private interests that are directly affected by Federal
legislation;
(4) imposing large, unwarranted costs on tax-
payers through legislative and regulatory outcomes
shaped by unequal access to lawmakers for cam-
paign contributors;
(5) driving up the cost of election campaigns,
making it difficult for qualified candidates without
personal fortunes or access to campaign contribu-
tions from monied individuals and interest groups to
mount competitive House of Representatives election
campaigns;
(6) disadvantaging challengers, because large
campaign contributors tend to give their money to
incumbent Members, thus causing House of Rep-
resentatives elections to be less competitive; and
(7) burdening incumbents with a preoccupation
with fundraising and thus decreasing the time avail-
able to carry out their public responsibilities.
(b) ENHANCEMENT OF DEMOCRACY BY PROVIDING
CLEAN MONEY.—Congress finds and declares that provid-
ing the option of the replacement of private campaign con-
tributions with clean money financing for all primary, run-
off, and general elections to the House of Representatives
would enhance American democracy by—
(1) helping to eliminate access to wealth as a
determinant of a citizen’s influence within the politi-
cal process and to restore meaning to the principle
of ‘‘one person, one vote’’;
(2) increasing the public’s confidence in the ac-
countability of Members to the constituents who
elect them;
(3) eliminating the potentially inherent conflict
of interest caused by the private financing of the
election campaigns of public officials, thus restoring
public confidence in the fairness of the electoral and
legislative processes;
(4) reversing the escalating cost of elections
and saving taxpayers billions of dollars that are (or
that are perceived to be) currently misspent due to
legislative and regulatory agendas skewed by the in-
fluence of contributions;
(5) creating a more level playing field for in-
cumbents and challengers, creating genuine opportu-
nities for all Americans to run for the House of Rep-
resentatives, and encouraging more competitive elec-
tions; and
(6) freeing Members from the constant pre-
occupation with raising money, and allowing them
more time to carry out their public responsibilities.
SEC. 102. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS AND BENEFITS OF
CLEAN MONEY FINANCING OF HOUSE ELEC-
TION CAMPAIGNS.
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—CLEAN 
MONEY 
FI-
NANCING OF HOUSE ELEC-
TION CAMPAIGNS
‘‘SEC. 501. DEFINITIONS.
‘‘In this title:
‘‘(1) ALLOWABLE
CONTRIBUTION.—The term
‘allowable contribution’ means a qualifying contribu-
tion or seed money contribution.
‘‘(2) CLEAN MONEY.—The term ‘clean money’
means funds that are made available by the Com-
mission to a clean money candidate under this title.
‘‘(3) CLEAN
MONEY
CANDIDATE.—The term
‘clean money candidate’ means a candidate for Mem-
ber of or Delegate or Resident Commissioner to the
Congress who is certified under section 505 as being
eligible to receive clean money.
‘‘(4) CLEAN MONEY QUALIFYING PERIOD.—The
term ‘clean money qualifying period’ means the pe-
riod beginning on the date that is 180 days before
the date of the primary election and ending on the
date that is 30 days before the date of the general
election. In the event of a special election, the clean
money qualifying period shall begin on the earlier
date of either the date that is 180 days before the
date of the special election or on the date of an-
nouncement of such special election date if same as
within 180 days of the date of the special election.
It shall end on the date that is 30 days before the
date of the special election.
‘‘(5) GENERAL ELECTION PERIOD.—The term
‘general election period’ means, with respect to a
candidate, the period beginning on the day after the
date of the primary or primary runoff election for
the specific office that the candidate is seeking,
whichever is later, and ending on the earlier of—
‘‘(A) the date of the general election; or
‘‘(B) the date on which the candidate with-
draws from the campaign or otherwise ceases
actively to seek election.
‘‘(6) GENERAL RUNOFF ELECTION PERIOD.—
The term ‘general runoff election period’ means,
with respect to a candidate, the period beginning on
the day following the date of the last general election
for the specific office that the candidate is seeking
and ending on the date of the runoff election for
that office.
‘‘(7) HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ELECTION
FUND.—The term ‘House of Representatives Elec-
tion Fund’ means the fund established by section
507(a).
‘‘(8) IMMEDIATE
FAMILY.—The term ‘imme-
diate family’ means—
‘‘(A) a 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).
‘‘(9) MAJOR
PARTY
CANDIDATE.—The term
‘major party candidate’ means a candidate of a po-
litical party of which a candidate for Member of or
Delegate or Resident Commissioner to the Congress,
for President, or for Governor in the preceding 5
years received, as a candidate of that party, 25 per-
cent or more of the total number of popular votes
received in the State (or Congressional district, if
applicable) by all candidates for the same office.
‘‘(10) PERSONAL FUNDS.—The term ‘personal
funds’ means an amount that is derived from—
‘‘(A) the personal funds of the candidate
or a member of the candidate’s immediate fam-
ily; and
‘‘(B) proceeds of indebtedness incurred by
the candidate or a member of the candidate’s
immediate family.
‘‘(11) PERSONAL USE.—
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The term ‘personal
use’ means the use of funds to fulfill a commit-
ment, obligation, or expense of a person that
would exist irrespective of the candidate’s elec-
tion campaign or individual’s duties as a holder
of Federal office.
‘‘(B) INCLUSIONS.—The term ‘personal
use’ includes, but is not limited to—
‘‘(i) a home mortgage, rent, or utility
payment;
‘‘(ii) a clothing purchase;
‘‘(iii) a noncampaign-related auto-
mobile expense;
‘‘(iv) a country club membership;
‘‘(v) a vacation or other noncampaign-
related trip;
‘‘(vi) a household food item;
‘‘(vii) a tuition payment;
‘‘(viii) admission to a sporting event,
concert, theater, or other form of enter-
tainment not associated with an election
campaign; and
‘‘(ix) dues, fees, and other payments
to a health club or recreational facility.
‘‘(12) PRIMARY ELECTION PERIOD.—The term
‘primary election period’ means the period beginning
on the date that is 90 days before the date of the
primary election and ending on the date of the pri-
mary election. In the event of a special primary elec-
tion, if applicable, the term ‘primary election period’
means the period beginning on the date that is the
longer of 90 days before the date of such special pri-
mary election, or the date of establishment by the
appropriate election authority of the special primary
election date and ending on the date of the special
primary election.
‘‘(13) PRIMARY RUNOFF ELECTION PERIOD.—
The term ‘primary runoff election period’ means,
with respect to a candidate, the period beginning on
the day following the date of the last primary elec-
tion for the specific office that the candidate is seek-
ing and ending on the date of the runoff election for
that office.
‘‘(14) PRIVATE MONEY CANDIDATE.—The term
‘private money candidate’ means a candidate for
Member of or Delegate or Resident Commissioner to
the Congress other than a clean money candidate.
‘‘(15) QUALIFYING CONTRIBUTION.—The term
‘qualifying contribution’ means a contribution that—
‘‘(A) is in the amount of $5 exactly;
‘‘(B) is made by an individual who is reg-
istered to vote in the candidate’s State;
‘‘(C) is made during the clean money
qualifying period; and
‘‘(D) meets the requirements of section
502(a)(2)(D).
‘‘(16) SEED MONEY CONTRIBUTION.—The term
‘seed money contribution’ means a contribution (or
contributions in the aggregate made by any 1 per-
son) of not more than $100.
