I
104TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 3053
To amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to provide for a
voluntary system of spending limits and benefits for congressional elec-
tion campaigns, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MARCH 7, 1996
Mr. MARKEY introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Commit-
tee on House Oversight, and in addition to the Committees on Commerce,
the Judiciary, Ways and Means, and Government Reform and Oversight,
for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case
for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the
committee concerned
A BILL
To amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to
provide for a voluntary system of spending limits and
benefits for congressional election campaigns, and for
other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the
‘‘Citizen Representative Act of 1996’’.
(c) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
TITLE I—CONTROL OF CONGRESSIONAL CAMPAIGN SPENDING
Subtitle A—[Reserved]
Subtitle B—Expenditure Limitations, Contribution Limitations, and Voter
Communication Vouchers for Eligible House of Representatives Candidates
Sec. 121. Provisions applicable to eligible House of Representatives candidates.
Sec. 122. Registration as eligible House of Representatives candidate.
Sec. 123. Definitions.
TITLE II—LIMITATIONS ON POLITICAL COMMITTEE AND LARGE
DONOR CONTRIBUTIONS THAT MAY BE ACCEPTED BY HOUSE
OF REPRESENTATIVES CANDIDATES
Sec. 201. Limitations on political committee and large donor contributions that
may be accepted by House of Representatives candidates.
TITLE III—INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURES
Sec. 301. Clarification of definitions relating to independent expenditures.
Sec. 302. Reporting requirements for certain independent expenditures.
Sec. 303. Broadcast and cable independent expenditure communications against
eligible House of Representatives candidates.
Sec. 304. Additional expenditures by eligible House of Representatives can-
didate faced with large amount of independent expenditures.
TITLE IV—CONTRIBUTIONS AND EXPENDITURES BY POLITICAL
PARTY COMMITTEES
Sec. 401. Soft money of political parties.
Sec. 402. Reporting requirements.
Sec. 403. Soft money of persons other than political parties.
Sec. 404. Reporting requirements.
Sec. 405. Restrictions on fundraising by candidates and officeholders.
Sec. 406. Increased limitation amount for certain contributions to political com-
mittees of State political parties.
Sec. 407. Building fund exception to the definition of the term ‘‘contribution’’.
TITLE V—CONTRIBUTIONS
Sec. 501. Restrictions on bundling.
Sec. 502. Contributions by dependents not of voting age.
Sec. 503. Prohibition of acceptance by a candidate of cash contributions from
any one person aggregating more than $100.
Sec. 504. Contributions to candidates from State and local committees of politi-
cal parties to be aggregated.
Sec. 505. Prohibition of false representation to solicit contributions.
Sec. 506. Limited exclusion of advances by campaign workers from the defini-
tion of the term ‘‘contribution’’.
Sec. 507. Amendment to section 316 of the Federal Election Campaign Act of
1971.
Sec. 508. Prohibition of certain election-related activities of foreign nationals.
TITLE VI—REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
Sec. 601. Change in certain reporting from a calendar year basis to an election
cycle basis.
Sec. 602. Personal and consulting services.
Sec. 603. Reduction in threshold for reporting of certain information by per-
sons other than political committees.
Sec. 604. Computerized indices of contributions.
Sec. 605. Identification.
Sec. 606. Political committees.
Sec. 607. Use of candidates’ names.
Sec. 608. Reporting requirements.
Sec. 609. Simultaneous registration of candidate and candidate’s principal cam-
paign committee.
Sec. 610. Disclosures by organizations that engage in lobbying.
TITLE VII—FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION
Sec. 701. Appearance as amici curiae.
Sec. 702. Federal Election Commission public service announcements.
Sec. 703. Authority to seek injunction.
Sec. 704. Expedited procedures.
Sec. 705. Insolvent political committees.
TITLE VIII—MISCELLANEOUS
Sec. 801. Broadcast rates and preemption.
Sec. 802. Campaign advertising amendments.
Sec. 803. Telephone voting by persons with disabilities.
Sec. 804. Transfer of presidential election financing provisions to Federal Elec-
tion Campaign Act of 1971.
TITLE IX—HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CAMPAIGN ELECTION
FUNDING AND RELATED MATTERS
Sec. 901. Citizen Representative Fund.
Sec. 902. Designation of overpayments and contributions for the Citizen Rep-
resentative Fund as specified by the taxpayer.
Sec. 903. Funding.
Sec. 904. Affinity cards.
TITLE X—EFFECTIVE DATES; SEVERABILITY
Sec. 1001. Effective date.
Sec. 1002. Severability.
Sec. 1003. Expedited review of constitutional issues.
Sec. 1004. Regulations.
TITLE 
I—CONTROL 
OF 
CON-
GRESSIONAL 
CAMPAIGN
SPENDING
Subtitle A—[Reserved]
Subtitle 
B—Expenditure 
Limita-
tions, Contribution Limitations,
and 
Voter 
Communication
Vouchers for Eligible House of
Representatives Candidates
SEC. 121. PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO ELIGIBLE HOUSE
OF REPRESENTATIVES CANDIDATES.
The Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 is
amended by adding at the end the following new title:
‘‘TITLE VI—EXPENDITURE LIMI-
TATIONS, 
CONTRIBUTION
LIMITATIONS, 
AND 
VOTER
COMMUNICATION VOUCHERS
FOR 
ELIGIBLE 
HOUSE 
OF
REPRESENTATIVES 
CAN-
DIDATES
‘‘SEC. 601. EXPENDITURE LIMITATIONS.
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—An eligible House of Representa-
tives candidate may not, in an election cycle, make expend-
itures aggregating more than $600,000.
‘‘(b) RUNOFF ELECTION AND SPECIAL ELECTION
AMOUNTS.—
‘‘(1) RUNOFF ELECTION AMOUNT.—If an eligi-
ble House of Representatives candidate is a can-
didate in a runoff election, the candidate may make
additional expenditures aggregating not more than
$120,000 in the election cycle.
‘‘(2) SPECIAL ELECTION AMOUNT.—An eligible
House of Representatives candidate who is a can-
didate in a special election may make expenditures
aggregating not more than $600,000 with respect to
the special election.
‘‘(c) CLOSELY CONTESTED PRIMARY.—If, as deter-
mined by the Commission, an eligible House of Represent-
atives candidate in a contested primary election wins that
primary election by a margin of 10 percentage points or
less, the candidate may make additional expenditures ag-
gregating not more than $180,000 in the election cycle.
‘‘(d) NONPARTICIPATING OPPONENT PROVISIONS.—
‘‘(1) LIMITATION EXCEPTION.—The limitations
imposed by subsections (a) and (b) do not apply in
the case of an eligible House of Representatives can-
didate if any other general election candidate seek-
ing nomination or election to that office—
‘‘(A) is not an eligible House of Represent-
atives candidate; and
‘‘(B) receives contributions or makes ex-
penditures in excess of 25 percent of the limita-
tion under subsection (a).
‘‘(2) CONTINUED ELIGIBILITY AND ADDITIONAL
MATCHING FUNDS.—An eligible House of Represent-
atives candidate referred to in paragraph (1)—
‘‘(A) shall continue to be eligible for all
benefits under this title; and
‘‘(B) shall receive voter communication
vouchers under section 604.
