zli12321/Bills huggingface dataset:
Accountability and Transparency in Ethics Act - Establishes an independent Investigations Commission within the legislative branch. Requires annual ethics training for Members and employees of the House of Representatives and for registered lobbyists. Amends Rule XXV (Limitations on Outside Earned Income and Acceptance of Gifts) of the Rules of the House to require advance authorization by the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct of any privately-funded trip by any Member, officer, or employee of the House. Amends such Rule and Rule XXXV (Gifts) of the Standing Rules of the Senate with respect to: (1) the market value of a flight on an airplane not licensed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to operate for compensation or hire; (2) a ban on gifts worth less than $50; and (3) disbursements for a national party convention event in honor of a Member, officer, or employee. Amends the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (LDA) to: (1) transfer certain functions of the Clerk of the House to the Committee with respect to registration of lobbyists; (2) revise certain registration and disclosure requirements; and (3) prescribe civil fines for lobbyists offering certain gifts to Members, officers, or employees. Amends the federal criminal code to revise the one-year ban on lobbying contacts by former Members, officers, or employees of either chamber of Congress. Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to prohibit conversion of leadership PAC funds to personal use. Prohibits payment of campaign funds, except nominal reimbursements, to immediate family members of candidates. Prohibits involvement of a registered lobbyist in administration of certain campaign committees unless a candidate for federal office. Amends Rule XXIII (Code of Official Conduct) of the Rules of the House and Rule XXXVII (Conflict of Interest) of the Standing Rules of the Senate to require a Member of Congress or Senator to prohibit all of his or her staff from having any official contact with the Member's or Senator's spouse or immediate family member if such individual is a registered lobbyist or is employed or retained by one to influence legislation. Expresses the sense of Congress that the use of a family relationship by a lobbyist who is an immediate family member of a Member of Congress to gain special advantages over other lobbyists is inappropriate.

Date: 2007-01-04
Topic: Government Operations (Political Campaigns)
Subject: Congress
Federal Election Integrity Act of 2007 - Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to make it unlawful for a chief state election administration official to take active part in political management or in a political campaign with respect to any election for federal office over which the official has supervisory authority.

Date: 2007-01-04
Topic: Government Operations (Political Campaigns)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Foreign Agents Compulsory Ethics in Trade Act of 2007 - Amends the federal criminal code to impose: (1) a permanent restriction (currently, one year) on certain officers and employees of the federal government who have terminated their service or employment from advising or representing for compensation foreign governments or political parties in matters in which the United States is a party or has a direct and substantial interest; and (2) a five-year restriction on such officers and employees from similarly advising or representing foreign individuals, corporations, or other business entities.

Date: 2007-01-04
Topic: Government Operations (Political Campaigns)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Sunlight Act of 2007 - Amends Rule XXV (Limitations on Outside Earned Income and Acceptance of Gifts) of the Rules of the House of Representatives to require a Member of the House, officer, or employee, before taking a privately-funded trip, to: (1) provide certain travel-related information to the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct, and agree to provide expenses reimbursed or to be reimbursed after the trip's completion; and (2) receive the Committee's precertification of such proposed trip. Prohibits any such privately-funded trip unless the Committee determines that it complies with all applicable rules of the House. Amends the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 to require annual financial disclosure statements of Members of Congress and congressional officers and employees to include the exact dollar amount. Requires such reports filed with the Clerk of the House or the Secretary of the Senate (as well as travel-related information) to be made available to the general public on the Internet. Amends Rule II (Other Officers and Officials) to require, during general debate on any measure, the Clerk to project on a wall of the Hall of the House the subject matter of that debate so that it is visible to Members and to visitors in the gallery. Amends Rule XXI (Restrictions on Certain Bills) to make it out of order to consider: (1) any bill, joint resolution, or conference report unless it is made available to Members and the general public on the Internet for at least 48 hours before its consideration; or (2) any amendment unless it is made available on the Internet within one hour after it is filed (if made in order by a rule) or immediately (if offered under an open rule). Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to require all mandatory reports to be filed in an electronic form accessible by computers. Revises requirements for mandatory reports on contributions made to any political committee shortly before an election. Extends from 20 days before to 30 days before the election the beginning of the look-back period for such contributions, and from 48 hours before the election to the closing of the polls the end of the look-back period. Applies the requirements to any contribution (currently, only those of $1,000 or more). Requires such reports to be made within 24 hours after receipt or, if earlier, by midnight of the day on which the contribution is deposited (currently, within 48 hours after receipt).

