I 
117TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1414 
To amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to reduce the number 
of members of the Federal Election Commission from 6 to 5, to revise 
the method of selection and terms of service of members of the Commis-
sion, to distribute the powers of the Commission between the Chair 
and the remaining members, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 26, 2021 
Mr. KILMER (for himself, Mr. FITZPATRICK, Mr. SARBANES, Miss RICE of 
New York, and Ms. BROWNLEY) introduced the following bill; which was 
referred to the Committee on House Administration 
A BILL 
To amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to 
reduce the number of members of the Federal Election 
Commission from 6 to 5, to revise the method of selec-
tion and terms of service of members of the Commission, 
to distribute the powers of the Commission between the 
Chair and the remaining members, and for other pur-
poses. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
18:24 Apr 06, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1414.IH
H1414
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Restoring Integrity 
to America’s Elections Act’’. 
SEC. 2. 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 member 
shall be treated as affiliated with a political party if 
the member was affiliated, including as a registered 
voter, employee, consultant, donor, officer, or attor-
ney, with such political party or any of its can-
didates or elected public officials at any time during 
the 5-year period ending on the date on which such 
individual is nominated to be a member of the Com-
mission. A majority of the number of members of 
the Commission who are serving at the time shall 
constitute a quorum.’’. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
18:24 Apr 06, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1414.IH
H1414
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
(2) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS RELATING TO 
REDUCTION IN NUMBER OF MEMBERS.—(A) Section 
306(c) of such Act (52 U.S.C. 30106(c)) is amended 
by striking the period at the end of the first sen-
tence and all that follows and inserting the fol-
lowing: ‘‘, except that an affirmative vote of a major-
ity of the members of the Commission who are serv-
ing at the time shall be required in order for the 
Commission to take any action in accordance with 
paragraph (6), (7), (8), or (9) of section 307(a) or 
with chapter 95 or chapter 96 of the Internal Rev-
enue Code of 1986. A member of the Commission 
may not delegate to any person his or her vote or 
any decision-making authority or duty vested in the 
Commission by the provisions of this Act’’. 
(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)). 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
18:24 Apr 06, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1414.IH
H1414
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
(iii) Section 309(a)(5)(C) (52 U.S.C. 
30109(a)(5)(C)). 
(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 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
18:24 Apr 06, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1414.IH
H1414
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
of the Commission may not serve for an addi-
tional term, except that— 
‘‘(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-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
18:24 Apr 06, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1414.IH
H1414
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
sion after the expiration of the member’s term 
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 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
18:24 Apr 06, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1414.IH
H1414
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
Blue Ribbon Advisory Panel that includes 
individuals representing each major polit-
ical party and individuals who are inde-
pendent of a political party and that con-
sists of an odd number of individuals se-
lected by the President from retired Fed-
eral judges, former law enforcement offi-
cials, or individuals with experience in elec-
tion law, except that the President may not 
select any individual to serve on the panel 
who holds any public office at the time of 
selection. The President shall also make 
reasonable efforts to encourage racial, eth-
nic, and gender diversity on the panel. 
‘‘(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-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
18:24 Apr 06, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1414.IH
H1414
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
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 
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. 3. ASSIGNMENT OF POWERS TO CHAIR OF FEDERAL 
ELECTION COMMISSION. 
(a) APPOINTMENT OF CHAIR BY PRESIDENT.— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
18:24 Apr 06, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00008
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1414.IH
H1414
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
(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 
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.’’. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
18:24 Apr 06, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00009
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1414.IH
H1414
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS