I
103D CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 3566
To amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 and related laws
to establish incentives to limit the cost of campaigns for the Congress,
and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
NOVEMBER 19, 1993
Mr. MEEHAN introduced the following bill; which was referred jointly to the
Committees on House Administration, Post Office and Civil Service, and
Energy and Commerce
A BILL
To amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 and
related laws to establish incentives to limit the cost of
campaigns for the Congress, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Comprehensive Cam-
paign Finance Reform Act’’.
TITLE I—EXPENDITURE LIMITA-
TIONS, CONTRIBUTION LIMI-
TATIONS, MATCHING FUNDS,
AND REDUCED THIRD-CLASS
MAIL 
RATE 
FOR 
ELIGIBLE
HOUSE 
OF 
REPRESENTA-
TIVES CANDIDATES
SEC. 101. NEW TITLE OF THE FEDERAL ELECTION CAM-
PAIGN ACT OF 1971.
The Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2
U.S.C. 431 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the
following:
‘‘TITLE V—EXPENDITURE LIMI-
TATIONS, 
CONTRIBUTION
LIMITATIONS, 
AND 
MATCH-
ING 
FUNDS 
FOR 
ELIGIBLE
HOUSE 
OF 
REPRESENTA-
TIVES CANDIDATES
‘‘SEC. 501. EXPENDITURE LIMITATIONS.
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—An eligible House of Representa-
tives candidate may not, in an election cycle, make expend-
itures aggregating more than $500,000.
‘‘(b) RUNOFF ELECTION AND SPECIAL ELECTION
AMOUNTS.—
‘‘(1) RUNOFF ELECTION AMOUNT.—In addition
to the expenditures under subsection (a), an eligible
House of Representatives candidate who is a can-
didate in a runoff election may make expenditures
aggregating not more than $100,000 in the general
election period.
‘‘(2) SPECIAL ELECTION AMOUNT.—An eligible
House of Representatives candidate who is a can-
didate in a special election may make expenditures
aggregating not more than $500,000 with respect to
the special election.
‘‘(c) CLOSELY CONTESTED PRIMARY.—If, as deter-
mined by the Commission, an eligible House of Represent-
atives candidate in a contested primary election wins that
primary election by a margin of 10 percent or less, subject
to the general election period limitation in subsection (a),
the candidate may make additional expenditures of not
more than $150,000 in the general election period. The
additional expenditures shall be from contributions de-
scribed in section 503(f) and payments described in sec-
tion 504(f).
‘‘(d) 
EXEMPTION
FOR
CERTAIN
COSTS
AND
TAXES.—Payments for legal and accounting compliance
costs and Federal and State taxes shall not be considered
in the computation of amounts subject to limitation under
this section.
‘‘(e) CIVIL PENALTIES.—
‘‘(1) LOW
AMOUNT
OF
EXCESS
EXPENDI-
TURES.—Any eligible House of Representatives can-
didate who makes expenditures that exceed a limita-
tion under subsection (a), (b), or (c) by 5 percent
or less shall pay to the Commission, for deposit in
the Make Democracy Work Fund, an amount equal
to the amount of the excess expenditures.
‘‘(2) MEDIUM AMOUNT OF EXCESS EXPENDI-
TURES.—Any eligible House of Representatives can-
didate who makes expenditures that exceed a limita-
tion under subsection (a), (b), or (c) by more than
5 percent and less than 10 percent shall pay to the
Commission, for deposit in the Make Democracy
Work Fund, an amount equal to three times the
amount of the excess expenditures.
‘‘(3) LARGE
AMOUNT
OF
EXCESS
EXPENDI-
TURES.—Any eligible House of Representatives can-
didate who makes expenditures that exceed a limita-
tion under subsection (a), (b), or (c) by 10 percent
or more shall pay to the Commission, for deposit in
the Make Democracy Work Fund, the amount of
matching payments received under section 504 and
an amount equal to three times the amount of the
excess expenditures plus a civil penalty in an amount
determined by the Commission.
‘‘(f) INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURES.—Any eligible
House of Representatives candidate who makes expendi-
tures that exceed a limitation under subsection (a), (b),
or (c) shall be considered to have made independent ex-
penditures within the meaning of section 301(17) for pur-
poses of section 304(d) of this Act and section 315(a) of
the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 315(a)).
‘‘(g) INDEXING.—The dollar amounts specified in
subsections (a), (b), and (c) shall be adjusted in the man-
ner provided in section 315(c), except that, for the pur-
poses of such adjustment, the base period shall be cal-
endar year 1994.
‘‘SEC. 502. STATEMENT OF PARTICIPATION; CONTINUING
ELIGIBILITY.
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall determine
whether a candidate is in compliance with this title and,
by reason of such compliance, is eligible to receive benefits
under this title. Such determination shall—
‘‘(1) in the case of an initial determination, be
based on a statement of participation submitted by
the candidate; and
‘‘(2) in the case of a determination of continu-
ing eligibility, be based on relevant additional infor-
mation submitted in such form and manner as the
Commission may require.
‘‘(b) FILING.—The statement of participation re-
ferred to in subsection (a) shall be filed not later than
January 31 of the election year or on the date on which
the candidate files a statement of candidacy, whichever is
later.
‘‘SEC. 503. CONTRIBUTION LIMITATIONS.
‘‘(a) ELIGIBLE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CAN-
DIDATE LIMITATION.—An eligible House of Representa-
tives candidate may not, with respect to an election cycle,
accept contributions aggregating in excess of $500,000.
‘‘(b) TRANSFER PROVISIONS.—
‘‘(1) If an eligible House of Representatives
candidate transfers any amount from an election
cycle to a later election cycle, the limitation with re-
spect to the candidate under subsection (a) for the
later cycle shall be an amount equal to the difference
between the amount specified in that subsection and
the amount transferred.
‘‘(2) If an eligible House of Representatives
candidate transfers any amount from an election
cycle to a later election cycle, each limitation with
respect to the candidate under section 315(i) for the
later cycle shall be one-third of the difference be-
tween the applicable amount specified in that sub-
section and the amount transferred.
‘‘(c) RUNOFF AMOUNT.—In addition to the contribu-
tions under subsection (a), an eligible House of Represent-
atives candidate who is a candidate in a runoff election
may accept contributions aggregating not more than
$100,000 in the general election period.
‘‘(d) CIVIL PENALTIES.—
‘‘(1) LOW
AMOUNT
OF
EXCESS
CONTRIBU-
TIONS.—Any eligible House of Representatives can-
didate who accepts contributions that exceed the lim-
itation under subsection (a) by 5 percent or less
shall refund the excess contributions to the persons
who made the contributions.