‘‘(3) REPORTING REQUIREMENT.—A candidate
for the office of Representative in, or Delegate or
Resident Commissioner to, the Congress—
‘‘(A) who is not an eligible House of Rep-
resentatives candidate; and
‘‘(B) who makes contributions in excess of
$50,000 of personal funds of the candidate and
members of the candidate’s immediate family to
the authorized committee of the candidate or
receives contributions or makes expenditures in
excess of 25 percent of the limitation under
subsection (a);
shall report that the threshold has been reached to
the Commission who shall then transmit a copy to
each other candidate for election to the same office
within 48 hours of receipt.
‘‘(e) EXEMPTION FOR LEGAL COSTS AND TAXES.—
Any costs incurred by an eligible House of Representatives
candidate or his or her authorized committee, or a Federal
officeholder, for legal services or Federal, State, or for
local income and payroll taxes with respect to a can-
didate’s authorized committees, or to comply with section
606, shall not be considered in the computation of
amounts subject to limitation under this section.
‘‘(f) EXEMPTION FOR ACCOUNTING OR FUNDRAISING
COSTS.—
‘‘(1) Any costs incurred by an eligible House of
Representatives candidate or his or her authorized
committee in connection with the solicitation of con-
tributions on behalf of such candidate or for ac-
counting services to ensure compliance with this Act
shall not be considered in the computation of
amounts subject to limitation under subsection (a)
to the extent that the aggregate of such costs does
not exceed 10 percent of the limitation under sub-
section (a).
‘‘(2) An amount equal to 10 percent of salaries
and overhead expenditures of an eligible House of
Representatives candidate’s campaign headquarters
and offices shall not be considered in the computa-
tion of amounts subject to limitation under this sec-
tion. Any amount excluded under this paragraph
shall be applied against the accounting or fundrais-
ing expenditure exemption under paragraph (1).
‘‘(g) CIVIL PENALTIES.—
‘‘(1) LOW
AMOUNT
OF
EXCESS
EXPENDI-
TURES.—Any eligible House of Representatives can-
didate who makes expenditures that exceed a limita-
tion under subsection (a) or subsection (b) by 2.5
percent or less shall pay to the Commission an
amount equal to the amount of the excess expendi-
tures.
‘‘(2) MEDIUM AMOUNT OF EXCESS EXPENDI-
TURES.—Any eligible House of Representatives can-
didate who makes expenditures that exceed a limita-
tion under subsection (a) or subsection (b) by more
than 2.5 percent and less than 5 percent shall pay
to the Commission an amount equal to three times
the amount of the excess expenditures.
‘‘(3) LARGE
AMOUNT
OF
EXCESS
EXPENDI-
TURES.—Any eligible House of Representatives can-
didate who makes expenditures that exceed a limita-
tion under subsection (a) or subsection (b) by 5 per-
cent or more shall pay to the Commission an
amount equal to three times the amount of the ex-
cess expenditures plus a civil penalty in an amount
determined by the Commission.
‘‘(h) INDEXING.—The dollar amounts specified in
subsections (a), (b), and (c) shall be adjusted at the begin-
ning of each calendar year based on the increase in the
price index determined under section 315(c), except that,
for the purposes of such adjustment, the base period shall
be calendar year 1995.
‘‘(i) The limitations of this section do not apply in
the case of any recall action held pursuant to State law.
‘‘SEC. 602. CONTRIBUTION LIMITATIONS.
‘‘(a) PERSONAL CONTRIBUTIONS.—An eligible House
of Representatives candidate may not, with respect to an
election cycle, make contributions or loans to his or her
own campaign totaling more than $25,000 from the per-
sonal funds of the candidate. The amount that the can-
didate may accept from persons referred to in section
315(i)(2) shall be reduced by the amount of contributions
made under the preceding sentence. Contributions from
the personal funds of a candidate may not be matched
under section 604.
‘‘(C) comply with any repayment require-
ment under section 606; and
‘‘(D) participate in at least 2 debates,
sponsored by a nonpartisan or bipartisan orga-
nization, with all other general election can-
didates for that office who are eligible under
this section.
‘‘(c) WRITTEN INSTRUMENT REQUIREMENT.—No
contribution in any form other than a gift of money made
by a written instrument or a certification by the committee
making the request that identifies the individual making
the contribution by full name and address may be used
as a basis for any matching payment under this section.
‘‘(d) CERTIFICATION AND PAYMENT.—
‘‘(1) CERTIFICATION.—Except as provided in
paragraphs (2), (3), and (4) not later than 5 days
after receiving a request for payment, the Commis-
sion shall certify for payment the amount requested
under this section. The request by an eligible can-
didate to receive voter communications vouchers
under this section shall contain—
‘‘(A) such information and be made in ac-
cordance with such procedures as the Commis-
sion may provide by regulation; and
‘‘(B) a verification signed by the candidate
and the treasurer of the principal campaign
committee of such candidate stating that the in-
formation furnished in support of the request,
to the best of their knowledge, is correct and
fully satisfies the requirements of this title.
‘‘(2) PAYMENTS.—The initial payment of voter
communication vouchers under subsection (a) to an
eligible candidate shall be an amount equal to at
least 10 percent of the limit specified in section
601(a). All payments shall be—
‘‘(A) made not later than 48 hours after
certification under paragraph (1); and
‘‘(B) subject to proportional reduction in
the case of insufficient funds.
‘‘(3) PARTIAL CERTIFICATION.—If the Commis-
sion determines that any portion of a request does
not meet the requirements for certification, the
Commission shall withhold the certification for that
portion only and inform the candidate as to how the
candidate may correct the request.
‘‘(4) CERTIFICATION
WITHHELD.—The Com-
mission may withhold certification if it determines
that a candidate who is otherwise eligible has en-
gaged in a pattern of activity indicating that the
promises in the candidate’s statement of participa-
tion cannot be relied upon.
‘‘(e) CLOSELY CONTESTED PRIMARY.—If, as deter-
mined by the Commission, an eligible House of Represent-
atives candidate in a contested primary election wins that
primary election by a margin of 10 percentage points or
less, the candidate shall be eligible to receive matching
vouchers totaling not more than $66,600, in addition to
any other amount received under this section. The amount
available under the preceding sentence is subject to the
matching requirements of this section.
‘‘(f) INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURE PROVISION.—If,
with respect to a general election involving an eligible
House of Representatives candidate, any person makes
independent expenditures totaling $10,000 against the eli-
gible House of Representatives candidate or in favor of
another candidate, the eligible House of Representatives
candidate shall be entitled, in addition to any amount re-
ceived under subsection (a), to voter communication
vouchers equal to the amount of such independent expend-
itures, and expenditures may be made from such vouchers
without regard to the limitations in section 601.
‘‘(g) PROHIBITION OF CONVERSION TO PERSONAL
USE.—An eligible candidate who receives voter commu-
nication vouchers under this section may not convert any
amount to personal use or make any payments, directly
or indirectly, to such candidate or to any members of the
immediate family of the candidate.
‘‘(h) INDEXING.—The dollar amount specified in sub-
sections (a) and (e) (other than the amount taken into
account per individual) shall be adjusted at the beginning
of the calendar year based on the increase in the price
index determined under section 315(c), except that, for
the purposes of such adjustment, the base period shall be
calendar year 1995.
‘‘(i) USE OF VOTER COMMUNICATION VOUCHERS.—
Voter communication vouchers shall be used by an eligible
House of Representatives candidate—
‘‘(1) to purchase broadcast time during the gen-
eral election period in the same manner as other
broadcast time may be purchased by the candidate;
‘‘(2) to purchase print advertisements during
the general election period;
‘‘(3) to purchase voter contact campaign mate-
rials (brochures, bumper stickers, handbills, pins,
posters, and yard signs) used during the general
election period; or
‘‘(4) to pay for postage expenses incurred dur-
ing the general election period.