‘‘(17) STATE.—The term ‘State’ includes the
District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Is-
lands, American Samoa, and Guam.
‘‘SEC. 502. ELIGIBILITY FOR CLEAN MONEY.
‘‘(a) PRIMARY ELECTION PERIOD
AND PRIMARY
RUNOFF ELECTION PERIOD.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—A candidate qualifies as a
clean money candidate during the primary election
period and primary runoff election period if the can-
didate files with the Commission a declaration,
signed by the candidate and the treasurer of the
candidate’s principal campaign committee, that the
candidate—
‘‘(A) has complied and will comply with all
of the requirements of this title;
‘‘(B) will not run in the general election as
a private money candidate; and
‘‘(C) meets the qualifying contribution re-
quirement of paragraph (2).
‘‘(2) QUALIFYING
CONTRIBUTION
REQUIRE-
MENT.—
‘‘(A) MAJOR PARTY CANDIDATES AND CER-
TAIN
INDEPENDENT
CANDIDATES.—The re-
quirement of this paragraph is met if, during
the clean money qualifying period, a major
party candidate (or an independent candidate
who meets the minimum vote percentage re-
quired for a major party candidate under sec-
tion 501(9)) receives 1,500 qualifying contribu-
tions.
‘‘(B) OTHER CANDIDATES.—The require-
ment of this paragraph is met if, during the
clean money qualifying period, a candidate who
is not described in subparagraph (A) receives a
number of qualifying contributions that is at
least 150 percent of the number of qualifying
contributions that a candidate described in sub-
paragraph (A) in the same election is required
to receive under subparagraph (A).
‘‘(C) RECEIPT OF QUALIFYING CONTRIBU-
TION.—A qualifying contribution shall—
‘‘(i) be accompanied by the contribu-
tor’s name and home address;
‘‘(ii) be accompanied by a signed
statement that the contributor understands
the purpose of the qualifying contribution;
‘‘(iii) be made by a personal check or
money order payable to the House of Rep-
resentatives Election Fund or by cash; and
‘‘(iv) be acknowledged by a receipt
that is sent to the contributor with a copy
kept by the candidate for the Commission
and a copy kept by the candidate for the
election authorities in the candidate’s
State.
‘‘(D) DEPOSIT OF QUALIFYING CONTRIBU-
TIONS IN HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ELEC-
TION FUND.—
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—Not later than the
date that is 1 day after the date on which
the candidate is certified under section
505, a candidate shall remit all qualifying
contributions to the Commission for de-
posit in the House of Representatives Elec-
tion Fund.
‘‘(ii) CANDIDATES
THAT
ARE
NOT
CERTIFIED.—Not later than the last day of
the clean money qualifying period, a can-
didate who has received qualifying con-
tributions and is not certified under section
505 shall remit all qualifying contributions
to the Commission for deposit in the
House of Representatives Election Fund.
‘‘(3) TIME TO FILE DECLARATION.—A declara-
tion under paragraph (1) shall be filed by a can-
didate not later than the date that is 30 days before
the date of the primary election. With respect to any
special primary election, a declaration under para-
graph (1) shall be filed by a candidate not later than
the date that is 30 days before the special primary
election.
‘‘(b) GENERAL ELECTION PERIOD.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—A candidate qualifies as a
clean money candidate during the general election
period if—
‘‘(A)(i) the candidate qualified as a clean
money candidate during the primary election
period (and primary runoff election period, if
applicable); or
‘‘(ii) the candidate files with the Commis-
sion a declaration, signed by the candidate and
the treasurer of the candidate’s principal com-
mittee, that the candidate—
‘‘(I) has complied and will comply
with all the requirements of this title; and
‘‘(II) meets the qualifying contribu-
tion requirement of subsection (a)(2);
‘‘(B) the candidate files with the Commis-
sion a written agreement between the candidate
and the candidate’s political party in which the
political party agrees not to make any expendi-
tures in connection with the general election of
the candidate in excess of the limit in section
315(d)(3)(C); and
‘‘(C) the candidate’s party nominated the
candidate to be placed on the ballot for the gen-
eral election or the candidate qualified to be
placed on the ballot as an independent can-
didate, and the candidate is qualified under
State law to be on the ballot.
‘‘(2) TIME TO FILE DECLARATION OR STATE-
MENT.—A declaration or statement required to be
filed under paragraph (1) shall be filed by a can-
didate not later than the date that is 30 days before
the date of the general election. With respect to any
special general election, a declaration or statement
required to be filed under paragraph (1) shall be
filed by a candidate not later than the date that is
30 days before the date of the special general elec-
tion.
‘‘(c) GENERAL RUNOFF ELECTION PERIOD.—A can-
didate qualifies as a clean money candidate during the
general runoff election period if the candidate qualified as
a clean money candidate during the general election pe-
riod.
‘‘SEC. 503. REQUIREMENTS APPLICABLE TO CLEAN MONEY
CANDIDATES.
‘‘(a) CONTRIBUTIONS AND EXPENDITURES.—
‘‘(1) PROHIBITION
OF
PRIVATE
CONTRIBU-
TIONS.—Except as otherwise provided in this title,
during the election cycle of a clean money candidate,
the candidate shall not accept contributions other
than clean money from any source.
‘‘(2) PROHIBITION
OF
EXPENDITURES
FROM
PRIVATE SOURCES.—Except as otherwise provided in
this title, during the election cycle of a clean money
candidate, the candidate shall not make expenditures
from any amounts other than clean money amounts.
‘‘(b) USE OF PERSONAL FUNDS.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—A clean money candidate
shall not use personal funds to make an expenditure
except as provided in paragraph (2).
‘‘(2) EXCEPTIONS.—A seed money contribution
or qualifying contribution from the candidate or a
member of the candidate’s immediate family shall
not be considered to be use of personal funds.
‘‘SEC. 504. SEED MONEY.
‘‘(a) SEED MONEY LIMIT.—A clean money candidate
may accept seed money contributions in an aggregate
amount not exceeding $35,000.
‘‘(b) CONTRIBUTION LIMIT.—Except as provided in
section 502(a)(2), a clean money candidate shall not ac-
cept a contribution from any person except a seed money
contribution (as defined in section 501).
‘‘(c) RECORDS.—A clean money candidate shall
maintain a record of the contributor’s name, street ad-
dress, and amount of the contribution.
‘‘(d) USE OF SEED MONEY.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—A clean money candidate
may expend seed money for any election campaign-
related costs, including costs to open an office, fund
a grassroots campaign, or hold community meetings.
‘‘(2) PROHIBITED USES.—A clean money can-
didate shall not expend seed money for—
‘‘(A) a television or radio broadcast; or
‘‘(B) personal use.
‘‘(e) REPORT.—Unless a seed money contribution or
expenditure made with a seed money contribution has
been reported previously under section 304, a clean money
candidate shall file with the Commission a report disclos-
ing all seed money contributions and expenditures not
later than 48 hours after—
‘‘(1) the earliest date on which the Commission
makes funds available to the candidate for an elec-
tion period under paragraph (1) or (2) of section
506(b); or
‘‘(2) the end of the clean money qualifying
period,
whichever occurs first.
‘‘(f) TIME TO ACCEPT SEED MONEY CONTRIBU-
TIONS.—A clean money candidate may accept seed money
contributions for an election from the day after the date
of the previous general election for the office to which the
candidate is seeking election through the earliest date on
which the Commission makes funds available to the can-
didate for an election period under paragraph (1) or (2)
of section 506(b).