‘‘(2) MEDIUM AMOUNT OF EXCESS CONTRIBU-
TIONS.—Any eligible House of Representatives can-
didate who accepts contributions that exceed a limi-
tation under subsection (a) by more than 5 percent
and less than 10 percent shall pay to the Commis-
sion, for deposit in the Make Democracy Work
Fund, an amount equal to three times the amount
of the excess contributions.
‘‘(3) LARGE
AMOUNT
OF
EXCESS
CONTRIBU-
TIONS.—Any eligible House of Representatives can-
didate who accepts contributions that exceed a limi-
tation under subsection (a) by 10 percent or more
shall pay to the Commission, for deposit in the Make
Democracy Work Fund, the amount of matching
payments received under section 504 and an amount
equal to three times the amount of the excess con-
tributions plus a civil penalty in an amount deter-
mined by the Commission.
‘‘(e) 
EXEMPTION
FOR
CERTAIN
COSTS
AND
TAXES.—Any amount—
‘‘(1) accepted by a candidate for the office of
Representative in, or Delegate or Resident Commis-
sioner to the Congress; and
‘‘(2) used for legal and accounting compliance
costs and Federal and State taxes shall not be con-
sidered in the computation of amounts subject to
limitation under subsection (a).
‘‘(f) CLOSELY CONTESTED PRIMARY.—If, as deter-
mined by the Commission, an eligible House of Represent-
atives candidate in a contested primary election wins that
primary election by a margin of 10 percent or less, not-
withstanding the limitation in subsection (a), the can-
didate may, in the general election period, accept addi-
tional contributions of not more than $150,000.
‘‘(g) PERSONAL CONTRIBUTIONS.—An eligible House
of Representatives candidate who, with respect to an elec-
tion cycle, makes contributions to his or her own campaign
totaling more than $100,000 from the personal funds of
the candidate shall be considered to have made independ-
ent expenditures within the meaning of section 301(17)
for purposes of section 304(d) of this Act and section
315(a) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C.
315(a)).
‘‘(h) INDEXING.—The dollar amounts specified in
subsections (a), (c), (f), and (g) shall be adjusted in the
manner provided in section 315(c), except that, for the
purposes of such adjustment, the base period shall be cal-
endar year 1994.
‘‘SEC. 504. MATCHING FUNDS.
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—An eligible House of Representa-
tives candidate shall be entitled to receive, with respect
to the general election, an amount equal to the amount
of contributions from individuals received by the can-
didate.
‘‘(b) SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS.—A candidate for the
office of Representative in, or Delegate or Resident Com-
missioner to, the Congress may receive matching funds
under subsection (a) only if the candidate—
‘‘(1) in an election cycle, has received $50,000
in contributions from individuals, with not more
than $200 to be taken into account per individual;
‘‘(2) qualifies for the general election ballot;
‘‘(3) has an opponent on the general election
ballot; and
‘‘(4) files a statement of participation in which
the candidate agrees to—
‘‘(A) comply with the limitations under
sections 501 and 503;
‘‘(B) cooperate in the case of any audit by
the Commission by furnishing such campaign
records and other information as the Commis-
sion may require; and
‘‘(C) comply with any repayment require-
ment under section 505.
‘‘(c) WRITTEN INSTRUMENT REQUIREMENT.—No
contribution in any form other than a gift of money made
by a written instrument that identifies the individual mak-
ing the contribution may be used as a basis for any match-
ing payment under this section.
‘‘(d) MAKE DEMOCRACY WORK FUND.—There is es-
tablished in the Treasury a fund, to be known as the
‘Make Democracy Work Fund’, consisting of such
amounts as may be deposited under section 501, section
503, or provisions enacted pursuant to section 301 of the
Comprehensive Campaign Finance Reform Act. Amounts
in the fund shall be available without fiscal year limitation
for payment of matching funds under subsection (e) and
initial expenditures incurred by the Commission in the ad-
ministration of section 304(e) or 311(a)(11) of this Act.
‘‘(e) CERTIFICATION AND PAYMENT.—
‘‘(1) CERTIFICATION.—Except as provided in
paragraphs (2) and (3), not later than 5 days after
receiving a request for payment, the Commission
shall submit to the Secretary of the Treasury a cer-
tification for payment of the amount requested
under subsection (a) or (b).
‘‘(2) PAYMENTS.—The initial payment under
subsection (a) to an eligible candidate shall be
$50,000. All payments shall be—
‘‘(A) made not later than 48 hours after
certification under paragraph (1); and
‘‘(B) subject to proportional reduction in
the case of an insufficient balance in the Fund
established by subsection (d).
‘‘(3) INCORRECT REQUEST.—If the Commission
determines that any portion of a request is incorrect,
the Commission shall withhold the certification for
that portion only and inform the candidate as to
how the candidate may correct the request.
‘‘(f) CLOSELY CONTESTED PRIMARY.—If, as deter-
mined by the Commission, an eligible House of Represent-
atives candidate in a contested primary election wins that
primary election by a margin of 10 percent or less, the
candidate shall be entitled to matching funds totaling not
more than $50,000, in addition to any other amount re-
ceived under this section.
‘‘(g) INDEXING.—The dollar amounts specified in
subsections (a) and (b) (other than the amount in sub-
section (b) to be taken into account per individual), and
subsections (e) and (f) shall be adjusted in the manner
provided in section 315(c), except that, for the purposes
of such adjustment, the base period shall be calendar year
1994.
‘‘SEC. 505. EXAMINATION AND AUDITS; REPAYMENTS.
‘‘(a) GENERAL ELECTION.—After each general elec-
tion, the Commission shall conduct an examination and
audit of the campaign accounts of 10 percent of the eligi-
ble House of Representatives candidates, as designated by
the Commission through the use of an appropriate statis-
tical method of random selection, to determine whether
such candidates have complied with the conditions of eligi-
bility and other requirements of this title. No other factors
shall be considered in carrying out such an examination
and audit. In selecting the accounts to be examined and
audited, the Commission shall select all eligible candidates
from a congressional district where any eligible candidate
is selected for examination and audit.
‘‘(b) SPECIAL ELECTION.—After each special elec-
tion, the Commission shall conduct an examination and
audit of the campaign accounts of all eligible candidates
in the election to determine whether the candidates have
complied with the conditions of eligibility and other re-
quirements of this title.
‘‘(c) AFFIRMATIVE VOTE.—The Commission may
conduct an examination and audit of the campaign ac-
counts of any eligible House of Representatives candidate
in a general election if the Commission, by an affirmative
vote of 4 members, determines that there exists reason
to believe that such candidate has violated any provision
of this title.
‘‘(d) PAYMENTS.—If the Commission determines that
any amount of a payment to a candidate under this title
was in excess of the aggregate payments to which such
candidate was entitled, the Commission shall so notify the
candidate, and the candidate shall pay to the Secretary
an amount equal to the excess.