Date: 2007-01-04
Topic: Government Operations (Political Campaigns)
Subject: Congress
Robo COP Act: Robo Calls Off Phones - Directs the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), notwithstanding any other provision of law, to revise the do-not-call registry provisions of the Telemarketing Sales Rule to prohibit politically-oriented recorded message telephone calls to telephone numbers listed on that registry. Defines politically-oriented recorded message telephone call.

Date: 2007-01-05
Topic: Government Operations (Political Campaigns)
Subject: Science, technology, communications
Universal Right to Vote by Mail Act of 2008 - Amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to prohibit a state from imposing additional conditions or requirements on the eligibility of an individual to cast a vote in federal elections by mail, except to the extent that it imposes a deadline for requesting the ballot and returning it to the appropriate state or local election official. Prohibits a state from accepting and processing such an absentee ballot unless it verifies the identification of the individual's signature on the ballot by comparing it with the individual's signature on the official list of registered voters in the state.

Date: 2007-01-05
Topic: Government Operations (Political Campaigns)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Fair Voter Education Act of 2007 - Amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to prohibit a state from using election administration funds received under such Act for public communications which promote or oppose a candidate for public office or political party.

Date: 2007-01-05
Topic: Government Operations (Political Campaigns)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Leadership PAC Disclosure Act - Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to require political committees which are associated but not affiliated with a federal candidate or officeholder to include in the statements of organization and the reports they file with the Federal Election Commission the identification of each candidate or officeholder with which the committee is associated.Requires the Commission to display and organize the designations, statements, reports, and notifications made accessible to the public on the Internet in a manner that maximizes the public's ability to determine all of the receipts and disabursements made to and by all persons associated with a particular candidate, officeholder, or political committee.

Date: 2007-01-09
Topic: Government Operations (Political Campaigns)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Freedom from Automated Political Calls Act - Directs the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to revise the do-not-call registry provisions of the Telemarketing Sales Rule to prohibit politically-oriented recorded message telephone calls to telephone numbers listed on that registry. Defines politically-oriented recorded message telephone call.

Date: 2007-01-10
Topic: Government Operations (Political Campaigns)
Subject: Science, technology, communications
527 Reform Act of 2007 - Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to subject to its requirements as a political committee any applicable 527 organization. Excludes from the meaning of 527 organization for these purposes any committee, club, association, or other group of persons organized to influence: (1) the selection, nomination, election, appointment, or confirmation of one or more candidates to non-federal or non-elected office; or (2) any state or local ballot measure. Denies exception from treatment as an applicable 527 organization to any such a committee, club, association, or other groups of persons which makes disbursements aggregating more than $1,000 for: (1) a public communication that promotes, supports, attacks, or opposes a clearly identified candidate for federal office during the one year period ending on the date of the general election for the office sought by the clearly identified candidate; or (2) certain voter drive activity. Sets forth rules for allocation and funding by a political committee for certain expenses relating to federal and non-federal activities.

Date: 2007-01-11
Topic: Government Operations (Political Campaigns)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Federal Election Administration Act of 2007 - Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to replace the Federal Election Commission with the Federal Election Administration (FEA) as an independent establishment to enforce federal campaign finance laws.Requires enforcement proceedings for violations of campaign finance laws to be conducted before administrative law judges. Allows any final determination made by an administrative law judge to be appealed to the FEA for final agency action, subject to judicial review. Authorizes the FEA to impose civil penalties, issue cease-and-desist orders, and report apparent criminal violations to the appropriate law enforcement authorities. Allows the FEA to conduct audits and field examinations of campaign committees. Prescribes criminal penalties for violations.Directs the Comptroller General to examine and report to Congress on the Attorney General's enforcement of the criminal provisions of federal campaign finance laws.