‘‘(g) DEPOSIT
OF UNSPENT SEED MONEY CON-
TRIBUTIONS.—A clean money candidate shall remit any
unspent seed money to the Commission, for deposit in the
House of Representatives Election Fund, not later than
the earliest date on which the Commission makes funds
available to the candidate for an election period under
paragraph (1) or (2) of section 506(b).
‘‘(h) NOT CONSIDERED AN EXPENDITURE.—An ex-
penditure made with seed money shall not be treated as
an expenditure for purposes of section 506(f)(2).
‘‘SEC. 505. CERTIFICATION BY COMMISSION.
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 5 days after a
candidate files a declaration under section 502, the Com-
mission shall—
‘‘(1) determine whether the candidate meets the
eligibility requirements of section 502; and
‘‘(2) certify whether or not the candidate is a
clean money candidate.
‘‘(b) REVOCATION OF CERTIFICATION.—The Com-
mission may revoke a certification under subsection (a)
if a candidate fails to comply with this title.
‘‘(c) REPAYMENT OF BENEFITS.—If certification is
revoked under subsection (b), the candidate shall repay
to the House of Representatives Election Fund an amount
equal to the value of benefits received under this title.
‘‘SEC. 506. BENEFITS FOR CLEAN MONEY CANDIDATES.
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—A clean money candidate shall
be entitled to—
‘‘(1) a clean money amount for each election
period to make or obligate to make expenditures
during the election period for which the clean money
is provided, as provided in subsection (c);
‘‘(2) media benefits under section 315 of the
Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 315); and
‘‘(3) an aggregate amount of increase in the
clean money amount in response to certain inde-
pendent expenditures and expenditures of a private
money candidate under subsection (d) that, in the
aggregate, are in excess of 125 percent of the clean
money amount of the clean money candidate.
‘‘(b) PAYMENT OF CLEAN MONEY AMOUNT.—
‘‘(1) PRIMARY
ELECTION.—The Commission
shall make funds available to a clean money can-
didate on the later of—
‘‘(A) the date on which the candidate is
certified as a clean money candidate under sec-
tion 505; or
‘‘(B) the date on which the primary elec-
tion period begins.
‘‘(2) GENERAL
ELECTION.—The Commission
shall make funds available to a clean money can-
didate not later than 48 hours after—
‘‘(A) certification of the primary election
or primary runoff election result; or
‘‘(B) the date on which the candidate is
certified as a clean money candidate under sec-
tion 505 for the general election,
whichever occurs first.
‘‘(3) RUNOFF
ELECTION.—The Commission
shall make funds available to a clean money can-
didate not later than 48 hours after the certification
of the primary or general election result (as applica-
ble).
‘‘(c) CLEAN MONEY AMOUNTS.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para-
graph (2), the clean money amount paid to a clean
money candidate with respect to an election shall be
equal to the applicable percentage of 80 percent of
the base amount for the election cycle involved, ex-
cept that in no event may the amount determined
under this subsection for a clean money candidate
for an election cycle be less than the amount deter-
mined under this subsection for the candidate for
the previous election cycle.
‘‘(2) REDUCTION
FOR
UNCONTESTED
ELEC-
TIONS.—If a clean money candidate has no opposi-
tion in an election for which a payment is made
under this section, the clean money amount paid
shall be 40 percent of the amount otherwise deter-
mined under paragraph (1).
‘‘(3) DEFINITIONS.—
‘‘(A) APPLICABLE PERCENTAGE.—In this
subsection, the ‘applicable percentage’ is as fol-
lows:
‘‘(i) 25 percent, in the case of a can-
didate in a primary election who is not a
major party candidate.
‘‘(ii) 40 percent, in the case of a
major party candidate in a primary elec-
tion.
‘‘(iii) 60 percent, in the case of any
candidate in a general election.
‘‘(B) BASE AMOUNT.—In this subsection,
the term ‘base amount’ means (with respect to
an election cycle) the national average of all
amounts expended by winning candidates dur-
ing the 3 most recent general elections for
Member of, or Delegate or Resident Commis-
sioner to, the Congress preceding the election
cycle involved.
‘‘(d) MATCHING FUNDS IN RESPONSE TO INDEPEND-
ENT EXPENDITURES AND EXPENDITURES OF PRIVATE
MONEY CANDIDATES.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—If the Commission—
‘‘(A) receives notification under—
‘‘(i) subparagraphs (A) or (B) of sec-
tion 304(c)(2) that a person has made or
obligated to make an independent expendi-
ture in an aggregate amount of $1,000 or
more in an election period or that a person
has made or obligated to make an inde-
pendent expenditure in an aggregate
amount of $500 or more during the 20
days preceding the date of an election in
support of another candidate or against a
clean money candidate; or
‘‘(ii) section 304(d)(1) that a private
money candidate has made or obligated to
make expenditures in an aggregate amount
in excess of 100 percent of the amount of
clean money provided to a clean money
candidate who is an opponent of the pri-
vate money candidate in the same election;
and
‘‘(B) 
determines 
that 
the 
aggregate
amount of expenditures reported under sub-
paragraph (A) in an election period is in excess
of 125 percent of the amount of clean money
provided to a clean money candidate who is an
opponent of the private money candidate in the
same election or against whom the independent
expenditure is made,
the Commission shall make available to the clean
money candidate, not later than 24 hours after re-
ceiving a notification under subparagraph (A), an
aggregate amount of increase in clean money in an
amount equal to the aggregate amount of expendi-
tures that is in excess of 125 percent of the amount
of clean money provided to the clean money can-
didate as determined under subparagraph (B).
‘‘(2) CLEAN MONEY CANDIDATES OPPOSED BY
MORE THAN 1 PRIVATE MONEY CANDIDATE.—For
purposes of paragraph (1), if a clean money can-
didate is opposed by more than 1 private money can-
didate in the same election, the Commission shall
take into account only the amount of expenditures of
the private money candidate that expends, in the ag-
gregate, the greatest amount (as determined each
time 
notification 
is 
received 
under 
section
304(d)(1)).
‘‘(3) CLEAN MONEY CANDIDATES OPPOSED BY
CLEAN MONEY CANDIDATES.—If a clean money can-
didate is opposed by a clean money candidate, the
increase in clean money amounts under paragraph
(1) shall be made available to the clean money can-
didate if independent expenditures are made against
the clean money candidate or in behalf of the oppos-
ing clean money candidate in the same manner as
the increase would be made available for a clean
money candidate who is opposed by a private money
candidate.
‘‘(e) LIMITS ON MATCHING FUNDS.—The aggregate
amount of clean money that a clean money candidate re-
ceives to match independent expenditures and the expendi-
tures of private money candidates under subsection (d)
shall not exceed 200 percent of the clean money amount
that the clean money candidate receives under subsection
(c).
‘‘(f) EXPENDITURES MADE
WITH CLEAN MONEY
AMOUNTS.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The clean money amount
received by a clean money candidate shall be used
only for the purpose of making or obligating to make
expenditures during the election period for which the
clean money is provided.
‘‘(2) EXPENDITURES
IN
EXCESS
OF
CLEAN
MONEY
AMOUNT.—A clean money candidate shall
not make expenditures or incur obligations in excess
of the clean money amount.
‘‘(3) PROHIBITED
USES.—The clean money
amount received by a clean money candidate shall
not be—
‘‘(A) converted to a personal use; or
‘‘(B) used in violation of law.
‘‘(4) REPAYMENT; CIVIL PENALTIES.—
‘‘(A) If the Commission determines that
any benefit made available to a clean money
candidate under this title was not used as pro-
vided for in this title, or that a clean money
candidate has violated any of the spending lim-
its or dates for remission of funds contained in
this Act, the Commission shall so notify the
candidate and the candidate shall pay to the
House of Representatives’ Election Fund an
amount equal to the amount of benefits so
used, or the amount spent in excess of the lim-
its or the amount not timely remitted, as appro-
priate.
‘‘(B) Any action by the Commission in ac-
cordance with this section shall not preclude en-
forcement proceedings by the Commission in ac-
cordance with section 309(a), including a refer-
ral by the Commission to the Attorney General
in the case of an apparent knowing and willful
violation of this title.
‘‘(g) REMITTING OF CLEAN MONEY AMOUNTS.—Not
later than the date that is 14 days after the last day of
the applicable election period, a clean money candidate
shall remit any unspent clean money amount to the Com-
mission for deposit in the House of Representatives Elec-
tion Fund.
‘‘SEC. 507. ADMINISTRATION OF CLEAN MONEY.
‘‘(a) HOUSE
OF
REPRESENTATIVES
ELECTION
FUND.—
‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established in
the Treasury a fund to be known as the ‘House of
Representatives Election Fund’.
‘‘(2) DEPOSITS.—The Commission shall deposit
unspent seed money contributions, qualifying con-
tributions, penalty amounts received under this title,
and amounts appropriated for clean money financing
in the House of Representatives Election Fund.
‘‘(3) FUNDS.—The Commission shall withdraw
the clean money amount for a clean money can-
didate from the House of Representatives Election
Fund.
‘‘(b) REGULATIONS.—The Commission shall promul-
gate regulations to—
‘‘(1) effectively and efficiently monitor and en-
force the limits on use of private money by clean
money candidates;
‘‘(2) effectively and efficiently monitor use of
publicly financed amounts under this title; and
‘‘(3) enable clean money candidates to monitor
expenditures and comply with the requirements of
this title.
‘‘SEC. 508. EXPENDITURES MADE FROM FUNDS OTHER
THAN CLEAN MONEY.
‘‘If a clean money candidate makes an expenditure
using funds other than funds provided under this title, the
Commission shall assess a civil penalty against the can-
didate in an amount that is not more than 10 times the
amount of the expenditure.
‘‘SEC. 509. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
‘‘There are authorized to be appropriated to the
House of Representatives Election Fund such sums as are
necessary to carry out this title.’’.
SEC. 103. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS FOR EXPENDITURES
OF PRIVATE MONEY CANDIDATES.
Section 304 of the Federal Election Campaign Act
of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 434) is amended by adding at the end
the following:
‘‘(d) PRIVATE MONEY CANDIDATES.—
‘‘(1) EXPENDITURES
IN
EXCESS
OF
CLEAN
MONEY AMOUNTS.—Not later than 48 hours after
making or obligating to make an expenditure, a pri-
vate money candidate (as defined in section 501)
that makes or obligates to make expenditures, in an
aggregate amount in excess of 100 percent of the
amount of clean money provided to a clean money
candidate (as defined in section 501), during an
election period (as defined by section 501) who is an
opponent of the clean money candidate shall file
with the Commission a report stating the amount of
each expenditure (in increments of an aggregate
amount of $100) made or obligated to be made.
‘‘(2) PLACE OF FILING; NOTIFICATION.—
‘‘(A) PLACE OF FILING.—A report under
this subsection shall be filed with the Commis-
sion.
‘‘(B) NOTIFICATION
OF
CLEAN
MONEY
CANDIDATES.—Not later than 24 hours after
receipt of a report under this subsection, the
Commission shall notify each clean money can-
didate seeking nomination for election to, or
election to, the office in question, of the receipt
of the report.
‘‘(3) DETERMINATIONS BY THE COMMISSION.—
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Commission may,
on a request of a candidate or on its own initia-
tive, make a determination that a private
money candidate has made, or has obligated to
make, expenditures in excess of the applicable
amount in paragraph (1).
‘‘(B) NOTIFICATION.—In the case of such
a determination, the Commission shall notify
each clean money candidate seeking nomination
for election to, or election to, the office in ques-
tion, of the making of the determination not
later than 24 hours after making the deter-
mination.
‘‘(C) TIME
TO
COMPLY
WITH
REQUEST
FOR DETERMINATION.—A determination made
at the request of a candidate shall be made not
later than 48 hours after the date of the re-
quest.’’.
SEC. 104. TRANSITION RULE FOR CURRENT ELECTION
CYCLE.
(a) IN GENERAL.—During the election cycle in effect
on the date of enactment of this Act, a candidate may
be certified as a clean money candidate (as defined in sec-
tion 501 of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971
(2 U.S.C. 431)), notwithstanding the acceptance of con-
tributions or making of expenditures from private funds
before the date of enactment that would, absent this sec-
tion, disqualify the candidate as a clean money candidate.
(b) PRIVATE FUNDS.—A candidate may be certified
as a clean money candidate only if any private funds ac-
cepted and not expended before the date of enactment of
this Act are—
(1) returned to the contributor; or
(2) submitted to the Federal Election Commis-
sion for deposit in the House of Representatives
Election Fund (as defined in section 501 of the Fed-
eral Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C.
431)).
TITLE 
II—INDEPENDENT 
EX-
PENDITURES; COORDINATED
POLITICAL PARTY EXPENDI-
TURES
SEC. 201. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS FOR INDEPENDENT
EXPENDITURES.
(a) INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURES.—Section 304(c)
of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C.
434(c)) is amended—
(1) by striking ‘‘(c)(1) Every person’’ and in-
serting the following:
‘‘(c) INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURES.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—
‘‘(A) REQUIRED FILING.—Except as pro-
vided in paragraph (2), every person’’;
(2) in paragraph (2), by redesignating subpara-
graphs (A), (B), and (C) as clauses (i), (ii), and
(iii), respectively, and adjusting the margins accord-
ingly;
(3) by redesignating paragraphs (2) and (3) as
subparagraphs (B) and (C), respectively, and adjust-
ing the margins accordingly;
(4) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(2) HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ELECTIONS
WITH A CLEAN MONEY CANDIDATE.—
‘‘(A) INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURES MORE
THAN 20 DAYS BEFORE AN ELECTION.—
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 48
hours after making an independent ex-
penditure, more than 20 days before the
date of an election, in support of an oppo-
nent of or in opposition to a clean money
candidate (as defined in section 501), a
person that makes independent expendi-
tures in an aggregate amount in excess of
$1,000 during an election period (as de-
fined in section 501) shall file with the
Commission a statement containing the in-
formation described in clause (ii).
‘‘(ii) CONTENTS OF STATEMENT.—A
statement under subparagraph (A) shall
include a certification, under penalty of
perjury, that contains the information re-
quired by subsection (b)(6)(B)(iii).
‘‘(iii) ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS.—An
additional statement shall be filed for each
aggregate of independent expenditures that
exceeds $1,000.