‘‘(j) UNEXPENDED
VOUCHERS.—Any amount of
voter communication vouchers received by an eligible
House candidate under this title and not expended on or
before the date of the general election shall be repaid with-
in 60 days of the election, except that a reasonable amount
may be retained for a period not exceeding 120 days after
the date of the general election for the liquidation of obli-
gations to pay expenditures for the general election in-
curred during the general election period. At the end of
the 120-day period, any unexpended vouchers received
under this title shall be promptly repaid.
‘‘SEC. 605. CLOSED CAPTIONING REQUIREMENT FOR TELE-
VISION COMMERCIALS OF ELIGIBLE HOUSE
OF REPRESENTATIVES CANDIDATES.
‘‘No eligible House of Representatives candidate may
receive amounts under section 604 unless such candidate
has certified to the Federal Election Commission that any
television commercial prepared or distributed by the can-
didate will be prepared in a manner that contains, is ac-
companied by, or otherwise readily permits closed caption-
ing of the oral content of the commercial to be broadcast
by way of line 21 of the vertical blanking interval, or by
way of comparable successor technologies.
‘‘SEC. 606. EXAMINATION AND AUDITS; REPAYMENTS.
‘‘(a) GENERAL ELECTION.—After each general elec-
tion, the Commission shall conduct an examination and
audit of the campaign accounts of 5 percent of the eligible
House of Representatives candidates, as designated by the
Commission through the use of an appropriate statistical
method of random selection, to determine whether such
candidates have complied with the conditions of eligibility
and other requirements of this title. No other factors shall
be considered in carrying out such an examination and
audit. The Commission shall conduct an examination and
audit of the accounts of all candidates from a congres-
sional district where any eligible candidate is selected for
examination and audit.
‘‘(b) SPECIAL ELECTION.—After each special elec-
tion, the Commission shall conduct an examination and
audit of the campaign accounts of all eligible candidates
in the election to determine whether the candidates have
complied with the conditions of eligibility and other re-
quirements of this title.
‘‘(c) AFFIRMATIVE VOTE.—The Commission may
conduct an examination and audit of the campaign ac-
counts of any eligible House of Representatives candidate
in a general election if the Commission, by an affirmative
vote of 4 members, determines that there exists reason
to believe whether such candidate may have violated any
provision of this title.
‘‘(d) PAYMENTS.—If the Commission determines that
any amount of a payment to a candidate under this title
was in excess of the aggregate payments to which such
candidate was entitled, the Commission shall so notify the
candidate, and the candidate shall pay an amount equal
to the excess.
‘‘SEC. 607. JUDICIAL REVIEW.
‘‘(a) JUDICIAL REVIEW.—Any agency action by the
Commission made under the provisions of this title shall
be subject to review by the United States Court of Appeals
for the District of Columbia Circuit upon petition filed in
such court within 30 days after the agency action by the
Commission for which review is sought. It shall be the
duty of the Court of Appeals, ahead of all matters not
filed under this title, to advance on the docket and expedi-
tiously take action on all petitions filed pursuant to this
title.
‘‘(b) APPLICATION OF TITLE 5.—The provisions of
chapter 7 of title 5, United States Code, shall apply to
judicial review of any agency action by the Commission.
‘‘(c) AGENCY ACTION.—For purposes of this section,
the term ‘agency action’ has the meaning given such term
by section 551(13) of title 5, United States Code.
‘‘SEC. 608. PARTICIPATION BY COMMISSION IN JUDICIAL
PROCEEDINGS.
‘‘(a) APPEARANCES.—The Commission is authorized
to appear in and defend against any action instituted
under this section and under section 607 either by attor-
neys employed in its office or by counsel whom it may ap-
point without regard to the provisions of title 5, United
States Code, governing appointments in the competitive
service, and whose compensation it may fix without regard
to the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chap-
ter 53 of such title.
‘‘(b) INSTITUTION OF ACTIONS.—The Commission is
authorized, through attorneys and counsel described in
subsection (a), to institute actions in the district courts
of the United States to seek recovery of any amounts de-
termined under this title to be payable to the Secretary.
‘‘(c) INJUNCTIVE RELIEF.—The Commission is au-
thorized, through attorneys and counsel described in sub-
section (a), to petition the courts of the United States for
such injunctive relief as is appropriate in order to imple-
ment any provision of this title.
‘‘(d) APPEALS.—The Commission is authorized on
behalf of the United States to appeal from, and to petition
the Supreme Court for certiorari to review, judgments or
decrees entered with respect to actions in which it appears
pursuant to the authority provided in this section.
‘‘SEC. 609. REPORTS TO CONGRESS; CERTIFICATIONS; REG-
ULATIONS.
‘‘(a) REPORTS.—The Commission shall, as soon as
practicable after each election, submit a full report to the
House of Representatives setting forth—
‘‘(1) the expenditures (shown in such detail as
the Commission determines appropriate) made by
each eligible candidate and the authorized commit-
tees of such candidate;
‘‘(2) the aggregate amount of voter communica-
tion vouchers certified by the Commission under sec-
tion 604 for each eligible candidate; and
‘‘(3) the amount of repayments, if any, required
under section 606, and the reasons for each repay-
ment required.
Each report submitted pursuant to this section shall be
printed as a House document.
‘‘(b) DETERMINATIONS BY COMMISSION.—All deter-
minations (including certifications under section 604)
made by the Commission under this title shall be final and
conclusive, except to the extent that they are subject to
examination and audit by the Commission under section
606 or judicial review under section 607.
‘‘(c) RULES AND REGULATIONS.—The Commission is
authorized to prescribe such rules and regulations, in ac-
cordance with the provisions of subsection (d), to conduct
such audits, examinations and investigations, and to re-
quire the keeping and submission of such books, records,
and information, as it deems necessary to carry out the
functions and duties imposed on it by this title.
‘‘(d) REPORT
OF PROPOSED REGULATIONS.—The
Commission shall submit to the House of Representatives
a report containing a detailed explanation and justification
of each rule, regulation, and form of the Commission
under this title. No such rule, regulation, or form may
take effect until a period of 30 legislative days has elapsed
after the report is received. As used in this subsection—
‘‘(1) the term ‘legislative day’ means any cal-
endar day on which the House of Representatives is
in session; and
‘‘(2) the terms ‘rule’ and ‘regulation’ mean a
provision or series of interrelated provisions stating
a single, separable rule of law.’’.
SEC. 122. REGISTRATION AS ELIGIBLE HOUSE OF REP-
RESENTATIVES CANDIDATE.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 302(e) of the Federal
Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 432(e)) is
amended by adding at the end the following new para-
graph:
‘‘(6)(A) In the case of a candidate for the office of
Representative in, or Delegate or Resident Commissioner
to, the Congress, who desires to be an eligible House of
Representatives candidate, a declaration of participation
of the candidate to abide by the limits specified in sections
601 and 315(i) and provide the information required
under section 604(b)(4) shall be included in the designa-
tion required to be filed under paragraph (1).
‘‘(B)(i) In the case of a candidate referred to in sub-
paragraph (A), if the statement of candidacy does not in-
clude a declaration referred to in that paragraph, the can-
didate may amend the statement to include such declara-
tion, if such amendment is filed under subsection (g) not
later than 7 days after the earlier of—
‘‘(I) the date the candidate qualifies for the
general election ballot under State law; or
‘‘(II) if, under State law, a primary or runoff
election to qualify for the general election ballot oc-
curs after September 1, the date the candidate wins
the primary or runoff election.