‘‘(e) DEPOSITS.—The Secretary shall deposit all pay-
ments received under this section in the Make Democracy
Work Fund.
‘‘SEC. 506. JUDICIAL REVIEW.
‘‘(a) JUDICIAL REVIEW.—Any agency action by the
Commission made under the provisions of this title shall
be subject to review by the United States Court of Appeals
for the District of Columbia Circuit upon petition filed in
such court within 30 days after the agency action by the
Commission for which review is sought.
‘‘(b) APPLICATION OF TITLE 5.—The provisions of
chapter 7 of title 5, United States Code, shall apply to
judicial review of any agency action by the Commission.
‘‘(c) AGENCY ACTION.—For purposes of this section,
the term ‘agency action’ has the meaning given such term
by section 551(13) of title 5, United States Code.
‘‘SEC. 507. PARTICIPATION BY COMMISSION IN JUDICIAL
PROCEEDINGS.
‘‘(a) APPEARANCES.—The Commission is authorized
to appear in and defend against any action instituted
under this section and under section 506 either by attor-
neys employed in its office or by counsel whom it may ap-
point without regard to the provisions of title 5, United
States Code, governing appointments in the competitive
service, and whose compensation it may fix without regard
to the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chap-
ter 53 of such title.
‘‘(b) INSTITUTION OF ACTIONS.—The Commission is
authorized, through attorneys and counsel described in
subsection (a), to institute actions in the district courts
of the United States to seek recovery of any amounts de-
termined under this title to be payable to the Secretary.
‘‘(c) APPEALS.—The Commission is authorized on
behalf of the United States to appeal from, and to petition
the Supreme Court for certiorari to review, judgments or
decrees entered with respect to actions in which it appears
pursuant to the authority provided in this section.
‘‘SEC. 508. REPORTS TO CONGRESS; CERTIFICATIONS; REG-
ULATIONS.
‘‘(a) REPORTS.—The Commission shall, as soon as
practicable after each election, submit a full report to the
House of Representatives setting forth—
‘‘(1) the expenditures (shown in such detail as
the Commission determines appropriate) made by
each eligible candidate and the authorized commit-
tees of such candidate;
‘‘(2) the aggregate amount of matching fund
payments certified by the Commission under section
504 for each eligible candidate;
under this title. No such rule, regulation, or form may
take effect until a period of 30 legislative days has elapsed
after the report is received. As used in this subsection—
‘‘(1) the term ‘legislative day’ means any cal-
endar day on which the House of Representatives is
in session; and
‘‘(2) the terms ‘rule’ and ‘regulation’ mean a
provision or series of interrelated provisions stating
a single, separable rule of law.
‘‘SEC. 509. CLOSED CAPTIONING REQUIREMENT FOR TELE-
VISION COMMERCIALS OF ELIGIBLE HOUSE
OF REPRESENTATIVES CANDIDATES.
‘‘No eligible House of Representatives candidate may
receive amounts from the Make Democracy Work Fund
unless such candidate has certified that any television
commercial prepared or distributed by the candidate will
be prepared in a manner that contains, is accompanied
by, or otherwise readily permits closed captioning of the
oral content of the commercial to be broadcast by way of
line 21 of the vertical blanking interval, or by way of com-
parable successor technologies.’’.
SEC. 102. DEFINITIONS.
Section 301 of the Federal Election Campaign Act
of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 431) is amended by striking paragraph
(19) and inserting the following:
‘‘(19) The term ‘eligible House of Representatives
candidate’ means a candidate for election to the office of
Representative in, or Delegate or Resident Commissioner
to, the Congress, who, as determined by the Commission
under section 502, is eligible to receive matching payments
and other benefits under title V by reason of filing a state-
ment of participation and complying with the continuing
eligibility requirements under section 502.
‘‘(20) The term ‘general election period’ means, with
respect to any candidate, the period beginning on the day
after the date of the primary election for the specific office
the candidate is seeking, whichever is later, and ending
on the earlier of—
‘‘(A) the date of such general election; or
‘‘(B) the date on which the candidate withdraws
from the campaign or otherwise ceases actively to
seek election.
‘‘(21) The term ‘election cycle’ means—
‘‘(A) in the case of a candidate or the author-
ized committees of a candidate, the term beginning
on the day after the date of the most recent general
election for the specific office or seat which such
candidate seeks and ending on the date of the next
general election for such office or seat; or
‘‘(B) for all other persons, the term beginning
on the first day following the date of the last general
election and ending on the date of the next general
election.’’.
SEC. 103. EXTENSION OF REDUCED THIRD-CLASS MAILING
RATES TO ELIGIBLE HOUSE OF REPRESENTA-
TIVES CANDIDATES.
Section 3626(e) of title 39, United States Code, is
amended—
(1) in paragraph (2)(A)—
(A) by striking ‘‘and the National’’ and in-
serting ‘‘the National’’; and
(B) by striking ‘‘Committee;’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘Committee, and, subject to paragraph (3),
the principal campaign committee of an eligible
House of Representatives candidate;’’;
(2) in paragraph (2)(B), by striking ‘‘and’’
after the semicolon;
(3) in paragraph (2)(C), by striking the period
and inserting ‘‘; and’’;
(4) by adding after paragraph (2)(C) the fol-
lowing:
‘‘(D) the terms ‘eligible House of Representa-
tives candidate’ and ‘principal campaign committee’
have the meanings given those terms in section 301
of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971.’’;
and
(5) by adding after paragraph (2) the following:
‘‘(3) The rate made available under this subsection
with respect to an eligible House of Representatives can-
didate shall apply only to—
‘‘(A) the general election period (as defined in
section 301 of the Federal Election Campaign Act of
1971); and
‘‘(B) that number of pieces of mail equal to 3
times the number of individuals in the voting age
population of the congressional district (as certified
under section 315(e) of such Act).’’.
TITLE 
II—ELIMINATION 
OF
MULTICANDIDATE POLITICAL
COMMITTEE CONTRIBUTIONS
IN HOUSE OF REPRESENTA-
TIVES 
ELECTIONS; 
MIS-
CELLANEOUS 
PROVISIONS
RELATING 
TO 
CONTRIBU-
TIONS UNDER THE FEDERAL
ELECTION CAMPAIGN ACT OF
1971
SEC. 201. ELIMINATION OF MULTICANDIDATE POLITICAL
COMMITTEE CONTRIBUTIONS IN HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES ELECTIONS.
Section 315 of the Federal Election Campaign Act
of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 441a) is amended by adding at the end
the following:
‘‘(i)(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this
Act, no candidate for the office of Representative in, or
Delegate or Resident Commissioner to, the Congress may
accept any contribution from a multicandidate political
committee.