‘‘(B) INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURES DUR-
ING THE 20 DAYS PRECEDING AN ELECTION.—
Not later than 24 hours after making or obli-
gating to make an independent expenditure in
support of an opponent of or in opposition to a
clean money candidate in an aggregate amount
in excess of $500, during the 20 days preceding
the date of an election, a person that makes or
obligates to make the independent expenditure
shall file with the Commission a statement stat-
ing the amount of each independent expenditure
made or obligated to be made.
‘‘(C) PLACE OF FILING; NOTIFICATION.—
‘‘(i) PLACE OF FILING.—A report or
statement under this paragraph shall be
filed with the Commission.
‘‘(ii) NOTIFICATION OF CLEAN MONEY
CANDIDATES.—Not later than 24 hours,
but excluding the time from 5:00 p.m. Fri-
day through and until 9:00 a.m. the follow-
ing Monday, and legal holidays after re-
ceipt of a statement under this paragraph,
the Commission shall notify each clean
money candidate seeking nomination for
election to, or election to, the office in
question of the receipt of a statement.
‘‘(D) DETERMINATION
BY
THE
COMMIS-
SION.—
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—The Commission
may, on request of a candidate or on its
own initiative, make a determination that a
person has made or obligated to make
independent expenditures with respect to a
candidate that in the aggregate exceed the
applicable amount under subparagraph
(A).
‘‘(ii) NOTIFICATION.—Not later than
24 hours after making a determination
under clause (i), the Commission shall no-
tify each clean money candidate in the
election of the making of the determina-
tion.
‘‘(iii) TIME
TO
COMPLY
WITH
RE-
QUEST
FOR
DETERMINATION.—A deter-
mination made at the request of a can-
didate shall be made not later than 48
hours after the date of the request.’’.
SEC. 202. DEFINITION OF INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURE.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 301 of the Federal Elec-
tion Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 431) is amended
by striking paragraph (17) and inserting the following:
‘‘(17) INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURE.—
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘‘independ-
ent expenditure’’ means an expenditure made
by a person other than a candidate or can-
didate’s authorized committee—
‘‘(i) that is made for a communication
that contains express advocacy; and
‘‘(ii) is made without the participation
or cooperation of and without coordination
with a candidate (within the meaning of
section 301(8)(A)(iii)).
‘‘(B) EXPRESS ADVOCACY.—The term ‘ex-
press advocacy’ means a communication that is
made through a broadcast medium, newspaper,
magazine, billboard, direct mail, or similar type
of communication and that—
‘‘(i) advocates the election or defeat of
a clearly identified candidate, including
any communication that—
‘‘(I) contains a phrase such as
‘vote for’, ‘re-elect’, ‘support’, ‘cast
your ballot for’, ‘(name of candidate)
for Congress’, ‘(name of candidate) in
(year involved)’, ‘vote against’, ‘de-
feat’, ‘reject’, ‘put a stop to (name of
candidate)’, ‘send (name of candidate)
home’; or
‘‘(II) contains campaign slogans
or individual words that in context
can have no reasonable meaning other
than to recommend the election or de-
feat of 1 or more clearly identified
candidates; or
‘‘(ii)(I) refers to a clearly identified
candidate;
‘‘(II) is made not more than 60 days
before the date of a general election; and
‘‘(III) is not solely devoted to a pend-
ing legislative issue before an open session
of Congress.’’.
(b) DEFINITION APPLICABLE WHEN PROVISION NOT
IN EFFECT.—For purposes of the Federal Election Cam-
paign Act of 1971, during any period beginning after the
effective date of this Act in which the definition, or any
part of the definition, under section 301(17)(B) of that
Act (as added by subsection (a)) is not in effect, the defini-
tion of ‘‘express advocacy’’ shall mean, in addition to the
part of the definition that is in effect, a communication
that clearly identifies a candidate and taken as a whole
and with limited reference to external events, such as
proximity to an election, expresses unmistakable support
for or opposition to 1 or more clearly identified candidates.
SEC. 203. LIMIT ON EXPENDITURES BY POLITICAL PARTY
COMMITTEES.
Section 315(d)(3) of the Federal Election Campaign
Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 441a(d)(3)) is amended—
(1) in subparagraph (A)—
(A) in the matter preceding clause (i), by
striking ‘‘in the case’’ and inserting ‘‘except as
provided in subparagraph (C), in the case’’, and
(B) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end;
(2) in subparagraph (B)—
(A) by striking ‘‘in the case’’ and inserting
‘‘except as provided in subparagraph (C), in the
case’’, and
(B) by striking the period at the end and
inserting ‘‘; and’’; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(C) in the case of an election to the office of
Representative in or Delegate or Resident Commis-
sioner to the Congress in which 1 or more can-
didates is a clean money candidate (as defined in
section 501), 10 percent of the amount of clean
money that a clean money candidate is eligible to re-
ceive for the general election period.’’.
SEC. 
204. 
PARTY 
INDEPENDENT 
EXPENDITURES 
AND
OTHER COORDINATED EXPENDITURES.
(a) DETERMINATION TO MAKE COORDINATED EX-
PENDITURES.—Section 315(d) of the Federal Election
Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 441a(d)) is amended—
(1) in paragraph (1)—
(A) 
by 
inserting 
‘‘coordinated’’ 
after
‘‘make’’; and
(B) by striking ‘‘(2) and (3)’’ and inserting
‘‘(2), (3), and (4)’’; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(4)(A) Before a committee of a political party
makes a coordinated expenditure in connection with
a general election campaign for Federal office in ex-
cess of $5,000, the committee shall file with the
Commission a certification, signed by the treasurer,
that the committee has not made and will not make
any independent expenditures in connection with
that campaign for Federal office. A party committee
that determines to make a coordinated expenditure
shall not make any transfer of funds in the same
election cycle to, or receive any transfer of funds in
the same election cycle from, any other party com-
mittee that determines to make independent expend-
itures in connection with the same campaign for
Federal office.
‘‘(B) A committee of a political party shall be
considered to be in coordination with a candidate of
the party if the committee—
‘‘(i) makes a payment for a communication
or anything of value in coordination with the
candidate, 
as 
described 
in 
section
301(8)(A)(iii);
‘‘(ii) makes a coordinated expenditure
under this subsection on behalf of the can-
didate;
‘‘(iii) participates in joint fundraising with
the candidate or in any way solicits or receives
a contribution on behalf of the candidate;
‘‘(iv) communicates with the candidate, or
an agent of the candidate (including a pollster,
media consultant, vendor, advisor, or staff
member), acting on behalf of the candidate,
about advertising, message, allocation of re-
sources, fundraising, or other campaign matters
related to the candidate’s campaign, including
campaign operations, staffing, tactics or strat-
egy; or
‘‘(v) provides in-kind services, polling data,
or anything of value to the candidate.
‘‘(C) For purposes of this paragraph, all politi-
cal committees established and maintained by a na-
tional political party (including all congressional
campaign committees) and all political committees
established by State political parties shall be consid-
ered to be a single political committee.
‘‘(D) For purposes of subparagraph (A), any
coordination between a committee of a political party
and a candidate of the party after the candidate has
filed a statement of candidacy constitutes coordina-
tion for the period beginning with the filing of the
statement of candidacy and ending at the end of the
election cycle.’’.