Date: 2007-01-11
Topic: Government Operations (Political Campaigns)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Federal Election Integrity Act of 2007 - Amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to prohibit the appropriate state or local election official from providing a federal election ballot to an individual who desires to vote in person unless the individual presents to the official: (1) a government-issued, current, and valid photo identification (ID); or (2) for regularly scheduled federal general elections held in November 2010 and subsequent years, a government-issued, current, and valid photo ID for which the individual was required to provide proof of U.S. citizenship as a condition for issuance of the ID. Requires an individual who does not present such an ID to be permitted to cast a provisional ballot in such an election. Requires such individual, however, to present the required ID within 48 hours after casting the provisional ballot, or the appropriate state or local election official may not determine the individual's eligibility to vote.Requires individuals who vote other than in person in a federal election (for example, by mail) to submit a copy of such a photo ID with a ballot, or the appropriate official may not accept the ballot. Exempts from this requirement the absentee ballot of any eligible overseas military voter absent from the United States by reason of active duty or service.Requires states to establish a program to provide photo IDs in accordance with this Act to individuals who desire to vote but do not otherwise possess a government-issued photo ID. Prescribes requirements for any state fee for providing such a photo ID. Requires the Election Assistance Commission to make payments to states to cover the costs incurred in providing photo IDs to individuals unable to afford the fee.

Date: 2007-01-16
Topic: Government Operations (Political Campaigns)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Citizen Legislature and Political Freedom Act - Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (FECA) to terminate limitations on federal election campaign contributions after 2007.Repeals the ban on contributions and expenditures by corporations and labor organizations with respect to elections occurring after December 2007. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to terminate after December 31, 2006, the designation of income tax payments to the Presidential Election Campaign Fund. Terminates the Fund itself and the Presidential Primary Matching Payment Account after December 31, 2007, and transfers any amounts remaining in the Fund to the general fund of the Treasury. Amends FECA to require any political committee of a state or local political party to file with the Federal Election Commission a copy of any report on disbursements it is required under a state or local law, rule, or regulation to submit to the state or local government. Requires electronic filing of all reports, and their placement on the Internet. Requires a campaign committee to report within 24 hours all contributions, regardless of amount, made to any political committee within 90 days before an election. Declares that the "best efforts" exception to noncompliance with FECA shall not apply with respect to information regarding the identification of any contributor of more than $200 in the aggregate during a calendar year (thus requiring strict observance of reporting deadlines for all such contributions).

Date: 2007-01-16
Topic: Government Operations (Political Campaigns)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Leadership PAC Reform Act of 2007 - Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (FECA) to allow the funds of a leadership PAC to be used: (1) for otherwise authorized expenditures in connection with campaigns for election for federal office; (2) for charitable contributions; or (3) for transfers to a national, state, or local committee of a political party (subject to FECA limitations). Defines leadership PAC as a political committee which is: (1) directly or indirectly established, maintained, or controlled by a candidate for election for federal office or an individual holding federal office; but (2) is not an authorized committee of the candidate or individual. Excludes from the meaning of leadership PAC any political committee of a political party

Date: 2007-01-16
Topic: Government Operations (Political Campaigns)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Amends the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 to require a lobbyist, registrant, or political committee established or administered by the registrant to file quarterly contribution reports that include, but are not limited to, the names of federal candidates or officerholders, leadership PACs, and political party committees (except for committees of a political party) for whom they collect or arrange contributions.

Date: 2007-01-23
Topic: Government Operations (Political Campaigns)
Subject: Government operations and politics
E-Poll Book Improvement Act of 2007 - Amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to direct the Election Assistance Commission to develop and adopt guidelines for electronic poll books in the same manner as the Commission develops and adopts voluntary voting system guidelines. Provides that, for certification and testing purposes, electronic poll books shall be treated as part of the hardware and software of a voting system, without regard to whether or not the electronic poll book operates by integration with a voting system or independently.