‘‘(2) As used in this subsection, the term
‘multicandidate political committee’ has the meaning given
that term in subsection (a)(4).’’.
a political party (including any subordinate committee of
such committee), if such contribution, when added to the
total of contributions previously accepted from all such
committees of that political party, exceeds a limitation on
contributions to a candidate under this section.’’.
SEC. 204. LIMITED EXCLUSION OF ADVANCES BY CAM-
PAIGN WORKERS FROM THE DEFINITION OF
THE TERM ‘‘CONTRIBUTION’’.
Section 301(8)(B) of the Federal Election Campaign
Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 431(8)(B)) is amended—
(1) in clause (xiii), by striking ‘‘and’’ after the
semicolon at the end;
(2) in clause (xiv), by striking the period at the
end and inserting the following: ‘‘; and’’; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(xv) any advance voluntarily made on behalf of
an authorized committee of a candidate by an indi-
vidual in the normal course of such individual’s re-
sponsibilities as a volunteer for, or employee of, the
committee, if the advance is reimbursed by the com-
mittee within 60 days after the date on which the
advance is made, and the value of advances on be-
half of a committee does not exceed $1,000 with re-
spect to an election.’’.
SEC. 205. REDUCTION IN LIMITATION AMOUNT FOR CON-
TRIBUTIONS TO CANDIDATES FOR FEDERAL
OFFICE 
BY 
PERSONS 
OTHER 
THAN
MULTICANDIDATE POLITICAL COMMITTEES.
Section 315(a)(1)(A) of the Federal Election Cam-
paign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 441a(a)(1)(A)) is amended
by striking ‘‘$1,000’’ and inserting ‘‘$500’’.
TITLE III—REQUIREMENT OF
BUDGET NEUTRALITY
SEC. 301. REQUIREMENT OF BUDGET NEUTRALITY.
(a) CONDITIONAL PAY-AS-YOU-GO ESTIMATE.—To
achieve the purpose of subsection (b), an estimate shall
be made of the net ‘‘pay-as-you-go’’ costs of this Act as-
suming its preceding sections become effective. That esti-
mate shall be made under the procedures specified in sec-
tion 252(d) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Defi-
cit Control Act of 1985 (hereinafter referred to as the Def-
icit Control Act) but shall not be considered to be an esti-
mate required by that section. Until and unless this sub-
section is superseded by subsection (c), no net costs other-
wise attributable to this Act shall be included in any docu-
ments required under the Deficit Control Act.
(b) ALL COSTS MUST BE FULLY OFFSET BY JANU-
ARY 1, 1994.—The provisions of section 504 of the Fed-
eral Election Campaign Act of 1971, as added by section
101 of this Act, shall not become effective unless, on Janu-
ary 1, 1994, it is determined that each of the following
three conditions has been met:
(1) Provisions to raise revenues or reduce
spending, such as—
(A) limiting the business tax deductibility
of amounts spent in lobbying the Government
of the United States have been enacted;
(B) establishing a Federal Election Com-
mission registration fee on political committees
have been enacted; or
(C) allowing the ‘‘Make Democracy Work’’
fund to receive funds voluntarily contributed by
individuals or organizations have been enacted.
(2) The statute enacting any provision referred
to in paragraph (1) states that the provision has
been enacted for the purpose of effectuating this
Act.
(3) The savings from provisions under para-
graphs (1) and (2), estimated under the procedures
specified in section 252(d) of the Deficit Control Act
at the time of their enactment, are as great or great-
er in both fiscal years 1995 and 1996 than the net
costs of this Act in each such year conditionally esti-
mated under subsection (a).
(c) ADDITION OF ESTIMATED NET COSTS TO THE
PAY-AS-YOU-GO SCORECARD.—If, on January 1, 1994, it
is determined that the costs of this Act have been fully
offset as specified in subsection (b), so that the preceding
sections of this Act shall become effective, then the condi-
tional estimate of the costs of this Act (made under sub-
section (a)) shall be included in the records maintained
under section 252 of the Deficit Control Act.
(d) DEFINITION OF ‘‘COSTS’’ AND ‘‘SAVINGS’’.—For
purposes of this section, the terms ‘‘costs’’ and ‘‘savings’’
mean outlay increases or decreases from direct spending
provisions or revenue increases or decreases from revenue
provisions of the type covered under section 252 of the
Deficit Control Act.
TITLE IV—INDEPENDENT
EXPENDITURES
SEC. 401. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS FOR CERTAIN INDE-
PENDENT EXPENDITURES.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 304 of the Federal Elec-
tion Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 434) is amended
by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(d) TIME
FOR REPORTING CERTAIN EXPENDI-
TURES.—(1) Any person making independent expendi-
tures aggregating $1,000 or more after the 20th day, but
more than 24 hours, before any election shall file a report
of such expenditures within 24 hours after such expendi-
tures are made.
‘‘(2) Any person making independent expenditures
aggregating $10,000 or more at any time up to and in-
cluding the 20th day before any election shall file a report
within 48 hours after such expenditures are made. An ad-
ditional statement shall be filed each time independent ex-
penditures aggregating $10,000 are made with respect to
the same election as the initial statement filed under this
section.
‘‘(3) Any statement under this subsection shall be
filed with the Commission and the Secretary of State of
the State involved and shall contain the information re-
quired by subsection (b)(6)(B)(iii) of this section, includ-
ing whether the independent expenditure is in support of,
or in opposition to, the candidate involved. Not later than
48 hours after the Commission receives a report, the Com-
mission shall transmit a copy of the report to each can-
didate seeking nomination or election to that office.
‘‘(4) For purposes of this subsection, an expenditure
shall be treated as made when it is made or obligated to
be made.
‘‘(5)(A) If any person intends to make independent
expenditures totaling $5,000 or more during the 20 days
before an election, such person shall file a statement no
later than the 20th day before the election.
‘‘(B) Any statement under subparagraph (A) shall be
filed with the Commission and the Secretary of State of
the State involved and shall identify each candidate whom
the expenditure will support or oppose. Not later than 48
hours after the Commission receives a statement under
this paragraph, the Commission shall transmit a copy of
the statement to each candidate identified.
‘‘(6) The Commission may make its own determina-
tion that a person has made, or has incurred obligations
to make, independent expenditures with respect to any
Federal election which in the aggregate exceed the applica-
ble amounts under paragraph (1) or (2). The Commission
shall notify each candidate in such election of such deter-
mination within 24 hours of making it.’’.
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 304(c)(2)
of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C.
434(c)(2)) is amended by striking the undesignated mat-
ter after subparagraph (C).
TITLE 
V—CONTRIBUTIONS
THROUGH 
INTERMEDIARIES
AND CONDUITS; PROVISIONS
RELATING 
TO 
POLITICAL
PARTY COMMITTEES
SEC. 501. CONTRIBUTIONS THROUGH INTERMEDIARIES
AND CONDUITS.
