any recommenda-
tions for any legislative or other action the 
Commission considers appropriate. 
‘‘(3) PERMITTING
COMMISSION
TO
EXERCISE 
OTHER POWERS OF CHAIR.—With respect to any in-
vestigation, action, or proceeding, the Commission, 
by an affirmative vote of a majority of the members 
who are serving at the time, may exercise any of the 
powers of the Chair described in paragraph (1)(B).’’. 
(2) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS RELATING TO 
PERSONNEL
AUTHORITY.—Section 306(f) of such 
Act (52 U.S.C. 30106(f)) is amended— 
(A) by amending the first sentence of 
paragraph (1) to read as follows: ‘‘The Com-
mission shall have a staff director who shall be 
appointed by the Chair of the Commission in 
consultation with the other members and a gen-
eral counsel who shall be appointed by the 
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462 
Chair with the concurrence of at least two other 
members.’’; 
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘With 
the approval of the Commission’’ and inserting 
‘‘With the approval of the Chair of the Commis-
sion’’; and 
(C) by striking paragraph (3). 
(3) CONFORMING
AMENDMENT
RELATING
TO 
BUDGET
SUBMISSION.—Section 307(d)(1) of such 
Act (52 U.S.C. 30107(d)(1)) is amended by striking 
‘‘the Commission submits any budget’’ and inserting 
‘‘the Chair (or, pursuant to subsection (a)(3), the 
Commission) submits any budget’’. 
(4) OTHER CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—Sec-
tion 306(c) of such Act (52 U.S.C. 30106(c)) is 
amended by striking ‘‘All decisions’’ and inserting 
‘‘Subject to section 307(a), all decisions’’. 
(5) TECHNICAL AMENDMENT.—The heading of 
section 307 of such Act (52 U.S.C. 30107) is 
amended by striking ‘‘THE COMMISSION’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘THE CHAIR AND THE COMMISSION’’. 
SEC. 6004. REVISION TO ENFORCEMENT PROCESS. 
(a) STANDARD FOR INITIATING INVESTIGATIONS AND 
DETERMINING
WHETHER
VIOLATIONS
HAVE
OC-
CURRED.— 
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463 
(1) REVISION OF STANDARDS.—Section 309(a) 
of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (52 
U.S.C. 30109(a)) is amended by striking paragraphs 
(2) and (3) and inserting the following: 
‘‘(2)(A) The general counsel, upon receiving a com-
plaint filed with the Commission under paragraph (1) or 
upon the basis of information ascertained by the Commis-
sion in the normal course of carrying out its supervisory 
responsibilities, shall make a determination as to whether 
or not there is reason to believe that a person has com-
mitted, or is about to commit, a violation of this Act or 
chapter 95 or chapter 96 of the Internal Revenue Code 
of 1986, and as to whether or not the Commission should 
either initiate an investigation of the matter or that the 
complaint should be dismissed. The general counsel shall 
promptly provide notification to the Commission of such 
determination and the reasons therefore, together with 
any written response submitted under paragraph (1) by 
the person alleged to have committed the violation. Upon 
the expiration of the 30-day period which begins on the 
date the general counsel provides such notification, the 
general counsel’s determination shall take effect, unless 
during such 30-day period the Commission, by vote of a 
majority of the members of the Commission who are serv-
ing at the time, overrules the general counsel’s determina-
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464 
tion. If the determination by the general counsel that the 
Commission should investigate the matter takes effect, or 
if the determination by the general counsel that the com-
plaint should be dismissed is overruled as provided under 
the previous sentence, the general counsel shall initiate an 
investigation of the matter on behalf of the Commission. 
‘‘(B) If the Commission initiates an investigation 
pursuant to subparagraph (A), the Commission, through 
the Chair, shall notify the subject of the investigation of 
the alleged violation. Such notification shall set forth the 
factual basis for such alleged violation. The Commission 
shall make an investigation of such alleged violation, which 
may include a field investigation or audit, in accordance 
with the provisions of this section. The general counsel 
shall provide notification to the Commission of any intent 
to issue a subpoena or conduct any other form of discovery 
pursuant to the investigation. Upon the expiration of the 
15-day period which begins on the date the general counsel 
provides such notification, the general counsel may issue 
the subpoena or conduct the discovery, unless during such 
15-day period the Commission, by vote of a majority of 
the members of the Commission who are serving at the 
time, prohibits the general counsel from issuing the sub-
poena or conducting the discovery. 