(b) DEFINITIONS.—
(1) AMENDMENT OF DEFINITION OF CONTRIBU-
TION.—Section 301(8) of the Federal Election Cam-
paign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 431(8)) is amended—
(A) in subparagraph (A)—
(i) by striking ‘‘or’’ at the end of
clause (i);
(ii) by striking the period at the end
of clause (ii) and inserting ‘‘; or’’; and
(iii) by adding at the end the follow-
ing:
‘‘(iii) a payment made for a commu-
nication or anything of value that is for
the purpose of influencing an election for
Federal office and that is made in coordi-
nation with a candidate (as defined in sub-
paragraph (C)).’’; and
(B) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(C) For the purposes of subparagraph
(A)(iii), the term ‘payment made in coordina-
tion with a candidate’ includes—
‘‘(i) a payment made by a person in
cooperation, consultation, or concert with,
at the request or suggestion of, or pursu-
ant to any general or particular under-
standing with a candidate, the candidate’s
authorized committee, or an agent acting
on behalf of a candidate or authorized
committee;
‘‘(ii) a payment made by a person for
the dissemination, distribution, or republi-
cation, in whole or in part, of any broad-
cast or any written, graphic, or other form
of campaign material prepared by a can-
didate, a candidate’s authorized committee,
or an agent of a candidate or authorized
committee (not including a communication
described in paragraph (9)(B)(i) or a com-
munication that expressly advocates the
candidate’s defeat);
‘‘(iii) a payment made based on infor-
mation about a candidate’s plans, projects,
or needs provided to the person making the
payment by the candidate or the can-
didate’s agent who provides the informa-
tion with a view toward having the pay-
ment made;
‘‘(iv) a payment made by a person if,
in the same election cycle in which the pay-
ment is made, the person making the pay-
ment is serving or has served as a member,
employee, fundraiser, or agent of the can-
didate’s authorized committee in an execu-
tive or policymaking position;
‘‘(v) a payment made by a person if
the person making the payment has served
in any formal policy or advisory position
with the candidate’s campaign or has par-
ticipated in strategic or policymaking dis-
cussions with the candidate’s campaign re-
lating to the candidate’s pursuit of nomi-
nation for election, or election, to Federal
office, in the same election cycle as the
election cycle in which the payment is
made; and
‘‘(vi) a payment made by a person if
the person making the payment retains the
professional services of an individual or
person who has provided or is providing
campaign-related services in the same elec-
tion cycle to a candidate in connection with
the candidate’s pursuit of nomination for
election, or election, to Federal office, in-
cluding services relating to the candidate’s
decision to seek Federal office, and the
payment is for services of which the pur-
pose is to influence that candidate’s elec-
tion.
‘‘(D) 
For 
purposes 
of 
subparagraph
(C)(vi), the term ‘professional services’ includes
services in support of a candidate’s pursuit of
nomination for election, or election, to Federal
office such as polling, media advice, direct mail,
fundraising, or campaign research.’’.
(2) DEFINITION OF CONTRIBUTION IN SECTION
315(a)(7).—Section 315(a)(7) of the Federal Elec-
tion Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 441a(a)(7)) is
amended by striking paragraph (B) and inserting
the following:
‘‘(B)(i) Except as provided in clause (ii), a pay-
ment made in coordination with a candidate (as de-
scribed in section 301(8)(A)(iii)) shall be considered
to be a contribution to the candidate, and, for the
purposes of any provision of this Act that imposes
a limitation on the making of expenditures by a can-
didate, shall be treated as an expenditure by the
candidate for purposes of this paragraph.
‘‘(ii) In the case of a clean money candidate (as
defined in section 501), a payment made in coordi-
nation with a candidate by a committee of a political
party shall not be treated as a contribution to the
candidate for purposes of section 503(b)(1) or an ex-
penditure made by the candidate for purposes of sec-
tion 503(b)(2).’’.
(c) MEANING OF CONTRIBUTION OR EXPENDITURE
FOR THE PURPOSES OF SECTION 316.—Section 316(b)(2)
of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C.
441b(b)(2)) is amended by striking ‘‘shall include’’ and
inserting ‘‘includes a contribution or expenditure (as those
terms are defined in section 301) and also includes’’.
TITLE III—VOTER INFORMATION
SEC. 301. FREE BROADCAST TIME.
Section 315 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47
U.S.C. 315) is amended—
(1) in subsection (a), in the third sentence, by
striking ‘‘within the meaning of this subsection’’ and
inserting ‘‘within the meaning of this subsection or
subsection (c)’’;
(2) by redesignating subsections (c) and (d) as
subsections (d) and (e), respectively;
(3) by inserting after subsection (b) the follow-
ing:
‘‘(c) FREE BROADCAST TIME.—
‘‘(1) AMOUNT OF TIME.—A clean money can-
didate shall be entitled to receive—
‘‘(A) 30 minutes of free broadcast time
during each of the primary election period and
the primary runoff election period; and
‘‘(B) 75 minutes of free broadcast time
during the general election period and general
runoff election period.
‘‘(2) TIME DURING WHICH THE BROADCAST IS
SHOWN.—The broadcast time under paragraph (1)
shall be—
‘‘(A) with respect to a television broadcast,
the time between 6:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. on
any day that falls on Monday through Friday;
‘‘(B) with respect to a radio broadcast, the
time between 7:00 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. or be-
tween 4:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. on any day that
falls on Monday through Friday; or
‘‘(C) with respect to any broadcast, such
other time to which the candidate and broad-
caster may agree.
‘‘(3) MAXIMUM REQUIRED OF ANY STATION.—
The amount of free broadcast time that any 1 sta-
tion is required to make available to any 1 clean
money candidate during each of the primary election
period, primary runoff election period, and general
election period shall not exceed 15 minutes.’’; and
(4) in subsection (d) (as redesignated by para-
graph (1))—
(A) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of para-
graph (1);
(B) by striking the period at the end of
paragraph (2) and inserting a semicolon, and
by redesignating that paragraph as paragraph
(4);
(C) by inserting after paragraph (1) the
following:
‘‘(2) the term ‘clean money candidate’ has the
meaning given in section 501 of the Federal Election
Campaign Act of 1971;
‘‘(3) the terms ‘general election period’ and
‘general runoff election period’ have the meaning
given in section 501 of the Federal Election Cam-
paign Act of 1971;’’; and
(D) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(5) the term ‘primary election period’ has the
meaning given in section 501 of the Federal Election
Campaign Act of 1971;
‘‘(6) the term ‘private money candidate’ has the
meaning given in section 501 of the Federal Election
Campaign Act of 1971; and
‘‘(7) the term ‘primary runoff election period’
has the meaning given in section 501 of the Federal
Election Campaign Act of 1971.’’.
SEC. 302. BROADCAST RATES AND PREEMPTION.
(a) BROADCAST RATES.—Section 315(b) of the Com-
munications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 315(b)) is amended—
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as
subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively, and adjust-
ing the margins accordingly;
(2) by striking ‘‘The charges’’ and inserting the
following:
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para-
graph (2), the charges’’; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(2) CLEAN MONEY CANDIDATES.—In the case
of a clean money candidate, the charges for the use
of a television broadcasting station shall not exceed
50 percent of the lowest charge described in para-
graph (1)(A) during—
‘‘(A) the 30 days preceding the date of a
primary or primary runoff election in which the
candidate is opposed; and
‘‘(B) the 60 days preceding the date of a
general or special election in which the can-
didate is opposed.