Section 315(a)(8) of the Federal Election Campaign
Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 441a(a)(8)) is amended to read
as follows:
‘‘(8) For the purposes of this subsection:
‘‘(A) Contributions made by a person, either di-
rectly or indirectly, to or on behalf of a particular
candidate, including contributions that are in any
way earmarked or otherwise directed through an
intermediary or conduit to a candidate, shall be
treated as contributions from the person to the can-
didate.
‘‘(B) Contributions made directly or indirectly
by a person to or on behalf of a particular candidate
through an intermediary or conduit, including con-
tributions made or arranged to be made by an
intermediary or conduit, shall be treated as contribu-
tions from the intermediary or conduit to the can-
didate if—
‘‘(i) the contributions made through the
intermediary or conduit are in the form of a
check or other negotiable instrument made pay-
able to the intermediary or conduit rather than
the intended recipient; or
‘‘(ii) the intermediary or conduit is—
‘‘(I) a political committee;
‘‘(II) an officer, employee, or agent of
such a political committee;
‘‘(III) a political party;
‘‘(IV) a partnership or sole proprietor-
ship;
‘‘(V) a person who is required to reg-
ister or to report its lobbying activities, or
a lobbyist whose activities are required to
be reported, under section 308 of the Fed-
eral Regulation of Lobbying Act (2 U.S.C.
267), the Foreign Agents Registration Act
of 1938 (22 U.S.C. 611 et seq.), or any
successor Federal law requiring a person
who is a lobbyist or foreign agent to reg-
ister or a person to report its lobbying ac-
tivities; or
‘‘(VI) an organization prohibited from
making contributions under section 316, or
an officer, employee, or agent of such an
organization acting on the organization’s
behalf.
‘‘(C)(i) The term ‘intermediary or conduit’ does
not include—
‘‘(I) a candidate or representative of a can-
didate receiving contributions to the candidate’s
principal campaign committee or authorized
committee;
‘‘(II) 
a 
professional 
fundraiser 
com-
pensated for fundraising services at the usual
and customary rate, but only if the individual
is not described in subparagraph (B)(ii);
‘‘(III) a volunteer hosting a fundraising
event at the volunteer’s home, in accordance
with section 301(8)(B), but only if the individ-
ual is not described in subparagraph (B)(ii); or
‘‘(IV) an individual who transmits a con-
tribution from the individual’s spouse.
‘‘(ii) The term ‘representative’ means an indi-
vidual who is expressly authorized by the candidate
to engage in fundraising, and who occupies a signifi-
cant position within the candidate’s campaign orga-
nization, provided that the individual is not de-
scribed in subparagraph (B)(ii).
‘‘(iii) The term ‘contributions made or arranged
to be made’ includes—
‘‘(I) contributions delivered to a particular
candidate or the candidate’s authorized commit-
tee or agent; and
‘‘(II) contributions directly or indirectly ar-
ranged to be made to a particular candidate or
the candidate’s authorized committee or agent,
in a manner that identifies directly or indirectly
to the candidate or authorized committee or
agent the person who arranged the making of
the contributions or the person on whose behalf
such person was acting.
Such term does not include contributions made, or
arranged to be made, by reason of an oral or written
communication by a Federal candidate or office-
holder expressly advocating the nomination for elec-
tion, or election, of any other Federal candidate and
encouraging the making of a contribution to such
other candidate.
‘‘(iv) The term ‘acting on the organization’s be-
half’ includes the following activities by an officer,
employee or agent of a person described in subpara-
graph (B)(ii)(VI):
‘‘(I) Soliciting or directly or indirectly ar-
ranging the making of a contribution to a par-
ticular candidate in the name of, or by using
the name of, such a person.
‘‘(II) Soliciting or directly or indirectly ar-
ranging the making of a contribution to a par-
ticular candidate using other than incidental re-
sources of such a person.
‘‘(III) Soliciting contributions for a par-
ticular candidate by substantially directing the
solicitations to other officers, employees, or
agents of such a person.
‘‘(D) Nothing in this paragraph shall prohibit—
‘‘(i) bona fide joint fundraising efforts con-
ducted solely for the purpose of sponsorship of
a fundraising reception, dinner, or other similar
event, in accordance with rules prescribed by
the Commission, by—
‘‘(I) 2 or more candidates;
‘‘(II) 2 or more national, State, or
local committees of a political party within
the meaning of section 301(4) acting on
their own behalf; or
‘‘(III) a special committee formed by
2 or more candidates, or a candidate and
a national, State, or local committee of a
political party acting on their own behalf;
or
‘‘(ii) fundraising efforts for the benefit of
a candidate that are conducted by another
candidate.
When a contribution is made to a candidate through an
intermediary or conduit, the intermediary or conduit shall
report the original source and the intended recipient of
the contribution to the Commission and to the intended
recipient.’’.
SEC. 502. DEFINITIONS.
Section 301 of the Federal Election Campaign Act
of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 431), as amended by section 102 of
this Act, is further amended by adding at the end the
following:
‘‘(22) The term ‘generic campaign activity’
means a campaign activity that promotes a political
party rather than any particular Federal or non-
Federal candidate.
‘‘(23) The term ‘State Party Grassroots Fund’
means a separate segregated fund established and
maintained by a State committee of a political party
solely for purposes of making expenditures and other
disbursements described in section 324(d).’’.
SEC. 503. PROVISIONS RELATING TO NATIONAL, STATE,
AND LOCAL PARTY COMMITTEES.
(a) SOFT MONEY OF COMMITTEES OF POLITICAL
PARTIES.—Title III of the Federal Election Campaign Act
of 1971 is amended by adding at the end the following:
‘‘POLITICAL PARTY COMMITTEES
‘‘SEC. 323. (a) LIMITATIONS ON NATIONAL COMMIT-
TEE.—(1) A national committee of a political party and
the congressional campaign committees of a political party
may not solicit or accept contributions or transfers not
subject to the limitations, prohibitions, and reporting re-
quirements of this Act.
‘‘(2) Paragraph (1) shall not apply to contributions—
‘‘(A) that—
‘‘(i) are to be transferred to a State com-
mittee of a political party and are used solely
for activities described in clauses (xi) through
(xvii) of paragraph (9)(B) of section 301; or
‘‘(ii) 
are 
described 
in 
section
301(8)(B)(xx); and
‘‘(B) with respect to which contributors have
been notified that the funds will be used solely for
the purposes described in subparagraph (A).