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‘‘(3)(A) Upon completion of an investigation under 
paragraph (2), the general counsel shall promptly submit 
to the Commission the general counsel’s recommendation 
that the Commission find either that there is probable 
cause or that there is not probable cause to believe that 
a person has committed, or is about to commit, a violation 
of this Act or chapter 95 or chapter 96 of the Internal 
Revenue Code of 1986, and shall include with the rec-
ommendation a brief stating the position of the general 
counsel on the legal and factual issues of the case. 
‘‘(B) At the time the general counsel submits to the 
Commission the recommendation under subparagraph (A), 
the general counsel shall simultaneously notify the re-
spondent of such recommendation and the reasons there-
fore, shall provide the respondent with an opportunity to 
submit a brief within 30 days stating the position of the 
respondent on the legal and factual issues of the case and 
replying to the brief of the general counsel. The general 
counsel and shall promptly submit such brief to the Com-
mission upon receipt. 
‘‘(C) Not later than 30 days after the general counsel 
submits the recommendation to the Commission under 
subparagraph (A) (or, if the respondent submits a brief 
under subparagraph (B), not later than 30 days after the 
general counsel submits the respondent’s brief to the Com-
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466 
mission under such subparagraph), the Commission shall 
approve or disapprove the recommendation by vote of a 
majority of the members of the Commission who are serv-
ing at the time.’’. 
(2) CONFORMING
AMENDMENT
RELATING
TO 
INITIAL RESPONSE TO FILING OF COMPLAINT.—Sec-
tion 309(a)(1) of such Act (52 U.S.C. 30109(a)(1)) 
is amended— 
(A) in the third sentence, by striking ‘‘the 
Commission’’ and inserting ‘‘the general coun-
sel’’; and 
(B) by amending the fourth sentence to 
read as follows: ‘‘Not later than 15 days after 
receiving notice from the general counsel under 
the previous sentence, the person may provide 
the general counsel with a written response that 
no action should be taken against such person 
on the basis of the complaint.’’. 
(b) REVISION OF STANDARD FOR REVIEW OF DIS-
MISSAL OF COMPLAINTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 309(a)(8) of such 
Act (52 U.S.C. 30109(a)(8)) is amended to read as 
follows: 
‘‘(8)(A)(i) Any party aggrieved by an order of the 
Commission dismissing a complaint filed by such party 
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467 
after finding either no reason to believe a violation has 
occurred or no probable cause a violation has occurred 
may file a petition with the United States District Court 
for the District of Columbia. Any petition under this sub-
paragraph shall be filed within 60 days after the date on 
which the party received notice of the dismissal of the 
complaint. 
‘‘(ii) In any proceeding under this subparagraph, the 
court shall determine by de novo review whether the agen-
cy’s dismissal of the complaint is contrary to law. In any 
matter in which the penalty for the alleged violation is 
greater than $50,000, the court should disregard any 
claim or defense by the Commission of prosecutorial dis-
cretion as a basis for dismissing the complaint. 
‘‘(B)(i) Any party who has filed a complaint with the 
Commission and who is aggrieved by a failure of the Com-
mission, within one year after the filing of the complaint, 
to either dismiss the complaint or to find reason to believe 
a violation has occurred or is about to occur, may file a 
petition with the United States District Court for the Dis-
trict of Columbia. 
‘‘(ii) In any proceeding under this subparagraph, the 
court shall treat the failure to act on the complaint as 
a dismissal of the complaint, and shall determine by de 
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468 
novo review whether the agency’s failure to act on the 
complaint is contrary to law. 
‘‘(C) In any proceeding under this paragraph the 
court may declare that the dismissal of the complaint or 
the failure to act is contrary to law, and may direct the 
Commission to conform with such declaration within 30 
days, failing which the complainant may bring, in the 
name of such complainant, a civil action to remedy the 
violation involved in the original complaint.’’. 
(2) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made 
by paragraph (1) shall apply— 
(A) in the case of complaints which are 
dismissed by the Federal Election Commission, 
with respect to complaints which are dismissed 
on or after the date of the enactment of this 
Act; and 
(B) in the case of complaints upon which 
the Federal Election Commission failed to act, 
with respect to complaints which were filed on 
or after the date of the enactment of this Act. 
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469 
SEC. 6005. PERMITTING APPEARANCE AT HEARINGS ON RE-
QUESTS FOR ADVISORY OPINIONS BY PER-
SONS OPPOSING THE REQUESTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 308 of such Act (52 
U.S.C. 30108) is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing new subsection: 
‘‘(e) To the extent that the Commission provides an 
opportunity for a person requesting an advisory opinion 
under this section (or counsel for such person) to appear 
before the Commission to present testimony in support of 
the request, and the person (or counsel) accepts such op-
portunity, the Commission shall provide a reasonable op-
portunity for an interested party who submitted written 
comments under subsection (d) in response to the request 
(or counsel for such interested party) to appear before the 
Commission to present testimony in response to the re-
quest.’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by 
subsection (a) shall apply with respect to requests for advi-
sory opinions under section 308 of the Federal Election 
Campaign Act of 1971 which are made on or after the 
date of the enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 6006. PERMANENT EXTENSION OF ADMINISTRATIVE 
PENALTY AUTHORITY. 
(a) 
EXTENSION
OF
AUTHORITY.—Section 
309(a)(4)(C)(v) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 
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470 
1971 (52 U.S.C. 30109(a)(4)(C)(v)) is amended by strik-
ing ‘‘, and that end on or before December 31, 2018’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by 
subsection (a) shall take effect on December 31, 2018. 
SEC. 6007. EFFECTIVE DATE; TRANSITION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Except as otherwise provided, the 
amendments made by this subtitle shall apply beginning 
January 1, 2022. 
(b) TRANSITION.— 
(1) TERMINATION
OF
SERVICE
OF
CURRENT 
MEMBERS.—Notwithstanding any provision of the 
Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971, the term of 
any individual serving as a member of the Federal 
Election Commission as of December 31, 2021, shall 
expire on that date. 
(2) NO EFFECT ON EXISTING CASES OR PRO-
CEEDINGS.—Nothing in this subtitle or in any 
amendment made by this subtitle shall affect any of 
the powers exercised by the Federal Election Com-
mission prior to December 31, 2021, including any 
investigation initiated by the Commission prior to 
such date or any proceeding (including any enforce-
ment action) pending as of such date. 
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471 
Subtitle B—Stopping Super PAC- 
Candidate Coordination 
SEC. 6101. SHORT TITLE. 
This subtitle may be cited as the ‘‘Stop Super PAC– 
Candidate Coordination Act’’. 
SEC. 6102. CLARIFICATION OF TREATMENT OF COORDI-
NATED EXPENDITURES AS CONTRIBUTIONS 
TO CANDIDATES. 
(a) TREATMENT
AS
CONTRIBUTION
TO
CAN-
DIDATE.—Section 301(8)(A) of the Federal Election Cam-
paign Act of 1971 (52 U.S.C. 30101(8)(A)) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘or’’ at the end of clause (i); 
(2) by striking the period at the end of clause 
(ii) and inserting ‘‘; or’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following new 
clause: 
‘‘(iii) any payment made by any person 
(other than a candidate, an authorized com-
mittee of a candidate, or a political committee 
of a political party) for a coordinated expendi-
ture (as such term is defined in section 326) 
which is not otherwise treated as a contribution 
under clause (i) or clause (ii).’’. 
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472 
(b) DEFINITIONS.—Title III of such Act (52 U.S.C. 
30101 et seq.), as amended by section 4702(a), is amend-
ed by adding at the end the following new section: 
‘‘SEC. 326. PAYMENTS FOR COORDINATED EXPENDITURES. 
‘‘(a) COORDINATED EXPENDITURES.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—For purposes of section 
301(8)(A)(iii), the term ‘coordinated expenditure’ 
means— 
‘‘(A) any expenditure, or any payment for 
a covered communication described in sub-
section (d), which is made in cooperation, con-
sultation, or concert with, or at the request or 
suggestion of, a candidate, an authorized com-
mittee of a candidate, a political committee of 
a political party, or agents of the candidate or 
committee, as defined in subsection (b); or 
‘‘(B) any payment for any communication 
which republishes, disseminates, or distributes, 
in whole or in part, any video or broadcast or 
any written, graphic, or other form of campaign 
material prepared by the candidate or com-
mittee or by agents of the candidate or com-
mittee (including any excerpt or use of any 
video from any such broadcast or written, 
graphic, or other form of campaign material). 
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473 
‘‘(2) EXCEPTION FOR PAYMENTS FOR CERTAIN 
COMMUNICATIONS.—A payment for a communication 
(including a covered communication described in 
subsection (d)) shall not be treated as a coordinated 
expenditure under this subsection if— 
‘‘(A) the communication appears in a news 
story, commentary, or editorial distributed 
through the facilities of any broadcasting sta-
tion, newspaper, magazine, or other periodical 
publication, unless such facilities are owned or 
controlled by any political party, political com-
mittee, or candidate; or 
‘‘(B) the communication constitutes a can-
didate debate or forum conducted pursuant to 
regulations adopted by the Commission pursu-
ant to section 304(f)(3)(B)(iii), or which solely 
promotes such a debate or forum and is made 
by or on behalf of the person sponsoring the de-
bate or forum. 
‘‘(b) COORDINATION DESCRIBED.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—For purposes of this sec-
tion, a payment is made ‘in cooperation, consulta-
tion, or concert with, or at the request or suggestion 
of,’ a candidate, an authorized committee of a can-
didate, a political committee of a political party, or 
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474 
agents of the candidate or committee, if the pay-
ment, or any communication for which the payment 
is made, is not made entirely independently of the 
candidate, committee, or agents. For purposes of the 
previous sentence, a payment or communication not 
made entirely independently of the candidate or 
committee includes any payment or communication 
made pursuant to any general or particular under-
standing with, or pursuant to any communication 
with, the candidate, committee, or agents about the 
payment or communication. 
‘‘(2) NO
FINDING
OF
COORDINATION
BASED 
SOLELY ON SHARING OF INFORMATION REGARDING 
LEGISLATIVE OR POLICY POSITION.—For purposes 
of this section, a payment shall not be considered to 
be made by a person in cooperation, consultation, or 
concert with, or at the request or suggestion of, a 
candidate or committee, solely on the grounds that 
the person or the person’s agent engaged in discus-
sions with the candidate or committee, or with any 
agent of the candidate or committee, regarding that 
person’s position on a legislative or policy matter 
(including urging the candidate or committee to 
adopt that person’s position), so long as there is no 
communication between the person and the can-
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475 
didate or committee, or any agent of the candidate 
or committee, regarding the candidate’s or commit-
tee’s campaign advertising, message, strategy, pol-
icy, polling, allocation of resources, fundraising, or 
other campaign activities. 
‘‘(3) NO
EFFECT
ON
PARTY
COORDINATION 
STANDARD.—Nothing in this section shall be con-
strued to affect the determination of coordination 
between a candidate and a political committee of a 
political party for purposes of section 315(d). 
‘‘(4) NO
SAFE
HARBOR
FOR
USE
OF
FIRE-
WALL.—A person shall be determined to have made 
a payment in cooperation, consultation, or concert 
with, or at the request or suggestion of, a candidate 
or committee, in accordance with this section with-
out regard to whether or not the person established 
and used a firewall or similar procedures to restrict 
the sharing of information between individuals who 
are employed by or who are serving as agents for the 
person making the payment. 
‘‘(c) PAYMENTS BY COORDINATED SPENDERS FOR 
COVERED COMMUNICATIONS.— 
‘‘(1) PAYMENTS MADE IN COOPERATION, CON-
SULTATION, OR CONCERT WITH CANDIDATES.—For 
purposes of subsection (a)(1)(A), if the person who 
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476 
makes a payment for a covered communication, as 
defined in subsection (d), is a coordinated spender 
under paragraph (2) with respect to the candidate 
as described in subsection (d)(1), the payment for 
the covered communication is made in cooperation, 
consultation, or concert with the candidate. 
‘‘(2) COORDINATED SPENDER DEFINED.—For 
purposes of this subsection, the term ‘coordinated 
spender’ means, with respect to a candidate or an 
authorized committee of a candidate, a person (other 
than a political committee of a political party) for 
which any of the following applies: 
‘‘(A) During the 4-year period ending on 
the date on which the person makes the pay-
ment, the person was directly or indirectly 
formed or established by or at the request or 
suggestion of, or with the encouragement of, 
the candidate (including an individual who later 
becomes a candidate) or committee or agents of 
the candidate or committee, including with the 
approval of the candidate or committee or 
agents of the candidate or committee. 