‘‘(3) OTHER HOUSE CANDIDATES.—In the case
of a candidate for election for Member of, or Dele-
gate or Resident Commissioner to, the Congress who
is not a clean money candidate, paragraph (1)(A)
shall not apply.
‘‘(4) RATE CARDS.—A licensee shall provide to
a candidate for Member of or Delegate or Resident
Commissioner to the Congress a rate card that dis-
closes—
‘‘(A) the rate charged under this sub-
section; and
‘‘(B) the method that the licensee uses to
determine the rate charged under this sub-
section.’’.
(b) PREEMPTION.—Section 315 of the Communica-
tions Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 315) (as amended by section
301) is amended—
(1) by redesignating subsections (d) and (e) as
subsections (e) and (f), respectively; and
(2) by inserting after subsection (c) the follow-
ing:
‘‘(d) PREEMPTION.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para-
graph (2), a licensee shall not preempt the use of a
broadcasting station by a legally qualified candidate
for Member of or Delegate or Resident Commis-
sioner to the Congress who has purchased and paid
for such use.
‘‘(2) CIRCUMSTANCES BEYOND CONTROL OF LI-
CENSEE.—If a program to be broadcast by a broad-
casting station is preempted because of cir-
cumstances beyond the control of the broadcasting
station, any candidate advertising spot scheduled to
be broadcast during that program may also be pre-
empted.’’.
(c) REVOCATION OF LICENSE FOR FAILURE TO PER-
MIT ACCESS.—Section 312(a)(7) of the Communications
Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 312(a)(7)) is amended—
(1) by striking ‘‘or repeated’’;
(2) by inserting ‘‘or cable system’’ after ‘‘broad-
casting station’’; and
(3) by striking ‘‘his candidacy’’ and inserting
‘‘the candidacy of the candidate, under the same
terms, conditions, and business practices as apply to
the most favored advertiser of the licensee’’.
SEC. 303. CAMPAIGN ADVERTISING.
(a) CONTENTS OF CAMPAIGN ADVERTISEMENTS.—
Section 318 of the Federal Election Campaign Act of
1971 (2 U.S.C. 441d) is amended—
(1) in subsection (a)—
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph
(1)—
(i) by striking ‘‘Whenever’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘Whenever a political committee makes
a disbursement for the purpose of financ-
ing any communication through any broad-
casting station, newspaper, magazine, out-
door advertising facility, mailing, or any
other type of general public political adver-
tising, or whenever’’; and
(ii) by striking ‘‘direct’’; and
(B) in paragraph (3), by inserting ‘‘and
permanent street address’’ after ‘‘name’’; and
(2) 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)(1) Any broadcast or cablecast communication
described in subsection (a)(1) or subsection (a)(2) shall
include, in addition to the requirements of those sub-
sections, an audio statement that identifies the candidate
and states that the candidate has approved the commu-
nication.
‘‘(2) If a broadcast or cablecast communication de-
scribed in paragraph (1) is broadcast or cablecast by
means of television, the communication shall include, in
addition to the audio statement under paragraph (1), a
written statement which appears at the end of the commu-
nication 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.
‘‘(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 content 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).
If broadcast or cablecast by means of television, the state-
ment shall also appear in a clearly readable manner with
a reasonable degree of color contrast between the back-
ground and the printed statement, for a period of at least
4 seconds.’’.
(b) REPORTING REQUIREMENTS FOR ISSUE ADVER-
TISEMENTS.—Section 304 of the Federal Election Cam-
paign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 434) (as amended by section
103) is amended by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(e) ISSUE ADVERTISEMENTS.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—A person that makes or ob-
ligates to make a disbursement to purchase an issue
advertisement shall file a report with the Commis-
sion not later than 48 hours after making or obligat-
ing to make the disbursement, containing the follow-
ing information—
‘‘(A) the amount of the disbursement;
‘‘(B) the information required under sub-
section (b)(3)(A) for each person that makes a
contribution, in an aggregate amount of $1,000
or greater in a calendar year, to the person who
makes the disbursement;
‘‘(C) the name and address of the person
making the disbursement; and
‘‘(D) the purpose of the issue advertise-
ment.
‘‘(2) DEFINITION OF ISSUE ADVERTISEMENT.—
In this subsection, the term ‘issue advertisement’
means a communication through a broadcasting sta-
tion, newspaper, magazine, outdoor advertising facil-
ity, mailing, or any other type of general public po-
litical advertising—
‘‘(A) the purchase of which is not an inde-
pendent expenditure or a contribution;
‘‘(B) that contains the name or likeness of
a candidate for Member of or Delegate or Resi-
dent Commissioner to the Congress;
‘‘(C) that is communicated during an elec-
tion year; and
‘‘(D) that recommends a position on a po-
litical issue.’’.
SEC. 304. LIMIT ON CONGRESSIONAL USE OF THE FRANK-
ING PRIVILEGE.
Section 3210(a)(6) of title 39, United States Code,
is amended by striking subparagraph (A) and inserting
the following:
‘‘(A)(i) Except as provided in clause (ii), a Member
of Congress shall not mail any mass mailing as franked
mail during the period which begins on the first day of
the primary election period (as described in section
501(12) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971)
and ends on the date of the general election for that office
(other than any portion of such period between the date
of the primary election and the first day of the general
election period), unless the Member has made a public an-
nouncement that the Member will not be a candidate for
reelection in that year or for election to any other Federal
office.
‘‘(ii) A Member of Congress may mail a mass mailing
as franked mail if—
‘‘(I) the purpose of the mailing is to commu-
nicate information about a public meeting; and
‘‘(II) the content of the mailed matter includes
only the Representative’s name, and the date, time,
and place of the public meeting.’’.
TITLE IV—SOFT MONEY OF
POLITICAL PARTY COMMITTEES
SEC. 401. SOFT MONEY OF POLITICAL PARTY COMMITTEES.
Title III of the Federal Election Campaign Act of
1971 (2 U.S.C. 431 et seq.) is amended by adding at the
end the following:
‘‘SEC. 324. SOFT MONEY OF PARTY COMMITTEES.
‘‘(a) NATIONAL COMMITTEES.—A national commit-
tee of a political party (including a national congressional
not designated or otherwise earmarked to
pay for an activity described in paragraph
(1);
‘‘(ii) the costs of a State, district, or
local political convention;
‘‘(iii) the non-Federal share of a
State, district, or local party committee’s
administrative and overhead expenses (but
not including the compensation in any
month of any individual who spends more
than 20 percent of the individual’s time on
activities during the month that may affect
the outcome of a Federal election), except
that for purposes of this paragraph, the
non-Federal share of a party committee’s
administrative and overhead expenses shall
be determined by applying the ratio of the
non-Federal disbursements to the total
Federal expenditures and non-Federal dis-
bursements made by the committee during
the previous presidential election year to
the committee’s administrative and over-
head expenses in the election year in ques-
tion;
‘‘(iv) the costs of grassroots campaign
materials, including buttons, bumper stick-
ers, and yard signs that name or depict
only a candidate for State or local office;
and
‘‘(v) the cost of any campaign activity
conducted solely on behalf of a clearly
identified candidate for State or local of-
fice, if the candidate activity is not an ac-
tivity described in paragraph (1).
‘‘(B) FUNDRAISING
COSTS.—A national,
State, district, or local committee of a political
party shall not expend any amount to raise
funds that are used, in whole or in part, to pay
the costs of an activity described in paragraph
(1) unless the amount is subject to the limita-
tions, prohibitions, and reporting requirements
of this Act.