Date: 2007-01-31
Topic: Government Operations (Political Campaigns)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Presidential Funding Act of 2007 - Amends Internal Revenue Code provisions relating to public financing of presidential election campaigns to: (1) quadruple (1:1 to 4:1) the matching rate for contributions to primary election candidates; (2) lower from $250 to $200 the limit on individual campaign contributions; (3) increase the presidential primary qualifying threshold from $5,000 to $25,000 in 20 states; (4) require presidential candidates to participate in the primary payment system to be eligible for general election payments; (5) move the starting date for payments to primary candidates from January 1 of a presidential election year to six months before the earliest state primary election; (6) allow additional payments and increased expenditure limits for candidates who face opponents who do not participate in public financing and who raise more than 20% of applicable spending limits; (7) designate the last Friday before the first Monday in September as the date for payments to eligible presidential candidates; and (8) increase from $3 to $10 the presidential campaign tax return check-off amount.Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to: (1) increase expenditure limits for presidential primary campaigns and eliminate state primary spending limits; (2) limit political party general election campaign expenditures to $25 million, with an additional $25 million allowance after the party's candidate is nominated; (3) prohibit political parties from spending unregulated funds (soft money) on their national conventions; and (4) require presidential campaign committees to disclose information about bundled contributions (series of contributions aggregating more than $10,000).

Date: 2007-01-31
Topic: Government Operations (Political Campaigns)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Stealth Lobbyist Disclosure Act of 2007 - Amends the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 to redefine the term "client" with respect to coalitions and associations on whose behalf a lobbyist must file a registration. Provides that, in the case of a coalition or association that employs or retains other persons to conduct lobbying activities, each of the individual members of the coalition or association, and not the coalition or association itself as under current law, is the client for whom a registration must be filed. Exempts from such registration requirement any individual member of a coalition or association if the amount such member is reasonably expected to contribute toward specific legislation-influencing activities of the coalition or association is less than $1,000 per any quarterly period. Requires quarterly instead of semiannual filing of lobbying disclosures reports. Lowers the dollar thresholds of contributions toward lobbying activities that trigger the requirement to register as a lobbyist.

Date: 2007-02-05
Topic: Government Operations (Political Campaigns)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Verifying the Outcome of Tomorrow's Elections Act of 2007 - Amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to prohibit the appropriate state or local election official from providing a ballot for an election for federal office to an individual who desires to vote in person, unless the individual presents to the official a current, valid, state-issued photo identification based on proof of U.S. citizenship. Imposes similar requirements with respect to individuals voting by mail. Requires each state to conduct regular tests of the equipment used to tabulate votes in voting systems to ensure that a system meets specified error rate standards and that the equipment works correctly.Prohibits a state from permitting any individual to tabulate votes cast on a voting system, or to certify the tabulation of votes, unless that individual has satisfactorily undergone a criminal history background check using the national criminal history background check system and the state criminal history repositories of all states in which the individual has resided.Requires a state to permit a representative of each political party with a candidate on the ballot used at a precinct during an election to observe the tabulation of the votes cast on the voting system and the certification of such tabulation.Makes it unlawful for any person to pay any other person for distributing voter registration applications in federal elections or for collecting completed or partially completed applications, if the amount of the payment is determined on the basis of the number of applications distributed or collected.Requires production of a permanent, individually verifiable paper record of each vote cast.Requires voluntary voting system guidelines to ensure the security of any data transmitted or received electronically by voting systems.

Date: 2007-02-07
Topic: Government Operations (Political Campaigns)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Responsible Campaign Communications Act of 2007 - Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to: (1) require audio and video communications transmitted through the Internet or any form of electronic mail to meet applicable requirements with respect to any audio and video portions; and (2) subject to disclosure requirements for communications transmitted through radio any campaign communications made through prerecorded telephone calls.

Date: 2007-02-07
Topic: Government Operations (Political Campaigns)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Personal Accountability in Campaign Committees Act - Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to prohibit an authorized committee of a winning candidate for an election for federal office occurring after December 2007, which received a personal loan from the candidate, from making any repayment with respect to such loan on or after the date on which the candidate begins serving in the office.

Date: 2007-02-27
Topic: Government Operations (Political Campaigns)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Candidate Anti-Corruption Act - Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to prohibit the use of any contribution made to a candidate for election to federal office, or any donation made to an individual as support for his or her activities as the holder of a federal office, for payment of a salary to the candidate or individual, or to any member of his or her immediate family.