‘‘(B) The candidate or committee or any 
agent of the candidate or committee solicits 
funds, appears at a fundraising event, or en-
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477 
gages in other fundraising activity on the per-
son’s behalf during the election cycle involved, 
including by providing the person with names of 
potential donors or other lists to be used by the 
person in engaging in fundraising activity, re-
gardless of whether the person pays fair market 
value for the names or lists provided. For pur-
poses of this subparagraph, the term ‘election 
cycle’ means, with respect to an election for 
Federal office, the period beginning on the day 
after the date of the most recent general elec-
tion for that office (or, if the general election 
resulted in a runoff election, the date of the 
runoff election) and ending on the date of the 
next general election for that office (or, if the 
general election resulted in a runoff election, 
the date of the runoff election). 
‘‘(C) The person is established, directed, or 
managed by the candidate or committee or by 
any person who, during the 4-year period end-
ing on the date on which the person makes the 
payment, has been employed or retained as a 
political, campaign media, or fundraising ad-
viser or consultant for the candidate or com-
mittee or for any other entity directly or indi-
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478 
rectly controlled by the candidate or committee, 
or has held a formal position with the candidate 
or committee (including a position as an em-
ployee of the office of the candidate at any time 
the candidate held any Federal, State, or local 
public office during the 4-year period). 
‘‘(D) The person has retained the profes-
sional services of any person who, during the 2- 
year period ending on the date on which the 
person makes the payment, has provided or is 
providing professional services relating to the 
campaign to the candidate or committee, with-
out regard to whether the person providing the 
professional services used a firewall. For pur-
poses of this subparagraph, the term ‘profes-
sional services’ includes any services in support 
of the candidate’s or committee’s campaign ac-
tivities, including advertising, message, strat-
egy, policy, polling, allocation of resources, 
fundraising, and campaign operations, but does 
not include accounting or legal services. 
‘‘(E) The person is established, directed, or 
managed by a member of the immediate family 
of the candidate, or the person or any officer or 
agent of the person has had more than inci-
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479 
dental discussions about the candidate’s cam-
paign with a member of the immediate family 
of the candidate. For purposes of this subpara-
graph, the term ‘immediate family’ has the 
meaning given such term in section 9004(e) of 
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. 
‘‘(d) COVERED COMMUNICATION DEFINED.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—For purposes of this sec-
tion, the term ‘covered communication’ means, with 
respect to a candidate or an authorized committee of 
a candidate, a public communication (as defined in 
section 301(22)) which— 
‘‘(A) expressly advocates the election of the 
candidate or the defeat of an opponent of the 
candidate (or contains the functional equivalent 
of express advocacy); 
‘‘(B) promotes or supports the candidate, 
or attacks or opposes an opponent of the can-
didate (regardless of whether the communica-
tion expressly advocates the election or defeat 
of a candidate or contains the functional equiv-
alent of express advocacy); or 
‘‘(C) refers to the candidate or an oppo-
nent of the candidate but is not described in 
subparagraph (A) or subparagraph (B), but 
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480 
only if the communication is disseminated dur-
ing the applicable election period. 
‘‘(2) APPLICABLE ELECTION PERIOD.—In para-
graph (1)(C), the ‘applicable election period’ with re-
spect to a communication means— 
‘‘(A) in the case of a communication which 
refers to a candidate in a general, special, or 
runoff election, the 120-day period which ends 
on the date of the election; or 
‘‘(B) in the case of a communication which 
refers to a candidate in a primary or preference 
election, or convention or caucus of a political 
party that has authority to nominate a can-
didate, the 60-day period which ends on the 
date of the election or convention or caucus. 
‘‘(3) SPECIAL RULES FOR COMMUNICATIONS IN-
VOLVING
CONGRESSIONAL
CANDIDATES.—For pur-
poses of this subsection, a public communication 
shall not be considered to be a covered communica-
tion with respect to a candidate for election for an 
office other than the office of President or Vice 
President unless it is publicly disseminated or dis-
tributed in the jurisdiction of the office the can-
didate is seeking. 
