didate of a party in a Presidential election or any of 
his authorized committees knowingly and willfully to 
accept— 
‘‘(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. 203. 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, 
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AND NEW PARTIES.—Subsection (a) of section 9004 
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended to 
read as follows: 
‘‘(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 2029, the $250,000,000 
dollar amount in subsection (a) shall be increased by 
an amount equal to— 
‘‘(A) such dollar amount; multiplied by 
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‘‘(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-
endar year 2028’ 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 202(b), is amended by 
adding at the end the following new paragraph: 
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‘‘(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 
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)).’’. 
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SEC. 204. INCREASE IN LIMIT ON COORDINATED PARTY EX-
PENDITURES. 
(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 
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-
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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— 
(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 2028— 
‘‘(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; 
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(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)’’. 
(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. 206. AMOUNTS IN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION CAM-
PAIGN FUND. 
Section 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 
insufficient moneys in the fund for purposes of the pre-
vious sentence, 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, except that the amount of the estimate may not 
exceed the average of the annual amounts deposited in the 
fund during the previous 3 years.’’. 
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SEC. 207. USE OF GENERAL ELECTION PAYMENTS FOR GEN-
ERAL ELECTION LEGAL AND ACCOUNTING 
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.’’. 
SEC. 208. USE OF FREEDOM FROM INFLUENCE FUND AS 
SOURCE OF PAYMENTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 95 of subtitle H of the 
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at 
the end the following new section: 
‘‘SEC. 9013. USE OF FREEDOM FROM INFLUENCE FUND AS 
SOURCE OF PAYMENTS. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other pro-
vision of this chapter, effective with respect to the Presi-
dential election held in 2028 and each succeeding Presi-
dential election, all payments made under this chapter 
shall be made from the Freedom From Influence Fund 
established under title III of the Empower Act of 2021. 
‘‘(b) MANDATORY REDUCTION
OF PAYMENTS
IN 
CASE OF INSUFFICIENT AMOUNTS IN FUND.— 
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‘‘(1) ADVANCE AUDITS BY COMMISSION.—Not 
later than 90 days before the first day of each Presi-
dential election cycle (beginning with the cycle for 
the election held in 2028), the Commission shall— 
‘‘(A) audit the Fund to determine whether, 
after first making payments to candidates 
under chapter 96, the amounts remaining in 
the Fund will be sufficient to make payments to 
candidates under this chapter in the amounts 
provided under this chapter during such elec-
tion cycle; and 
‘‘(B) submit a report to Congress describ-
ing the results of the audit. 
‘‘(2) REDUCTIONS IN AMOUNT OF PAYMENTS.— 
‘‘(A) AUTOMATIC
REDUCTION
ON
PRO 
RATA BASIS.—If, on the basis of the audit de-
scribed in paragraph (1), the Commission deter-
mines that the amount anticipated to be avail-
able in the Fund with respect to the Presi-
dential election cycle involved is not, or may not 
be, sufficient to satisfy the full entitlements of 
candidates to payments under this chapter for 
such cycle, the Commission shall reduce each 
amount which would otherwise be paid to a can-
didate under this chapter by such pro rata 
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amount as may be necessary to ensure that the 
aggregate amount of payments anticipated to 
be made with respect to the cycle will not ex-
ceed the amount anticipated to be available for 
such payments in the Fund with respect to such 
cycle. 
‘‘(B) RESTORATION
OF
REDUCTIONS
IN 
CASE OF AVAILABILITY OF SUFFICIENT FUNDS 
DURING ELECTION CYCLE.—If, after reducing 
the amounts paid to candidates with respect to 
an election cycle under subparagraph (A), the 
Commission determines that there are sufficient 
amounts in the Fund to restore the amount by 
which such payments were reduced (or any por-
tion thereof), to the extent that such amounts 
are available, the Commission may make a pay-
ment on a pro rata basis to each such candidate 
with respect to the election cycle in the amount 
by which such candidate’s payments were re-
duced under subparagraph (A) (or any portion 
thereof, as the case may be). 