‘‘(ii) A declaration of participation that is included
in a statement of candidacy or has been added by amend-
ment under subparagraph (B) may not thereafter be re-
voked.’’.
SEC. 123. DEFINITIONS.
Section 301 of the Federal Election Campaign Act
of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 431) is amended by striking paragraph
(19) and inserting the following new paragraphs:
‘‘(19) The term ‘general election’ means any election
which will directly result in the election of a person to a
Federal office, but does not include an open primary elec-
tion.
‘‘(20) The term ‘general election period’ means, with
respect to any candidate, the period beginning on the day
after the date of the primary or runoff election for the
specific office the candidate is seeking, whichever is later,
and ending on the earlier of—
‘‘(A) the date of such general election; or
‘‘(B) the date on which the candidate withdraws
from the campaign or otherwise ceases actively to
seek election.
‘‘(21) The term ‘immediate family’ means—
‘‘(A) a candidate’s spouse;
‘‘(B) a child, stepchild, parent, grandparent,
brother, step-brother, sister or step-sister of the can-
didate or the candidate’s spouse; and
‘‘(C) the spouse of any person described in sub-
paragraph (B).
‘‘(22) The term ‘primary election’ means an election
which may result in the selection of a candidate for the
ballot in a general election for a Federal office.
‘‘(23) The term ‘primary election period’ means, with
respect to any candidate, the period beginning on the day
following the date of the last election for the specific office
the candidate is seeking and ending on the earlier of—
‘‘(A) the date of the first primary election for
that office following the last general election for that
office; or
‘‘(B) the date on which the candidate withdraws
from the election or otherwise ceases actively to seek
election.
‘‘(24) The term ‘runoff election’ means an election
held after a primary election which is prescribed by appli-
cable State law as the means for deciding which candidate
will be on the ballot in the general election for a Federal
office.
‘‘(25) The term ‘runoff election period’ means, with
respect to any candidate, the period beginning on the day
following the date of the last primary election for the spe-
cific office such candidate is seeking and ending on the
date of the runoff election for such office.
‘‘(26) The term ‘voting age population’ means the
resident population, 18 years of age or older, as certified
pursuant to section 315(e).
‘‘(27) The term ‘eligible House of Representatives
candidate’ means a candidate for election to the office of
Representative in, or Delegate or Resident Commissioner
to, the Congress, who, as determined by the Commission
under section 603, is eligible to receive matching vouchers
and other benefits under title VI by reason of filing a dec-
laration of participation under section 302(e) and comply-
ing with the continuing eligibility requirements under sec-
tion 603.
‘‘(28) The term ‘election cycle’ means—
‘‘(A) in the case of a candidate or the author-
ized committees of a candidate, the term beginning
on the day after the date of the most recent general
election for the specific office or seat which such
candidate seeks and ending on the date of the next
general election for such office or seat; or
‘‘(B) for all other persons, the term beginning
on the first day following the date of the last general
election and ending on the date of the next general
election.’’.
TITLE II—LIMITATIONS ON PO-
LITICAL 
COMMITTEE 
AND
LARGE 
DONOR 
CONTRIBU-
TIONS THAT MAY BE ACCEPT-
ED 
BY 
HOUSE 
OF 
REP-
RESENTATIVES CANDIDATES
SEC. 201. LIMITATIONS ON POLITICAL COMMITTEE AND
LARGE DONOR CONTRIBUTIONS THAT MAY
BE ACCEPTED BY HOUSE OF REPRESENTA-
TIVES CANDIDATES.
Section 315 of the Federal Election Campaign Act
of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 441a) is amended by adding at the end
the following new subsections:
‘‘(i)(1) A candidate for the office of Representative
in, or Delegate or Resident Commissioner to, the Congress
may not, with respect to an election cycle, accept contribu-
tions from political committees aggregating in excess of
$90,000.
‘‘(2) A candidate for the office of Representative in,
or Delegate or Resident Commissioner to, the Congress
may not, with respect to an election cycle, accept contribu-
tions aggregating in excess of $120,000 from persons
other than political committees whose contributions total
more than $250.
‘‘(3) In addition to the contributions under para-
graphs (1) and (2), if an eligible House of Representatives
candidate in a contested primary election wins that pri-
mary election by a margin of 10 percentage points or less,
the candidate may accept contributions of not more than
$180,000, $27,000 from persons identified in paragraph
(1) and $36,000 from persons identified in paragraph (2).
‘‘(4) In addition to the contributions under para-
graphs (1) and (2), a House of Representatives candidate
who is a candidate in a runoff election may accept con-
tributions of not more than $120,000, $18,000 from per-
sons identified in paragraph (1) and $24,000 from persons
identified in paragraph (2).
‘‘(j) NONPARTICIPATING OPPONENT PROVISIONS.—
The limitations imposed by section 315(i) do not apply
in the case of an eligible House of Representatives can-
didate if any other candidate seeking nomination or elec-
tion to that office—
‘‘(1) is not an eligible House of Representatives
general election candidate;
‘‘(2) makes contributions or loans to his or her
own campaign totaling more than $25,000 from his
or her own personal funds; and
‘‘(3) makes expenditures in excess of 100 per-
cent of the limitations specified in section 601.
‘‘(k) CIVIL PENALTIES.—
‘‘(1) LOW
AMOUNT
OF
EXCESS
CONTRIBU-
TIONS.—Any eligible House of Representatives can-
didate who accepts contributions that exceed the lim-
itations under this section by 2.5 percent or less
shall refund the excess contributions to the persons
who made the contributions.
‘‘(2) MEDIUM AMOUNT OF EXCESS CONTRIBU-
TIONS.—Any eligible House of Representatives can-
didate who accepts contributions that exceed the lim-
itations under this section by more than 2.5 percent
and less than 5 percent shall pay to the Commission
an amount equal to three times the amount of the
excess contributions.
‘‘(3) LARGE
AMOUNT
OF
EXCESS
CONTRIBU-
TIONS.—Any eligible House of Representatives can-
didate who accepts contributions that exceed the lim-
itations under this section by 5 percent or more
shall pay to the Commission an amount equal to
three times the amount of the excess contributions
plus a civil penalty in an amount determined by the
Commission.
‘‘(l) 
EXEMPTION
FOR
CERTAIN
COSTS.—Any
amount—
‘‘(1) accepted by a House of Representatives
candidate; and
‘‘(2) used for costs incurred under section
601(e) and (f) shall not be considered in the com-
putation of amounts subject to limitation.
‘‘(m) INDEXING.—The dollar amounts specified in
section 315(i) shall be adjusted at the beginning of the
calendar year based on the increase in the price index de-
termined under section 315(c), except that, for the pur-
poses of such adjustment, the base period shall be cal-
endar year 1995.
‘‘(n) TRANSFER PROVISION.—The limitations im-
posed by section 315(i) apply without regard to amounts
transferred from previous election cycles or other author-
ized committees of the same candidate. Candidates shall
not be required to seek the redesignation of contributions
in order to transfer such contributions to a later election
cycle.’’.
TITLE III—INDEPENDENT
EXPENDITURES
SEC. 301. CLARIFICATION OF DEFINITIONS RELATING TO
INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURES.
(a) 
INDEPENDENT
EXPENDITURE
DEFINITION
AMENDMENT.—Section 301 of the Federal Election Cam-
paign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 431) is amended by striking
paragraphs (17) and (18) and inserting the following:
‘‘(17)(A) The term ‘independent expenditure’ means
an expenditure for an advertisement or other communica-
tion that—
‘‘(i) contains express advocacy; and
‘‘(ii) is made without the participation or co-
operation of, or consultation with, a candidate or a
candidate’s representative.
‘‘(B) The following shall not be considered an inde-
pendent expenditure:
‘‘(i) An expenditure made by an authorized
committee of a candidate for Federal office or a po-
litical committee of a political party.
‘‘(ii) An expenditure made on behalf of a can-
didate by a person who, during the election cycle,
has made a contribution to that candidate, where
the expenditure is in support of that candidate or in
opposition to another candidate for the same office.
‘‘(iii) An expenditure made by a person, or a
political committee established, maintained or con-
trolled by such person, who is required to register,
under section 308 of the Federal Regulation of Lob-
bying Act (2 U.S.C. 267) or the Foreign Agents
Registration Act (22 U.S.C. 611) or any successor
Federal law requiring a person who is a lobbyist or
foreign agent to register.
‘‘(iv) An expenditure made by a person who,
during the election cycle, has communicated with or
received information from a candidate or a rep-
resentative of that candidate regarding activities
that have the purpose of influencing that candidate’s
election to Federal office, where the expenditure is
in support of that candidate or in opposition to an-
other candidate for that office.
‘‘(v) An expenditure if, in the same election
cycle, the person making the expenditure is or has
been—
‘‘(I) authorized to raise or expend funds on
behalf of the candidate or the candidate’s au-
thorized committees; or
‘‘(II) serving as a member, employee, or
agent of the candidate’s authorized committees
in an executive or policymaking position.
‘‘(18) The term ‘express advocacy’ means, when a
communication is taken as a whole and with limited ref-
erence to external events, an expression of support for or
opposition to a specific candidate, to a specific group of
candidates, or to candidates of a particular political party,
or a suggestion to take action with respect to an election,
such as to vote for or against, make contributions to, or
participate in campaign activity or refrain from taking ac-
tion.’’.
(b) CONTRIBUTION DEFINITION AMENDMENT.—Sec-
tion 301(8)(A) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of
1971 (2 U.S.C. 431(8)(A)) is amended—
(1) in clause (i), by striking ‘‘or’’ after the
semicolon at the end;
(2) in clause (ii), by striking the period at the
end and inserting ‘‘; or’’; and
(3) by adding at the end the following new
clause:
‘‘(iii) any payment or other transaction referred
to in paragraph (17)(A)(i) that does not qualify as
an 
independent 
expenditure 
under 
paragraph
(17)(A)(ii).’’.
SEC. 302. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS FOR CERTAIN INDE-
PENDENT EXPENDITURES.
Section 304(c) of the Federal Election Campaign Act
of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 434(c)) is amended—
(1) in paragraph (2), by striking out the undes-
ignated matter after subparagraph (C);
(2) by redesignating paragraph (3) as para-
graph (8); and
(3) by inserting after paragraph (2), as amend-
ed by paragraph (1), the following new paragraphs:
‘‘(3)(A) Any person (including a political committee)
making an independent expenditure (including those de-
scribed in subsection (b)(6)(B)(iii) of this section) aggre-
gating $1,000 or more made after the 20th day, but more
than 24 hours, before any election shall file a report within
24 hours after such independent expenditure is made.
‘‘(B) Any person (including a political committee)
making an independent expenditure aggregating $5,000 or
more made at any time up to and including the 20th day
before any election shall file a report within 48 hours after
such independent expenditure is made. An additional re-
port shall be filed each time independent expenditures ag-
gregating $5,000 are made with respect to the same elec-
tion as the initial report filed under this section.
‘‘(C) Such report shall be filed with the Commission
and the Secretary of State of the State involved and shall
contain 
the 
information 
required 
by 
subsection
(b)(6)(B)(iii) of this section, including whether the inde-
pendent expenditure is in support of, or in opposition to,
the candidate involved. Not later than 48 hours after the
Commission receives a report, the Commission shall trans-
mit a copy of the report to each candidate seeking nomina-
tion or election to that office.
‘‘(D) For purposes of this section, the term ‘made’
includes any payment and any action taken to incur an
obligation for payment.
‘‘(4)(A) If any person (including a political commit-
tee) intends to make independent expenditures aggregat-
ing $5,000 or more during the 20 days before an election,
such person shall file a report no later than the 20th day
before the election.
‘‘(B) Such report shall be filed with the Commission
and the Secretary of State of the State involved, and shall
identify each candidate whom the expenditure is actually
intended to support or to oppose. The Clerk of the House
of Representatives and the Secretary of the Senate shall
as soon as possible (but not later than 4 working hours
of the Commission) after receipt of a report transmit it
to the Commission. Not later than 48 hours after the
Commission receives a report under this paragraph, the
Commission shall transmit a copy of the statement to each
candidate identified.
‘‘(5) The Commission may make its own determina-
tion that a person has made, or has incurred obligations
to make, independent expenditures with respect to any
Federal election which in the aggregate exceed the applica-
ble amounts under paragraph (3) or (4). The Commission
shall notify each candidate in such election of such deter-
mination within 24 hours of making it.
‘‘(6) At the same time as an eligible candidate who
has qualified under section 604(b) is notified under para-
graph (3), (4), or (5) with respect to expenditures during
a general election period, the Commission shall certify eli-
gibility to receive benefits under section 604(b).’’.
SEC. 303. BROADCAST AND CABLE INDEPENDENT EXPENDI-
TURE COMMUNICATIONS AGAINST ELIGIBLE
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CANDIDATES.
Section 315 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47
U.S.C. 315) is amended—
(1) by redesignating subsections (c) and (d) as
subsections (e) and (f), respectively; and
(2) by inserting immediately before subsection
(e) as redesignated the following new subsection:
‘‘(d) If any person makes an independent expenditure
through a communication on a broadcasting station or a
cable system (as defined in section 602 of this Act) that
expressly advocates the defeat of an eligible House of Rep-
resentatives candidate, or the election of the opponent of
an eligible House of Representatives candidate (regardless
of whether such opponent is an eligible candidate), the li-
censee or cable operator, as applicable, shall, not later
than one week after the communication (or not later than
24 hours after the communication, if the communication
occurs not more than one week before the election) trans-
mit to such candidate—
‘‘(1) a statement of the date and time of the
communication;
‘‘(2) a script or tape recording of the commu-
nication, or an accurate summary of the communica-
tion if a script or tape recording is not available;
and
‘‘(3) an offer of an equal opportunity for such
candidate to use the broadcasting station or cable
system to respond to the communication at a charge
determined in accordance with subsection (b).’’.
SEC. 304. ADDITIONAL EXPENDITURES BY ELIGIBLE HOUSE
OF REPRESENTATIVES CANDIDATE FACED
WITH LARGE AMOUNT OF INDEPENDENT EX-
PENDITURES.
Section 315 of the Federal Election Campaign Act
of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 441a), as amended by section 201, is
further amended by adding at the end the following new
subsection:
‘‘(o) ELIGIBLE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CAN-
DIDATE INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURE PROVISION.—If,
with respect to an election involving an eligible House of
Representatives candidate, independent expenditures to-
taling $25,000 are made against the eligible House of
Representatives candidate or in favor of another can-
didate, the eligible House of Representatives candidate
shall be entitled, in addition to any amount permitted
under this Act, to make expenditures in an amount equal
to the amount of such independent expenditures.