‘‘(e) PENALTY.— 
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481 
‘‘(1) DETERMINATION OF AMOUNT.—Any per-
son who knowingly and willfully commits a violation 
of this Act by making a contribution which consists 
of a payment for a coordinated expenditure shall be 
fined an amount equal to the greater of— 
‘‘(A) in the case of a person who makes a 
contribution which consists of a payment for a 
coordinated expenditure in an amount exceeding 
the applicable contribution limit under this Act, 
300 percent of the amount by which the 
amount of the payment made by the person ex-
ceeds such applicable contribution limit; or 
‘‘(B) in the case of a person who is prohib-
ited under this Act from making a contribution 
in any amount, 300 percent of the amount of 
the payment made by the person for the coordi-
nated expenditure. 
‘‘(2) JOINT AND SEVERAL LIABILITY.—Any di-
rector, manager, or officer of a person who is subject 
to a penalty under paragraph (1) shall be jointly and 
severally liable for any amount of such penalty that 
is not paid by the person prior to the expiration of 
the 1-year period which begins on the date the Com-
mission imposes the penalty or the 1-year period 
which begins on the date of the final judgment fol-
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482 
lowing any judicial review of the Commission’s ac-
tion, whichever is later.’’. 
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.— 
(1) REPEAL OF EXISTING REGULATIONS ON CO-
ORDINATION.—Effective upon the expiration of the 
90-day period which begins on the date of the enact-
ment of this Act— 
(A) the regulations on coordinated commu-
nications adopted by the Federal Election Com-
mission which are in effect on the date of the 
enactment of this Act (as set forth in 11 CFR 
Part 109, Subpart C, under the heading ‘‘Co-
ordination’’) are repealed; and 
(B) the Federal Election Commission shall 
promulgate new regulations on coordinated 
communications which reflect the amendments 
made by this Act. 
(2) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made 
by this section shall apply with respect to payments 
made on or after the expiration of the 120-day pe-
riod which begins on the date of the enactment of 
this Act, without regard to whether or not the Fed-
eral Election Commission has promulgated regula-
tions in accordance with paragraph (1)(B) as of the 
expiration of such period. 
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483 
SEC. 6103. CLARIFICATION OF BAN ON FUNDRAISING FOR 
SUPER PACS BY FEDERAL CANDIDATES AND 
OFFICEHOLDERS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 323(e)(1) of the Federal 
Election Campaign Act of 1971 (52 U.S.C. 30125(e)(1)) 
is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘or’’ at the end of subparagraph 
(A); 
(2) by striking the period at the end of sub-
paragraph (B) and inserting ‘‘; or’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following new sub-
paragraph: 
‘‘(C) solicit, receive, direct, or transfer 
funds to or on behalf of any political committee 
which accepts donations or contributions that 
do not comply with the limitations, prohibitions, 
and reporting requirements of this Act (or to or 
on behalf of any account of a political com-
mittee which is established for the purpose of 
accepting such donations or contributions), or 
to or on behalf of any political organization 
under section 527 of the Internal Revenue Code 
of 1986 which accepts such donations or con-
tributions (other than a committee of a State or 
local political party or a candidate for election 
for State or local office).’’. 
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484 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by 
subsection (a) shall apply with respect to elections occur-
ring after January 1, 2020. 
Subtitle C—Severability 
SEC. 6201. SEVERABILITY. 
If any provision of this title or amendment made by 
this title, or the application of a provision or amendment 
to any person or circumstance, is held to be unconstitu-
tional, the remainder of this title and amendments made 
by this title, and the application of the provisions and 
amendment to any person or circumstance, shall not be 
affected by the holding. 
DIVISION C—ETHICS 
TITLE VII—ETHICAL STANDARDS 
Subtitle A—Supreme Court Ethics 
Sec. 7001. Code of conduct for Federal judges. 
Subtitle B—Foreign Agents Registration 
Sec. 7101. Establishment of FARA investigation and enforcement unit within 
Department of Justice. 
Sec. 7102. Authority to impose civil money penalties. 
Sec. 7103. Disclosure of transactions involving things of financial value con-
ferred on officeholders. 
Subtitle C—Lobbying Disclosure Reform 
Sec. 7201. Expanding scope of individuals and activities subject to require-
ments of Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995. 