‘‘(b) ACTIVITIES
SUBJECT
TO
THIS
ACT.—Any
amount solicited, received, expended, or disbursed directly
or indirectly by a national, State, district, or local commit-
tee of a political party (including any subordinate commit-
tee) with respect to any of the following activities shall
be subject to the limitations, prohibitions, and reporting
requirements of this Act:
‘‘(1)(A) Any get-out-the-vote activity conducted
during a calendar year in which an election for the
office of President is held.
‘‘(B) Any other get-out-the-vote activity unless
subsection (c)(2) applies to the activity.
‘‘(2) Any generic campaign activity.
‘‘(3) Any activity that identifies or promotes a
Federal candidate, regardless of whether—
‘‘(A) a State or local candidate is also
identified or promoted; or
‘‘(B) any portion of the funds disbursed
constitutes a contribution or expenditure under
this Act.
‘‘(4) Voter registration.
‘‘(5) Development and maintenance of voter
files during an even-numbered calendar year.
‘‘(6) Any other activity that—
‘‘(A) significantly affects a Federal elec-
tion; or
‘‘(B) is not otherwise described in section
301(8)(B)(xviii).
Any amount spent to raise funds that are used, in whole
or in part, in connection with activities described in the
preceding paragraphs shall be subject to the limitations,
prohibitions, and reporting requirements of this Act.
‘‘(c) GET-OUT-THE-VOTE ACTIVITIES BY STATE,
DISTRICT, AND LOCAL COMMITTEES OF POLITICAL PAR-
TIES.—(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), any get-
out-the-vote activity for a State or local candidate, or for
a ballot measure, which is conducted by a State, district,
or local committee of a political party (including any sub-
ordinate committee) shall be subject to the limitations,
prohibitions, and reporting requirements of this Act.
‘‘(2) Paragraph (1) shall not apply to any activity
which the State committee of a political party certifies to
the Commission is an activity which—
‘‘(A) is conducted during a calendar year other
than a calendar year in which an election for the of-
fice of President is held;
‘‘(B) is exclusively on behalf of (and specifically
identifies only) one or more State or local candidates
or ballot measures; and
‘‘(C) does not include any effort or means used
to identify or turn out those identified to be support-
ers of any Federal candidate (including any activity
that is undertaken in coordination with, or on behalf
of, a candidate for Federal office).
‘‘(d) STATE PARTY GRASSROOTS FUNDS.—(1) A
State committee of a political party may make disburse-
ments and expenditures from its State Party Grassroots
Fund only for—
‘‘(A) any generic campaign activity;
‘‘(B) payments described in clauses (v), (x), and
(xii) of paragraph (8)(B) and clauses (iv), (viii), and
(ix) of paragraph (9)(B) of section 301;
‘‘(C) subject to the limitations of section
315(d), payments described in clause (xii) of para-
graph (8)(B), and clause (ix) of paragraph (9)(B),
of section 301 on behalf of candidates other than for
President and Vice President;
‘‘(D) voter registration; and
‘‘(E) development and maintenance of voter
files during an even-numbered calendar year.
‘‘(2) Notwithstanding section 315(a)(4), no funds
may be transferred by a State committee of a political
party from its State Party Grassroots Fund to any other
State Party Grassroots Fund or to any other political com-
mittee, except a transfer may be made to a district or local
committee of the same political party in the same State
if such district or local committee—
‘‘(A) has established a separate segregated fund
for the purposes described in paragraph (1); and
‘‘(B) uses the transferred funds solely for those
purposes.
‘‘(e) AMOUNTS RECEIVED BY GRASSROOTS FUND
FROM STATE AND LOCAL CANDIDATE COMMITTEES.—(1)
Any amount received by a State Party Grassroots Fund
from a State or local candidate committee for expenditures
described in subsection (b) that are for the benefit of that
candidate shall be treated as meeting the requirements of
subsection (b) and section 304(e) if—
‘‘(A) such amount is derived from funds which
meet the requirements of this Act with respect to
any limitation or prohibition as to source or dollar
amount specified in section 315(a) (1)(A) and
(2)(A); and
‘‘(B) the State or local candidate committee—
‘‘(i) maintains, in the account from which
payment is made, records of the sources and
amounts of funds for purposes of determining
whether such requirements are met; and
‘‘(ii) certifies that such requirements were
met.
‘‘(2) For purposes of paragraph (1)(A), in determin-
ing whether the funds transferred meet the requirements
of this Act described in such paragraph—
‘‘(A) a State or local candidate committee’s
cash on hand shall be treated as consisting of the
funds most recently received by the committee; and
‘‘(B) the committee must be able to dem-
onstrate that its cash on hand contains sufficient
funds meeting such requirements as are necessary to
cover the transferred funds.
‘‘(3) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), any State Party
Grassroots Fund receiving any transfer described in para-
graph (1) from a State or local candidate committee shall
be required to meet the reporting requirements of this Act,
and shall submit to the Commission all certifications re-
ceived, with respect to receipt of the transfer from such
candidate committee.
‘‘(4) For purposes of this subsection, a State or local
candidate committee is a committee established, financed,
maintained, or controlled by a candidate for other than
Federal office.’’.
(b) CONTRIBUTIONS AND EXPENDITURES.—(1) Sec-
tion 301(8)(B) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of
1971 (2 U.S.C. 431(8)(B)), as amended by section 204
of this Act, is further amended by adding at the end the
following:
‘‘(xvi) any amount contributed to a
candidate for other than Federal office;
‘‘(xvii) any amount received or ex-
pended to pay the costs of a State or local
political convention;
‘‘(xviii) any payment for campaign ac-
tivities that are exclusively on behalf of
(and specifically identify only) State or
local candidates and do not identify any
Federal candidate, and that are not activi-
ties described in section 324(b) (without
regard to paragraph (6)(B)) or section
324(c)(1);
‘‘(xix) any payment for administrative
expenses of a State or local committee of
a political party, including expenses for—
‘‘(I) overhead, including party
meetings;
‘‘(II) staff (other than individuals
devoting a significant amount of their
time to elections for Federal office
and individuals engaged in conducting
get-out-the-vote activities for a Fed-
eral election); and
‘‘(III) conducting party elections
or caucuses;
‘‘(xx) any payment for research per-
taining solely to State and local candidates
and issues;
‘‘(xxi) any payment for development
and maintenance of voter files other than
during the 1-year period ending on the
date during an even-numbered calendar
year on which regularly scheduled general
elections for Federal office occur; and
‘‘(xxii) any payment for any other ac-
tivity which is solely for the purpose of in-
fluencing, and which solely affects, an elec-
tion for non-Federal office and which is
not an activity described in section 324(b)
(without regard to paragraph (6)(B)) or
section 324(c)(1).’’.