TITLE IV—CONTRIBUTIONS AND
EXPENDITURES 
BY 
POLITI-
CAL PARTY COMMITTEES
SEC. 401. SOFT MONEY OF POLITICAL PARTIES.
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 new section:
‘‘SOFT MONEY OF POLITICAL PARTIES
‘‘SEC. 323. (a) A national committee of a political
party, including the national congressional campaign com-
mittees of a political party, and any officers or agents of
such party committees, shall not solicit or receive any con-
tributions, donations, or transfers of funds, or spend any
funds, not subject to the limitations, prohibitions, and re-
porting requirements of this Act. This subsection shall
apply to any entity that is established, financed, main-
tained, or controlled by a national committee of a political
party, including the national congressional campaign com-
mittees of a political party, and any officers or agents of
such party committees.
‘‘(b)(1) Any amount expended or disbursed by a
State, district, or local committee of a political party, dur-
ing a calendar year in which a Federal election is held,
for any activity which might affect the outcome of a Fed-
eral election, including but not limited to any voter reg-
istration and get-out-the-vote activity, any generic cam-
paign activity, and any communication that identifies a
Federal candidate (regardless of whether a State or local
candidate is also mentioned or identified) shall be made
from funds subject to the limitations, prohibitions and re-
porting requirements of this Act.
‘‘(2) Paragraph (1) shall not apply to expenditures
or disbursements made by a State, district or local com-
mittee of a political party for—
‘‘(A) a contribution to a candidate other than
for Federal office, provided that such contribution is
not designated or otherwise earmarked to pay for ac-
tivities described in paragraph (1);
‘‘(B) the costs of a State or district/local politi-
cal convention;
‘‘(C) the non-Federal share of a State, district
or local party committee’s administrative and over-
head expenses (but not including the compensation
in any month of any individual who spends more
than 20 percent of his or her time on activity during
such month which may affect the outcome of a Fed-
eral election). For purposes of this provision, the
non-Federal share of a party committee’s adminis-
trative and overhead expenses shall be determined
by applying the ratio of the non-Federal disburse-
ments to the total Federal expenditures and non-
Federal disbursements made by the committee dur-
ing the previous presidential election year to the
committee’s administrative and overhead expenses in
the election year in question;
‘‘(D) the costs of grassroots campaign mate-
rials, including buttons, bumper stickers, and yard
signs, which materials solely name or depict a State
or local candidate; or
‘‘(E) the cost of any campaign activity con-
ducted solely on behalf of a clearly identified State
or local candidate, provided that such activity is not
a get out the vote activity or any other activity cov-
ered by paragraph (1).
‘‘(3) Any amount spent by a national, State, district
or local committee or entity of a political party to raise
funds that are used, in whole or in part, to pay the costs
of any activity covered by paragraph (1) shall be made
from funds subject to the limitations, prohibitions, and re-
porting requirements of this Act. This paragraph shall
apply to any entity that is established, financed, main-
tained, or controlled by a State, district or local committee
of a political party or any agent or officer of such party
committee in the same manner as it applies to that com-
mittee.
‘‘(c) No national, State, district or local committee
of a political party shall solicit any funds for or make any
donations to any organization that is exempt from Federal
taxation under section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986.
‘‘(d)(1) No candidate for Federal office, individual
holding Federal office, or any agent of such candidate or
officeholder, may solicit or receive (A) any funds in con-
nection with any Federal election unless such funds are
subject to the limitations, prohibitions and reporting re-
quirements of this Act; (B) any funds that are to be ex-
pended in connection with any election for other than a
Federal office unless such funds are not in excess of the
amounts permitted with respect to contributions to Fed-
eral candidates and political committees under section
315(a) (1) and (2), and are not from sources prohibited
from making contributions by this Act with respect to elec-
tion for Federal office. This paragraph shall not apply to
the solicitation or receipt of funds by an individual who
is a candidate for a non-Federal office if such activity is
permitted under State law for such individual’s non-Fed-
eral campaign committee.
‘‘(2)(A) No candidate for Federal office or individual
holding Federal office may directly or indirectly establish,
maintain, finance or control any organization described in
section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 if
such organization raises funds from the public.
‘‘(B) No national committee of a political party may
directly or indirectly establish, maintain, finance, or con-
trol any organization described in section 501(c) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 if such organization raises
funds from the public.
‘‘(C) No candidate for Federal office or individual
holding Federal office may raise funds for any organiza-
tion described in section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986 if the activities of the organization include
voter registration or get-out-the-vote campaigns.
‘‘(D) For purposes of this paragraph, an individual
shall be treated as holding Federal office if such individ-
ual—
‘‘(i) holds a Federal office; or
‘‘(ii) holds a position described in level I of the
Executive Schedule under 5312 of title 5, United
States Code.’’.
SEC. 402. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.
(a) REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.—Section 304 of the
Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 434)
is amended by adding at the end the following new sub-
section:
‘‘(d) POLITICAL COMMITTEES.—(1) The national
committee of a political party and any congressional cam-
paign committee of a political party, and any subordinate
committee of either, shall report all receipts and disburse-
ments during the reporting period, whether or not in con-
nection with an election for Federal office.
‘‘(2) A political committee (not described in para-
graph (1)) to which section 323 applies shall report all
receipts and disbursements.
‘‘(3) Any political committee to which section 323 ap-
plies shall include in its report under paragraph (1) or
(2) the amount of any transfer described in section
323(d)(2) and shall itemize such amounts to the extent
required by section 304(b)(3)(A).
‘‘(4) Any political committee to which paragraph (1)
or (2) does not apply shall report any receipts or disburse-
ments which are used in connection with a Federal elec-
tion.
‘‘(5) If a political committee has receipts or disburse-
ments to which this subsection applies from any person
aggregating in excess of $200 for any calendar year, the
political committee shall separately itemize its reporting
for such person in the same manner as subsection (b)
(3)(A), (5), or (6).
‘‘(5) Reports required to be filed by this subsection
shall be filed for the same time periods required for politi-
cal committees under subsection (a).’’.
(b) REPORTS BY STATE COMMITTEES.—Section 304
of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C.
434), as amended by subsection (a), is further amended
by adding at the end the following new subsection:
‘‘(e) FILING OF STATE REPORTS.—In lieu of any re-
port required to be filed by this Act, the Commission may
allow a State committee of a political party to file with
the Commission a report required to be filed under State
law if the Commission determines such reports contain
substantially the same information.’’.
(c) OTHER REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.—
(1) 
AUTHORIZED
COMMITTEES.—Section
304(b)(4) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of
1971 (2 U.S.C. 434(b)(4)) is amended—
(A) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of sub-
paragraph (H);
(B) by inserting ‘‘and’’ at the end of sub-
paragraph (I); and
(C) by adding at the end the following new
subparagraph:
‘‘(J) in the case of an authorized commit-
tee, disbursements for the primary election, the
general election, and any other election in which
the candidate participates;’’.
(2) 
NAMES
AND
ADDRESSES.—Section
304(b)(5)(A) of the Federal Election Campaign Act
of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 434(b)(5)(A)) is amended—
(A) by striking ‘‘within the calendar year’’;
and
(B) by inserting ‘‘, and the election to
which the operating expenditure relates’’ after
‘‘operating expenditure’’.
SEC. 403. SOFT MONEY OF PERSONS OTHER THAN POLITI-
CAL PARTIES.