Subtitle D—Recusal of Presidential Appointees 
Sec. 7301. Recusal of appointees. 
Subtitle E—Severability 
Sec. 7401. Severability. 
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485 
Subtitle A—Supreme Court Ethics 
SEC. 7001. CODE OF CONDUCT FOR FEDERAL JUDGES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 57 of title 28, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘§ 964. Code of conduct 
‘‘Not later than one year after the date of the enact-
ment of this section, the Judicial Conference shall issue 
a code of conduct, which applies to each justice and judge 
of the United States, except that the code of conduct may 
include provisions that are applicable only to certain cat-
egories of judges or justices.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 
for chapter 57 of title 28, United States Code, is amended 
by adding after the item related to section 963 the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘964. Code of conduct.’’. 
Subtitle B—Foreign Agents 
Registration 
SEC. 7101. ESTABLISHMENT OF FARA INVESTIGATION AND 
ENFORCEMENT UNIT WITHIN DEPARTMENT 
OF JUSTICE. 
Section 8 of the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 
1938, as amended (22 U.S.C. 618) is amended by adding 
at the end the following new subsection: 
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‘‘(i) DEDICATED ENFORCEMENT UNIT.— 
‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 180 
days after the date of enactment of this subsection, 
the Attorney General shall establish a unit within 
the counterespionage section of the National Secu-
rity Division of the Department of Justice with re-
sponsibility for the enforcement of this Act. 
‘‘(2) POWERS.—The unit established under this 
subsection is authorized to— 
‘‘(A) take appropriate legal action against 
individuals suspected of violating this Act; and 
‘‘(B) coordinate any such legal action with 
the United States Attorney for the relevant ju-
risdiction. 
‘‘(3) CONSULTATION.—In operating the unit es-
tablished under this subsection, the Attorney Gen-
eral shall, as appropriate, consult with the Director 
of National Intelligence, the Secretary of Homeland 
Security, and the Secretary of State. 
‘‘(4) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.— 
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out 
the activities of the unit established under this sub-
section $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2019 and each 
succeeding fiscal year.’’. 
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487 
SEC. 7102. AUTHORITY TO IMPOSE CIVIL MONEY PEN-
ALTIES. 
(a) ESTABLISHING AUTHORITY.—Section 8 of the 
Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938, as amended (22 
U.S.C. 618) is amended by inserting after subsection (c) 
the following new subsection: 
‘‘(d) CIVIL MONEY PENALTIES.— 
‘‘(1) REGISTRATION
STATEMENTS.—Whoever 
fails to file timely or complete a registration state-
ment as provided under section 2(a) shall be subject 
to a civil money penalty of not more than $10,000 
per violation. 
‘‘(2) SUPPLEMENTS.—Whoever fails to file 
timely or complete supplements as provided under 
section 2(b) shall be subject to a civil money penalty 
of not more than $1,000 per violation. 
‘‘(3) OTHER VIOLATIONS.—Whoever knowingly 
fails to— 
‘‘(A) remedy a defective filing within 60 
days after notice of such defect by the Attorney 
General; or 
‘‘(B) comply with any other provision of 
this Act, 
shall upon proof of such knowing violation by a pre-
ponderance of the evidence, be subject to a civil 
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clude, for each covered contribution during the applicable 
period— 
‘‘(i) the date on which the covered contribution 
was made; 
‘‘(ii) if applicable, the date or dates on which 
the covered contribution was solicited; 
‘‘(iii) the value of the covered contribution; 
‘‘(iv) the name of the person making the cov-
ered contribution; and 
‘‘(v) the name of the person receiving the cov-
ered contribution. 
‘‘(B)(i) Subject to clause (ii), a covered contribution 
made by or on behalf of, or that was solicited in writing 
by or on behalf of, a covered individual shall constitute 
a conflict of interest, or an appearance thereof, with re-
spect to the official duties of the covered individual. 
‘‘(ii) The Director of the Office of Government Ethics 
may exempt a covered contribution from the application 
of clause (i) if the Director determines the circumstances 
of the solicitation and making of the covered contribution 
do not present a risk of a conflict of interest and the ex-
emption of the covered contribution would not affect ad-
versely the integrity of the Government or the public’s con-
fidence in the integrity of the Government. 
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