(2) Section 301(9)(B) of the Federal Election Cam-
paign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 431(9)(B)) is amended by
striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of clause (ix), by striking the
period at the end of clause (x) and inserting a semicolon,
and by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(xi) any amount contributed to a
candidate for other than Federal office;
‘‘(xii) any amount received or ex-
pended to pay the costs of a State or local
political convention;
‘‘(xiii) any payment for campaign ac-
tivities that are exclusively on behalf of
(and specifically identify only) State or
local candidates and do not identify any
Federal candidate, and that are not activi-
ties described in section 324(b) (without
regard to paragraph (6)(B)) or section
324(c)(1);
‘‘(xiv) any payment for administrative
expenses of a State or local committee of
a political party, including expenses for—
‘‘(I) overhead, including party
meetings;
‘‘(II) staff (other than individuals
devoting a significant amount of their
time to elections for Federal office
and individuals engaged in conducting
get-out-the-vote activities for a Fed-
eral election); and
‘‘(III) conducting party elections
or caucuses;
‘‘(xv) any payment for research per-
taining solely to State and local candidates
and issues;
‘‘(xvi) any payment for development
and maintenance of voter files other than
during the 1-year period ending on the
date during an even-numbered calendar
year on which regularly scheduled general
elections for Federal office occur; and
‘‘(xvii) any payment for any other ac-
tivity which is solely for the purpose of in-
fluencing, and which solely affects, an elec-
tion for non-Federal office and which is
not an activity described in section 324(b)
(without regard to paragraph (6)(B)) or
section 324(c)(1).’’.
(c) LIMITATION APPLIED AT NATIONAL LEVEL.—
Paragraph (3) of section 315(d) of the Federal Election
Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 441a(d)(3)) is amended
by adding at the end the following:
‘‘Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, the applicable
congressional campaign committee of a political party
shall make the expenditures described in this paragraph
which are authorized to be made by a national or State
committee with respect to a candidate in any State unless
it allocates all or a portion of such expenditures to either
or both of such committees.’’.
(d) LIMITATIONS APPLY
FOR ENTIRE ELECTION
CYCLE.—Section 315(d)(1) of the Federal Election Cam-
paign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 441a(d)(1)) is amended by
adding at the end the following: ‘‘Each limitation under
the following paragraphs shall apply to the entire election
cycle for an office.’’.
SEC. 504. PROHIBITION OF SOLICITATION OF CONTRIBU-
TIONS FOR CERTAIN TAX-EXEMPT ORGANIZA-
TIONS BY FEDERAL CANDIDATES AND OF-
FICE HOLDERS.
Section 315 of the Federal Election Campaign Act
of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 441a), as amended by sections 201 and
202, is further amended by adding at the end the follow-
ing:
‘‘(k) During any period an individual is a candidate
for, or holds, Federal office, such individual may not dur-
ing such period solicit contributions to, or on behalf of,
any organization which is described in section 501(c) of
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 if a substantial part
of the activities of such organization include voter reg-
istration or get-out-the-vote campaigns.’’.
TITLE 
VI—PROHIBITIONS 
RE-
LATING TO POLITICAL COM-
MITTEES AND FOREIGN NA-
TIONALS
SEC. 601. PROHIBITION OF CERTAIN USES OF THE NAME
OF A CANDIDATE BY POLITICAL COMMIT-
TEES OTHER THAN THE PRINCIPAL CAM-
PAIGN COMMITTEE OF THE CANDIDATE.
Section 302(e)(4) of the Federal Election Campaign
Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 432(e)(4)) is amended to read as
follows:
‘‘(4)(A) The name of each authorized committee shall
include the name of the candidate who authorized the com-
mittee under paragraph (1).
‘‘(B) A political committee that is not an authorized
committee shall not include the name of any candidate in
its name or use the name of any candidate in any fund-
raising activity on behalf of such committee in such a con-
text as to suggest that the committee is an authorized
committee of the candidate.’’.
SEC. 602. PROHIBITION OF CERTAIN ELECTION-RELATED
ACTIVITIES OF FOREIGN NATIONALS.
Section 319 of the Federal Election Campaign Act
of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 441e) is amended by adding at the end
the following:
‘‘(c) A foreign national shall not directly or indirectly
direct, control, influence or participate in any person’s
election-related activities, such as the making of contribu-
tions or expenditures in connection with elections for any
local, State, or Federal office or the administration of a
political committee.’’.
TITLE VII—LIMITATION ON CAR-
RYOVER 
OF 
CAMPAIGN
FUNDS
SEC. 701. LIMITATION ON CARRYOVER OF HOUSE OF REP-
RESENTATIVES CAMPAIGN FUNDS FOR USE
IN LATER ELECTIONS.
Section 315 of the Federal Election Campaign Act
of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 441a), as amended by sections 201,
202, and 504 is further amended by adding at the end
the following:
‘‘(l) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act,
no contribution received with respect to an election by a
candidate for the office of Representative in, or Delegate
or Resident Commissioner to, the Congress may be used
with respect to a later election for such office, except
that—
‘‘(1) a contribution received with respect to a
primary election may be used with respect to the
general election relating to that primary election;
and
‘‘(2) if, after a general election, a candidate has
a balance of funds remaining, the candidate may use
not more than $25,000 of that balance with respect
to a later election for such office.’’.
TITLE VIII—CAMPAIGN
ADVERTISING
SEC. 801. CAMPAIGN ADVERTISING AMENDMENTS.
Section 318 of the Federal Election Campaign Act
of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 441d) is amended—
(1) in the matter before paragraph (1) of sub-
section (a), by striking ‘‘an expenditure’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘a disbursement’’;
(2) in the matter before paragraph (1) of sub-
section (a), by striking ‘‘direct’’;
(3) in paragraph (3) of subsection (a), by in-
serting after ‘‘name’’ the following: ‘‘and permanent
street address’’; and
(4) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(c) Any printed communication described in sub-
section (a) shall be—
‘‘(1) of sufficient type size to be clearly read-
able by the recipient of the communication;
‘‘(2) contained in a printed box set apart from
the other contents of the communication; and
‘‘(3) consist of a reasonable degree of color con-
trast between the background and the printed state-
ment.
‘‘(d) Any broadcast or cablecast communication de-
scribed in subsection (a)(1) or subsection (a)(2) shall in-
clude, in addition to the requirements of those subsections,
in a clearly spoken manner, the following statement—
‘llllllll is responsible for the con-
tent of this advertisement.’
with the blank to be filled in with the name of the can-
didate, and, if broadcast or cablecast by means of tele-
vision, shall also—
‘‘(1) appear in a clearly readable manner with
a reasonable degree of color contrast between the
background and the printed statement, for a period
of at least 4 seconds; and
‘‘(2) be accompanied by a clearly identifiable
photographic or similar image of the candidate.