Section 304 of the Federal Election Campaign Act
of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 434), as amended by section 402, is
further amended by adding at the end the following new
subsection:
‘‘(f) ELECTION ACTIVITY OF PERSONS OTHER THAN
POLITICAL PARTIES.—(1)(A)(i) If any person to which
section 323 does not apply makes (or obligates to make)
disbursements for activities described in section 325(b)(1)
in excess of $2,000, such person shall file a statement—
‘‘(I) within 48 hours after the disbursements
(or obligations) are made; or
‘‘(II) in the case of disbursements (or obliga-
tions) that are required to be made within 20 days
of the election, within 24 hours after such disburse-
ment (or obligations) are made.
‘‘(ii) An additional statement shall be filed each time
additional disbursements aggregating $2,000 are made (or
obligated to be made) by a person described in clause (i).
‘‘(B) This paragraph shall not apply to—
‘‘(i) a candidate or a candidate’s authorized
committees; or
‘‘(ii) an independent expenditure (as defined in
section 301(17)).
‘‘(2) Any statement under this section shall be filed
with the Commission and shall contain such information
as the Commission shall prescribe, including whether the
disbursement is in support of, or in opposition to, 1 or
more candidates or any political party.’’.
SEC. 404. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.
(a) REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.—Section 304 of
Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 434),
as amended by sections 402 and 403, is further amended
by adding at the end the following new subsection:
‘‘(g) POLITICAL COMMITTEES.—(1) The national
committee of a political party and any congressional cam-
paign committee of a political party, and any subordinate
committee of either, shall report all receipts and disburse-
ments during the reporting period, whether or not in con-
nection with an election for Federal office.
‘‘(2) Any political committee to which section 323 ap-
plies shall include in its report under paragraph (1) the
amount of any transfer described in section 323(d)(2) and
shall itemize such amounts to the extent required by sec-
tion 304(b)(3)(A).
‘‘(3) Any political committee to which paragraph (1)
does not apply shall report any receipts or disbursements
which are used in connection with a Federal election.
‘‘(4) If a political committee has receipts or disburse-
ments to which this subsection applies from any person
aggregating in excess of $200 for any calendar year, the
political committee shall separately itemize its reporting
for such person in the same manner as subsection (b)
(3)(A), (5), or (6).
‘‘(6) Reports required to be filed by this subsection
shall be filed for the same time periods required for politi-
cal committees under subsection (a).’’.
(b) REPORT OF EXEMPT CONTRIBUTIONS.—Section
301(8) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2
U.S.C. 431(8)) is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing:
‘‘(C) The exclusion provided in clause (viii) of sub-
paragraph (B) shall not apply for purposes of any require-
ment to report contributions under this Act, and all such
contributions aggregating in excess of $200 shall be re-
ported.’’.
(c) OTHER REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.—
(1) AUTHORIZED COMMITTEES.—Paragraph (4)
of section 304(b) of Federal Election Campaign Act
of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 434(b)(4)) is amended by striking
‘‘and’’ at the end of subparagraph (H), by inserting
‘‘and’’ at the end of subparagraph (I), and by add-
ing at the end the following new subparagraph:
‘‘(J) in the case of an authorized commit-
tee, disbursements for the primary election, the
general election, and any other election in which
the candidate participates;’’.
(2) NAMES
AND
ADDRESSES.—Subparagraph
(A) of section 304(b)(5) of Federal Election Cam-
paign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 434(b)(5)(A)) is
amended—
(A) by striking ‘‘within the calendar year’’,
and
(B) by inserting ‘‘, and the election to
which the operating expenditure relates’’ after
‘‘operating expenditure’’.
SEC. 405. RESTRICTIONS ON FUNDRAISING BY CANDIDATES
AND OFFICEHOLDERS.
Section 315 of Federal Election Campaign Act of
1971 (2 U.S.C. 441a), as amended by sections 201 and
304, is further amended by adding at the end the following
new subsection:
‘‘(p) LIMITATIONS ON FUNDRAISING ACTIVITIES OF
FEDERAL CANDIDATES AND OFFICEHOLDERS AND CER-
TAIN POLITICAL COMMITTEES.—(1) For purposes of this
Act, a candidate for Federal office, an individual holding
Federal office, or any agent of the candidate or individual
may not solicit funds to, or receive funds on behalf of,
any Federal candidate or political committee, or any party
or other multicandidate committee organized under State
law to support more than one candidate for non-Federal
office—
‘‘(A) which are to be expended in connection
with any election for Federal office unless such
funds are subject to the limitations, prohibitions,
and requirements of this Act; or
‘‘(B) which are to be expended in connection
with any election for other than Federal office unless
such funds are not in excess of amounts permitted
with respect to Federal candidates and political com-
mittees under subsections (a) (1) and (2), and are
not from sources prohibited by such subsections with
respect to elections to Federal office.
The limitations of this subsection do not apply to the solic-
itation or receipt of funds by a Federal candidate on be-
half of any committee or organization organized primarily
for purposes other than the election of particular can-
didates for public office.
‘‘(2)(A) The aggregate amount which a person de-
scribed in subparagraph (B) may solicit from a
multicandidate political committee for State committees
described in subsection (a)(1)(C) (including subordinate
committees) for any calendar year shall not exceed the dol-
lar amount in effect under subsection (a)(2)(B) for the
calendar year.
‘‘(B) A person is described in this subparagraph if
such person is a candidate for Federal office, an individual
holding Federal office, an agent of such a candidate or
individual, or any national, State, district, or local commit-
tee of a political party (including a subordinate committee)
and any agent of such a committee.
‘‘(3) The personal appearance or participation by a
candidate for Federal office or individual holding Federal
office in any fundraising event conducted by a committee
of a political party or a candidate for other than Federal
office shall not be treated as a solicitation for purposes
of paragraph (1) if such candidate or individual does not
receive, or make disbursements from, any funds resulting
from such activity.
‘‘(4) Paragraph (1) shall not apply to the solicitation
or receipt of funds, or disbursements, by an individual who
is a candidate for other than Federal office if such activity
is permitted under State law.
‘‘(5) For purposes of this subsection, an individual
shall be treated as holding Federal office if such individ-
ual—
‘‘(A) holds a Federal office; or
‘‘(B) holds a position described in level I of the
Executive Schedule under section 5312 of title 5,
United States Code.’’.
SEC. 406. INCREASED LIMITATION AMOUNT FOR CERTAIN
CONTRIBUTIONS TO POLITICAL COMMITTEES
OF STATE POLITICAL PARTIES.
Section 315(a)(1)(B) of the Federal Election Cam-
paign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 441a(a)(1)(B)) is amended—
(1) by inserting after ‘‘(B)’’ the following: ‘‘not-
withstanding any other provision of law,’’; and
(2) by inserting after ‘‘national’’ the following:
‘‘or State’’.
SEC. 407. BUILDING FUND EXCEPTION TO THE DEFINITION
OF THE TERM ‘‘CONTRIBUTION’’.
Section 301(8)(B) of the Federal Election Campaign
Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 431(8)(B)) is amended—
(1) by striking out clause (viii); and
(2) by redesignating clauses (ix) through (xiv)
as clauses (viii) through (xiii), respectively.
TITLE V—CONTRIBUTIONS
SEC. 501. RESTRICTIONS ON BUNDLING.