‘‘(c) TAX-EXEMPT
ORGANIZATIONS.—A national,
State, district, or local committee of a political party (in-
cluding a national congressional campaign committee of
a political party) shall not solicit any funds for or make
any donations to an organization that is exempt from Fed-
eral taxation under section 501(a) of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986 and that is described in section 501(c) of
such Code.
‘‘(d) CANDIDATES.—
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—A candidate, individual
holding Federal office, or agent of a candidate or in-
dividual holding Federal office shall not—
‘‘(A) solicit, receive, transfer, or spend
funds in connection with an election for Federal
office unless the funds are subject to the limita-
tions, prohibitions, and reporting requirements
of this Act;
‘‘(B) solicit, receive, or transfer funds that
are to be expended in connection with any elec-
tion other than a Federal election unless the
funds—
‘‘(i) are not in excess of the amounts
permitted with respect to contributions to
candidates and political committees under
section 315(a) (1) and (2); and
‘‘(ii) are not from sources prohibited
by this Act from making contributions with
respect to an election for Federal office; or
‘‘(C) solicit, receive, or transfer any funds
on behalf of any person that are not subject to
the limitations, prohibitions, and reporting re-
quirements of this Act if the funds are for use
in financing any campaign-related activity or
any communication that refers to a clearly iden-
tified candidate for Federal office.
‘‘(2) EXCEPTION.—Paragraph (1) does not
apply to the solicitation or receipt of funds by an in-
dividual who is a candidate for a State or local office
if the solicitation or receipt of funds is permitted
under State law for the individual’s State or local
campaign committee.
‘‘(e) DEFINITION OF COMMITTEE.—In this section,
the term ‘committee of a political party’ includes an entity
that is directly or indirectly established, financed, main-
tained, or controlled by a party committee or its agent,
an entity acting on behalf of a party committee, and an
officer or agent acting on behalf of any such committee
or entity.’’.
SEC. 402. STATE PARTY GRASSROOTS FUNDS.
(a) 
INDIVIDUAL
CONTRIBUTIONS.—Section
315(a)(1) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971
(2 U.S.C. 441a(a)(1)) is amended—
(1) in subparagraph (B) by striking ‘‘or’’ at the
end;
(2) by redesignating subparagraph (C) as sub-
paragraph (D); and
(3) by inserting after subparagraph (B) the fol-
lowing:
‘‘(C) to—
‘‘(i) a State Party Grassroots Fund estab-
lished and maintained by a State committee of
a political party in any calendar year which, in
the aggregate, exceed $20,000;
‘‘(ii) any other political committee estab-
lished and maintained by a State committee of
a political party in any calendar year which, in
the aggregate, exceed $5,000;
except that the aggregate contributions described in
this subparagraph that may be made by a person to
the State Party Grassroots Fund and all committees
of a State Committee of a political party in any
State in any calendar year shall not exceed $20,000;
or’’.
(b) LIMITS.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 315(a) of the Fed-
eral Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C.
441a(a)) is amended by striking paragraph (3) and
inserting the following:
‘‘(3) OVERALL LIMITS.—
‘‘(A) INDIVIDUAL
LIMIT.—No individual
shall make contributions during any calendar
year that, in the aggregate, exceed $25,000.
‘‘(B) CALENDAR
YEAR.—No individual
shall make contributions during any calendar
year—
‘‘(i) to all candidates and their au-
thorized political committees that, in the
aggregate, exceed $25,000; or
‘‘(ii) to all political committees estab-
lished and maintained by State committees
of a political party that, in the aggregate,
exceed $20,000.
‘‘(C) NONELECTION YEARS.—For purposes
of subparagraph (B)(i), any contribution made
to a candidate or the candidate’s authorized po-
litical committees in a year other than the cal-
endar year in which the election is held with re-
spect to which the contribution is made shall be
treated as being made during the calendar year
in which the election is held.’’.
(c) DEFINITIONS.—Section 301 of the Federal Elec-
tion Campaign Act of 1970 (2 U.S.C. 431) is amended
by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(20) The term ‘generic campaign activity’
means a campaign activity that promotes a political
party and does not refer to any particular Federal
or non-Federal candidate.
‘‘(21) 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 326(d).’’.
(d) STATE PARTY GRASSROOTS FUNDS.—Title III of
the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 431
et seq.) (as amended by section 401) is amended by adding
at the end the following:
‘‘SEC. 325. STATE PARTY GRASSROOTS FUNDS.
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—A State committee of a political
party shall only make disbursements and expenditures
from the committee’s State Party Grassroots Fund that
are described in subsection (d).
‘‘(b) TRANSFERS.—
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—Notwithstanding section
315(a)(4), a State committee of a political party
shall not transfer any funds from the committee’s
State Party Grassroots Fund to any other State
Party Grassroots Fund or to any other political com-
mittee, except as provided in paragraph (2).
‘‘(2) EXCEPTION.—A committee of a political
party may transfer funds from the committee’s
State Party Grassroots Fund to a district or local
committee of the same political party in the same
State if the district or local committee—
‘‘(A) has established a separate segregated
fund for the purposes described in subsection
(d); and
‘‘(B) uses the transferred funds solely for
those purposes.
‘‘(c) AMOUNTS RECEIVED BY GRASSROOTS FUNDS
FROM STATE AND LOCAL CANDIDATE COMMITTEES.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Any amount received by a
State Party Grassroots Fund from a State or local
candidate committee for expenditures described in
subsection (d) that are for the benefit of that can-
didate shall be treated as meeting the requirements
of 324(b)(1) and section 304(d) if—
‘‘(A) the 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)(i); and
‘‘(B) the State or local candidate commit-
tee—
‘‘(i) maintains, in the account from
which payment is made, records of the
sources and amounts of funds for purposes
of determining whether those requirements
are met; and
‘‘(ii) certifies that the requirements
were met.
‘‘(2) DETERMINATION
OF
COMPLIANCE.—For
purposes of paragraph (1)(A), in determining wheth-
er the funds transferred meet the requirements of
this Act described in paragraph (1)(A)—
‘‘(A) a State or local candidate commit-
tee’s cash on hand shall be treated as consisting
of the funds most recently received by the com-
mittee; and
‘‘(B) the committee must be able to dem-
onstrate that its cash on hand contains funds
meeting those requirements sufficient to cover
the transferred funds.
‘‘(3) REPORTING.—Notwithstanding paragraph
(1), any State Party Grassroots Fund that receives
a transfer described in paragraph (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
the candidate committee.
‘‘(d) DISBURSEMENTS
AND
EXPENDITURES.—A
State committee of a political party may make disburse-
ments and expenditures from its State Party Grassroots
Fund only for—
‘‘(1) any generic campaign activity;
‘‘(2) payments described in clauses (v), (ix),
and (xi) of paragraph (8)(B) and clauses (iv), (viii),
and (ix) of paragraph (9)(B) of section 301;
‘‘(3) 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;
‘‘(4) voter registration; and
‘‘(5) development and maintenance of voter files
during an even-numbered calendar year.
‘‘(e) DEFINITION.—In this section, the term ‘State
or local candidate committee’ means a committee estab-
lished, financed, maintained, or controlled by a candidate
for other than Federal office.’’.
SEC. 403. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.
(a) REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.—Section 304 of the
Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 434)