‘‘(C) NO USE OF AMOUNTS FROM OTHER 
SOURCES.—In any case in which the Commis-
sion determines that there are insufficient mon-
eys in the Fund to make payments to can-
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didates under this chapter, moneys shall not be 
made available from any other source for the 
purpose of making such payments. 
‘‘(3) NO EFFECT ON AMOUNTS TRANSFERRED 
FOR PEDIATRIC RESEARCH INITIATIVE.—This sec-
tion does not apply to the transfer of funds under 
section 9008(i). 
‘‘(4) PRESIDENTIAL
ELECTION
CYCLE
DE-
FINED.—In this section, the term ‘Presidential elec-
tion cycle’ means, with respect to a Presidential elec-
tion, the period beginning on the day after the date 
of the previous Presidential general election and 
ending on the date of the Presidential election.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 
for chapter 95 of subtitle H of such Code is amended by 
adding at the end the following new item: 
‘‘Sec. 9013. Use of Freedom From Influence Fund as source of payments.’’. 
TITLE III—FREEDOM FROM 
INFLUENCE FUND 
SEC. 301. FREEDOM FROM INFLUENCE FUND. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established in the 
Treasury a fund to be known as the ‘‘Freedom From In-
fluence Fund’’. 
(b) AMOUNTS HELD BY FUND.—The Fund shall con-
sist of amounts transferred under section 3015 of title 18, 
United States Code (as added by section 302(a)), section 
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9706 of title 31, United States Code (as added by section 
302(b)), and section 6761 of the Internal Revenue Code 
of 1986 (as added by section 302(c)). 
(c) USE OF FUND TO MAKE PAYMENTS TO CAN-
DIDATES.—Amounts in the Fund shall be available with-
out further appropriation or fiscal year limitation— 
(1) to make payments to candidates under 
chapter 95 of subtitle H of the Internal Revenue 
Code of 1986, subject to reductions under section 
9013(b) of such Code; and 
(2) to make payments to candidates under 
chapter 96 of subtitle H of the Internal Revenue 
Code of 1986, subject to reductions under section 
9043(b) of such Code. 
(d) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section shall take effect 
on the date of the enactment of this title. 
SEC. 302. ASSESSMENTS AGAINST FINES AND PENALTIES. 
(a) ASSESSMENTS RELATING
TO CRIMINAL OF-
FENSES.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Chapter 201 of title 18, 
United States Code, is amended by adding at the 
end the following new section: 
‘‘§ 3015. Special assessments for Freedom From Influ-
ence Fund 
‘‘(a) ASSESSMENTS.— 
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2021 an amount equal to the amount of the assessments 
collected under this section.’’. 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec-
tions of chapter 201 of title 18, United States Code, 
is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘3015. Special assessments for Freedom From Influence Fund.’’. 
(b) ASSESSMENTS
RELATING
TO
CIVIL
PEN-
ALTIES.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Chapter 97 of title 31, 
United States Code, is amended by adding at the 
end the following new section: 
‘‘§ 9706. Special assessments for Freedom From Influ-
ence Fund 
‘‘(a) ASSESSMENTS.— 
‘‘(1) CIVIL PENALTIES.—Any entity of the Fed-
eral Government which is authorized under any law, 
rule, or regulation to impose a civil penalty shall as-
sess on each person, other than a natural person 
who is not a corporate officer or person with equiva-
lent authority in any other organization, on whom 
such a penalty is imposed an amount equal to 4.75 
percent of the amount of the penalty. 
‘‘(2) ADMINISTRATIVE PENALTIES.—Any entity 
of the Federal Government which is authorized 
under any law, rule, or regulation to impose an ad-
ministrative penalty shall assess on each person, 
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which administrative penalties are collected by the 
entity of the Federal Government involved; and 
‘‘(3) in the case of an amount assessed under 
paragraph (3) of such subsection, in the manner in 
which amounts are collected pursuant to settlement 
agreements or consent decrees entered into by the 
entity of the Federal Government involved. 
‘‘(c) TRANSFERS.—In a manner consistent with sec-
tion 3302(b) of this title, there shall be transferred from 
the General Fund of the Treasury to the Freedom From 
Influence Fund under title III of the Empower Act of 
2021 an amount equal to the amount of the assessments 
collected under this section. 