‘‘(e) Any broadcast or cablecast communication de-
scribed in subsection (a)(3) shall include, in addition to
the requirements of those subsections, in a clearly spoken
manner, the following statement—
‘llllllll is responsible for the con-
tent of this advertisement.’
with the blank to be filled in with the name of the political
committee or other person paying for the communication
and the name of any connected organization of the payor,
and, if broadcast or cablecast by means of television, shall
also appear in a clearly readable manner with a reasonable
degree of color contrast between the background and the
printed statement, for a period of at least 4 seconds.’’.
SEC. 802. EQUAL BROADCAST TIME.
Section 315(a) of the Communications Act of 1934
(47 U.S.C. 315(a)) is amended to read as follows:
‘‘(a)(1) If a licensee permits any person who is a le-
gally qualified candidate for public office to use a broad-
casting station other than any use required to be provided
under paragraph (2), the licensee shall afford equal oppor-
tunities to all other such candidates for that office in the
use of the broadcasting station.
‘‘(2)(A) A person who reserves broadcast time the
payment for which would constitute an independent ex-
penditure within the meaning of section 301(17) of the
Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C.
431(17) shall—
‘‘(i) inform the licensee that payment for the
broadcast time will constitute an independent ex-
penditure;
‘‘(ii) inform the licensee of the names of all can-
didates for the office to which the proposed broad-
cast relates; and
‘‘(iii) provide the licensee a copy of the state-
ment described in section 304A(b)(3)(B) of the Fed-
eral Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C.
434(d)(3)(B)).
‘‘(B) A licensee who is informed as described in sub-
paragraph (A) shall, if any of the candidates described in
subparagraph (A)(ii), has provided the licensee the name
and address of a person to whom notification under this
subparagraph is to be given—
‘‘(i) notify such person of the proposed making
of the independent expenditure; and
‘‘(ii) provide, without charge, any such can-
didate (other than a candidate for whose benefit the
independent expenditure is made) with the same
amount of broadcast time immediately after the
broadcast time paid for by the independent expendi-
ture.
‘‘(3) A licensee shall have no power of censorship over
the material broadcast under this section.
‘‘(4) Except as provided in paragraph (2), no obliga-
tion is imposed under this subsection upon any licensee
to allow the use of its station by any candidate.
‘‘(5)(A) Appearance by a legally qualified candidate
on a—
‘‘(i) bona fide newscast;
‘‘(ii) bona fide news interview;
‘‘(iii) bona fide news documentary (if the ap-
pearance of the candidate is incidental to the presen-
tation of the subject or subjects covered by the news
documentary); or
‘‘(iv) on-the-spot coverage of bona fide news
events (including political conventions and activates
incidental thereto),
shall not be deemed to be use of a broadcasting station
within the meaning of this subsection.
‘‘(B) Nothing in subparagraph (A) shall be construed
as relieving broadcasters, in connection with the presen-
tation of newscasts, news interviews, news documentaries,
and on-the-spot coverage of news events, from their obliga-
tion under this Act to operate in the public interest and
to afford reasonable opportunity for the discussion of con-
flicting views on issues of public importance.
‘‘(6)(A) A licensee that endorses a candidate for Fed-
eral office in an editorial shall, within the time stated in
subparagraph (B), provide to all other candidates for elec-
tion to the same office—
‘‘(i) notice of the date and time of broadcast of
the editorial;
‘‘(ii) a taped or printed copy of the editorial;
and
‘‘(iii) a reasonable opportunity to broadcast a
response using the licensee’s facilities.
‘‘(B) In the case of an editorial described in subpara-
graph (A) that—
‘‘(i) is first broadcast 72 hours or more prior to
the date of a primary, runoff, or general election,
the notice and copy described in subparagraph (A)(i)
and (ii) shall be provided not later than 24 hours
after the time of the first broadcast of the editorial,
and
‘‘(ii) is first broadcast less than 72 hours before
the date of an election, the notice and copy shall be
provided at a time prior to the first broadcast that
will be sufficient to enable candidates a reasonable
opportunity to prepare and broadcast a response.
‘‘(7) A communication under reserved broadcast time
described in paragraph (2)—
‘‘(A) in the case of a television broadcast, shall
include during the entire length of the communica-
tion a clearly readable video statement covering at
least 25 percent of the viewing area of a television
screen stating the information required in section
318(a) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of
1971 and, if the independent expenditure is made by
a political committee, stating the name of its con-
nected organization (if any) and the city and State
in which such organization is located; and
‘‘(B) in the case of any audio broadcast (includ-
ing a television broadcast), shall include an audio
statement at the conclusion of the broadcast stating
the information described in section 318(a) of the
Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 and, if the
independent expenditure is made by a political com-
mittee, stating the name of its connected organiza-
tion (if any) and the city and State in which such
organization is located.’’.
SEC. 803. OTHER AMENDMENTS TO THE COMMUNICATIONS
ACT OF 1934.
Section 315 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47
U.S.C. 315), as amended by section 802, is further
amended—
(1) in subsection (b)—
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1),
by striking ‘‘The charges’’ and inserting ‘‘Ex-
cept as provided in subsection (c), the charges’’;
and
(B) in paragraph (1)—
(i) by striking ‘‘forty-five’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘30’’;
(ii) by striking ‘‘sixty’’ and inserting
‘‘45’’; and
(iii) by striking ‘‘lowest unit charge of
the station for the same class and amount
of time for the same period’’ and inserting
‘‘lowest charge of the station for the same
amount of time for the same period on the
same date’’;
(2) by redesignating subsections (c) and (d) as
subsections (e) and (f), respectively; and
(3) by inserting after subsection (b) the follow-
ing:
‘‘(c) Subsection (b) shall not apply to an eligible
House of Representatives candidate (as defined in section
301 of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971) who
makes expenditures that exceed a limitation under sub-
section (a), (b), or (c) of section 501 of the Federal Elec-
tion Campaign Act of 1971 or who, with respect to an
election cycle, makes contributions to his or her own cam-
paign totaling more than $100,000 from the personal
funds of the candidate. The charges made pursuant to
subsection (b) for the use of any broadcasting station by
any eligible House of Representatives candidate who
agrees not to make, and does not make, expenditures that
exceed a limitation under subsection (a), (b), or (c) of sec-
tion 501 of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971
shall not exceed, at any time, the lowest charge of the sta-
tion for the same amount of time for the same period on
the same date.
‘‘(d)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), a li-
censee shall not preempt the use, during any period speci-
fied in subsection (b)(1), of a broadcasting station by a
legally qualified candidate for public office who has pur-
chased and paid for such use pursuant to the provisions
of subsection (b)(1).
‘‘(2) If a program to be broadcast by a broadcasting
station is preempted because of circumstances beyond the
control of the broadcasting station, any candidate adver-
tising spot scheduled to be broadcast during that program
may also be preempted.’’.