Section 315(a)(8) of the Federal Election Campaign
Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 441a(a)(8)) is amended to read
as follows:
‘‘(8)(A) No person, either directly or indirectly, may
act as a conduit or intermediary for any contribution to
a candidate.
‘‘(B)(i) Nothing in this section shall prohibit—
‘‘(I) joint fundraising conducted in accordance
with rules prescribed by the Commission by 2 or
more candidates; or
‘‘(II) fundraising for the benefit of a candidate
that is conducted by another candidate.
‘‘(ii) No other person may conduct or otherwise par-
ticipate in joint fundraising activities with or on behalf
of any candidate.
‘‘(C) The term ‘conduit or intermediary’ means a per-
son who transmits a contribution to a candidate or can-
didate’s committee or representative from another person,
except that—
‘‘(i) a House of Representatives candidate or
representative of a House of Representatives can-
didate is not a conduit or intermediary for the pur-
pose of transmitting contributions to the candidate’s
principal campaign committee or authorized commit-
tee;
‘‘(ii) a professional fundraiser is not a conduit
or intermediary, if the fundraiser is compensated for
fundraising services at the usual and customary
rate;
‘‘(iii) a volunteer hosting a fundraising event at
the volunteer’s home, in accordance with section
301(8)(b), is not a conduit or intermediary for the
purposes of that event; and
‘‘(iv) an individual is not a conduit or
intermediary for the purpose of transmitting a con-
tribution from the individual’s spouse.
For purposes of this section a conduit or intermediary
transmits a contribution when receiving or otherwise tak-
ing possession of the contribution and forwarding it di-
rectly to the candidate or the candidate’s committee or
representative.
‘‘(D) For purposes of this section, the term ‘rep-
resentative’—
‘‘(i) shall mean a person who is expressly au-
thorized by the candidate to engage in fundraising,
and who, in the case of an individual, is not acting
as an officer, employee, or agent of any other per-
son;
‘‘(ii) shall not include—
‘‘(I) a political committee with a connected
organization;
‘‘(II) a political party;
‘‘(III) a partnership or sole proprietorship;
‘‘(IV) an organization prohibited from
making contributions under section 316; or
‘‘(V) a person required to register under
section 308 of the Federal Regulation of Lobby-
ing Act (2 U.S.C. 267) or the Foreign Agents
Registration Act (22 U.S.C. 611) or any suc-
cessor Federal law requiring a person who is a
lobbyist or a foreign agent to register.
‘‘(E) For purposes of this section, the term ‘acting
as an officer, employee, or agent of any other person’ in-
cludes the following activities by a salaried officer, em-
ployee, or paid agent of a person described in subpara-
graph (D)(ii)(IV):
‘‘(i) Soliciting contributions to a particular can-
didate in the name of, or by using the name of, such
a person.
‘‘(ii) Soliciting contributions to a particular
candidate using other than the incidental resources
of such a person.
‘‘(iii) Soliciting contributions to a particular
candidate under the direction or control of other sal-
aried officers, employees, or paid agents of such a
person.
For purposes of this subparagraph, the term ‘agent’ shall
include any person (other than individual members of an
organization described in subparagraph (b)(4)(C) of sec-
tion 316) acting on authority or under the direction of
such organization.’’.
SEC. 502. CONTRIBUTIONS BY DEPENDENTS NOT OF VOT-
ING AGE.
Section 315 of the Federal Election Campaign Act
of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 441a), as amended by sections 201,
304, 405, and 406, is further amended by adding at the
end the following new subsection:
‘‘(r) For purposes of this section, any contribution
by an individual who—
‘‘(1) is a dependent of another individual; and
‘‘(2) has not, as of the time of such contribu-
tion, attained the legal age for voting for elections
to Federal office in the State in which such individ-
ual resides,
shall be treated as having been made by such other indi-
vidual. If such individual is the dependent of another indi-
vidual and such other individual’s spouse, the contribution
shall be allocated among such individuals in the manner
determined by them.’’.
SEC. 503. PROHIBITION OF ACCEPTANCE BY A CANDIDATE
OF CASH CONTRIBUTIONS FROM ANY ONE
PERSON AGGREGATING MORE THAN $100.
Section 321 of the Federal Election Campaign Act
of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 441g) is amended by inserting ‘‘, and
no candidate or authorized committee of a candidate shall
accept from any one person,’’ after ‘‘make’’.
SEC. 504. CONTRIBUTIONS TO CANDIDATES FROM STATE
AND LOCAL COMMITTEES OF POLITICAL PAR-
TIES TO BE AGGREGATED.
Section 315(a) of the Federal Election Campaign Act
of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 441a(a)) is amended by adding at the
end the following new paragraph:
‘‘(9) Notwithstanding paragraph (5)(B), a candidate
for Federal office may not accept, with respect to an elec-
tion, any contribution from a State or local committee of
a political party (including any subordinate committee of
such committee), if such contribution, when added to the
total of contributions previously accepted from all such
committees of that political party, exceeds the limitation
on contributions to a candidate under paragraph (2)(A).’’.
SEC. 505. PROHIBITION OF FALSE REPRESENTATION TO
SOLICIT CONTRIBUTIONS.
Section 322 of the Federal Election Campaign Act
of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 441h) is amended—
(1) by inserting after ‘‘SEC. 322.’’ the follow-
ing: ‘‘(a)’’; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(b) No person shall solicit contributions by falsely
representing himself as a candidate or as a representative
of a candidate, a political committee, or a political party.’’.
SEC. 506. LIMITED EXCLUSION OF ADVANCES BY CAM-
PAIGN WORKERS FROM THE DEFINITION OF
THE TERM ‘‘CONTRIBUTION’’.
Section 301(8)(B) of the Federal Election Campaign
Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 431(8)(B)), as amended by section
403, is further amended—
(1) in clause (xix), by striking ‘‘and’’ after the
semicolon at the end;
(2) in clause (xx), by striking the period at the
end and inserting: ‘‘; and’’; and
(3) by adding at the end the following new
clause:
‘‘(xxi) any advance voluntarily made on behalf
of an authorized committee of a candidate by an in-
dividual in the normal course of such individual’s re-
sponsibilities as a volunteer for, or employee of, the
committee, if the advance is reimbursed by the com-
mittee within 10 days after the date on which the
advance is made, and the value of advances on be-
half of a committee does not exceed $500 with re-
spect to an election.’’.
SEC. 507. AMENDMENT TO SECTION 316 OF THE FEDERAL
ELECTION CAMPAIGN ACT OF 1971.
Section 316(b)(2) of the Federal Election Campaign
Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 441b(b)(2)) is amended—
(1) by striking ‘‘(2) For’’ and inserting ‘‘(2)(A)
Except as provided in subparagraph (B), for’’;
(2) by redesignating subparagraphs (A), (B),
and (C) as clauses (i), (ii), and (iii), respectively;
and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(B) Payments by a corporation or labor organization
for candidate appearances, candidate debates, voter
guides, or voting records directed to the general public
shall be considered contributions unless—
‘‘(i) in the case of a candidate appearance, the
appearance takes place on corporate or labor organi-
zation premises or at a meeting or convention of the
corporation or labor organization, and all candidates
for election to that office are notified that they may
make an appearance under the same or similar con-
ditions;
‘‘(ii) in the case of a candidate debate, the or-
ganization staging the debate is either an organiza-
tion described in section 301 whose broadcasts or
publications are supported by commercial advertis-
ing, subscriptions or sales to the public, including a
noncommercial educational broadcaster, or a non-
profit organization exempt from Federal taxation
under section 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4) of the Internal