‘‘(d) EXCEPTION
FOR PENALTIES
AND SETTLE-
MENTS UNDER AUTHORITY OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE 
CODE OF 1986.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—No assessment shall be 
made under subsection (a) with respect to any civil 
or administrative penalty imposed, or any settlement 
agreement or consent decree entered into, under the 
authority of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. 
‘‘(2) CROSS
REFERENCE.—For application of 
special assessments for the Freedom From Influence 
Fund with respect to certain penalties under the In-
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ternal Revenue Code of 1986, see section 6761 of 
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.’’. 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec-
tions of chapter 97 of title 31, United States Code, 
is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘9706. Special assessments for Freedom From Influence Fund.’’. 
(c) ASSESSMENTS RELATING
TO CERTAIN PEN-
ALTIES UNDER
THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE
OF 
1986.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 68 of the Internal 
Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the 
end the following new subchapter: 
‘‘Subchapter D—Special Assessments for 
Freedom From Influence Fund 
‘‘SEC. 6761. SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS FOR FREEDOM FROM 
INFLUENCE FUND. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Each person required to pay a 
covered penalty shall pay an additional amount equal to 
4.75 percent of the amount of such penalty. 
‘‘(b) COVERED PENALTY.—For purposes of this sec-
tion, the term ‘covered penalty’ means any addition to tax, 
additional amount, penalty, or other liability provided 
under subchapter A or B. 
‘‘(c) EXCEPTION FOR CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—In the case of a taxpayer 
who is an individual, subsection (a) shall not apply 
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to any covered penalty if such taxpayer is an exempt 
taxpayer for the taxable year for which such covered 
penalty is assessed. 
‘‘(2) EXEMPT TAXPAYER.—For purposes of this 
subsection, a taxpayer is an exempt taxpayer for any 
taxable year if the taxable income of such taxpayer 
for such taxable year does not exceed the dollar 
amount at which begins the highest rate bracket in 
effect under section 1 with respect to such taxpayer 
for such taxable year. 
‘‘(d) APPLICATION OF CERTAIN RULES.—Except as 
provided in subsection (e), the additional amount deter-
mined under subsection (a) shall be treated for purposes 
of this title in the same manner as the covered penalty 
to which such additional amount relates. 
‘‘(e) TRANSFER
TO FREEDOM FROM INFLUENCE 
FUND.—The Secretary shall deposit any additional 
amount under subsection (a) in the General Fund of the 
Treasury and shall transfer from such General Fund to 
the Freedom From Influence Fund established under sec-
tion title III of the Empower Act of 2021 an amount equal 
to the amounts so deposited (and, notwithstanding sub-
section (d), such additional amount shall not be the basis 
for any deposit, transfer, credit, appropriation, or any 
other payment, to any other trust fund or account). Rules 
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similar to the rules of section 9601 shall apply for pur-
poses of this subsection.’’. 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sub-
chapters for chapter 68 of such Code is amended by 
adding at the end the following new item: 
‘‘SUBCHAPTER D—SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS FOR FREEDOM FROM INFLUENCE 
FUND’’. 
(d) EFFECTIVE DATES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para-
graph (2), the amendments made by this section 
shall apply with respect to convictions, agreements, 
and penalties which occur on or after the date of the 
enactment of this Act. 
(2) ASSESSMENTS RELATING TO CERTAIN PEN-
ALTIES UNDER THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 
1986.—The amendments made by subsection (c) 
shall apply to covered penalties assessed after the 
date of the enactment of this Act. 
TITLE IV—EFFECTIVE DATE 
SEC. 401. EFFECTIVE DATE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Except as otherwise provided, this 
Act and the amendments made by this Act shall apply 
with respect to the Presidential election held in 2028 and 
each succeeding Presidential election, without regard to 
whether or not the Federal Election Commission has pro-
mulgated the final regulations necessary to carry out this 
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Act and the amendments made by this Act by the deadline 
set forth in subsection (b). 
(b) DEADLINE FOR REGULATIONS.—Not later than 
June 30, 2026, the Federal Election Commission shall 
promulgate such regulations as may be necessary to carry 
out this Act and the amendments made by this Act. 
Æ 
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