Date: 2007-02-27
Topic: Government Operations (Political Campaigns)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Prevention Act of 2007 - Amends the federal criminal code to make it unlawful for anyone before or during a federal election to knowingly communicate, or attempt to communicate, false election-related information about that election, with the intent to prevent another person from exercising the right to vote. Increases from one year to five years' imprisonment the criminal penalty for intimidation of voters. Directs the U.S. Sentencing Commission to review and, if appropriate, amend the federal sentencing guidelines and policy statements applicable to persons convicted of any offense under this Act.Authorizes any person to report to the Attorney General false election information or intimidation of voters. Requires the Attorney General, immediately after receiving such a report, to consider and review it and, if there is a reasonable basis to find that a violation has occurred, to: (1) undertake all effective measures necessary to provide correct information to voters affected by the false information; and (2) refer the matter to the appropriate federal and state authorities for criminal prosecution or civil action after the election. Directs the Attorney General to study and report to Congress on the feasibility of providing such corrective information through public service announcements, the emergency alert system, or other forms of public broadcast. Requires the Attorney General to establish a Voting Integrity Task Force to carry out the requirements of this Act with respect to any general, primary, run-off, or special election for federal office.

Date: 2007-03-01
Topic: Government Operations (Political Campaigns)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Push Poll Disclosure Act of 2007 - Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to require any person who conducts a federal election poll by telephone or electronic device to: (1) disclose to each respondent the identity of the person paying the poll expenses; and (2) report to the Federal Election Commission the poll's total cost and all its funding sources (if not otherwise to be made public), the total number of households contacted, and a copy of the poll questions.

Date: 2007-03-01
Topic: Government Operations (Political Campaigns)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Count Every Vote Act of 2007 - Amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002 with respect to : (1) voter verification and mandatory auditing by state officials; (2) provisional ballots and requirements for casting and counting them; (3) shortening of voter wait lines; (4) equitable allocation of voting systems, poll workers, and election resources; (5) absentee balloting; (6) training of poll workers; (7) standards for purging voters; (8) an election day registration grant program; (9) standards for early voting; (10) voter registration and identification; (11) prohibition of deceptive practices and certain campaign activities; (12) voting rights of individuals convicted of criminal offenses; (13) election day as a public holiday; and (14) the Election Assistance Commission.

Date: 2007-03-07
Topic: Government Operations (Political Campaigns)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Voters' Right to Know Act of 2007 - Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to require any person conducting a federal election phone bank (except through non-political general media facilities) to report to the Federal Election Commission specified information about phone bank costs, funding sources, household contacts, and questions asked or information provided to respondents. Limits such requirement to projects contacting at least 1,500 households during the 25 days before a federal election.

Date: 2007-03-09
Topic: Government Operations (Political Campaigns)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Interregional Presidential Primary and Caucus Act of 2007 - Divides the United States into six regions of specified states to provide for: (1) interregional primary elections and caucuses, according to a certain order; and (2) selection of delegates to political party presidential and vice presidential national nominating conventions.

Date: 2007-03-14
Topic: Government Operations (Political Campaigns)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Leadership PAC Limitation Act - Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to prohibit the conversion of leadership PAC funds to personal use.Defines leadership PAC as a political committee directly or indirectly established, maintained, or controlled by a candidate for election for federal office, or an individual holding federal office, but not an authorized committee of the candidate or individual. Excludes any political committee of a political party from the meaning of leadership PAC.

Date: 2007-03-19
Topic: Government Operations (Political Campaigns)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Clean Money, Clean Elections Act of 2007 - Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (FECA) with respect to: (1) eligibility and qualifying contribution requirements, seed money limits, and benefits of clean election financing of House election campaigns; (2) establishment of a House Clean Elections Fund; (3) eligibility for Fund allocations as well as such allocations; (4) a seed money contribution requirement; (5) contribution and expenditure requirements; (6) certification of whether or not a federal election candidate is a clean money candidate; (7) benefits for participating candidates; (8) payment of fair fight funds; (9) administration of the House Clean Elections System; (10) reporting requirements for nonparticipating candidates; (11) modification of electioneering communication reporting requirements; (12) limitation on coordinated expenditures by political party committees with participating candidates; and (13) treatment of coordinated expenditures as contributions. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide a tax credit for voluntary donations to the House Clean Elections Fund. Establishes the Clean Elections Review Commission. Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to entitle clean money candidates to receive specified free broadcast time and reduced broadcast rates in certain circumstances. Amends federal postal law to prohibit franked mass mailings by Members of Congress (except public meeting notices) during the 90 days before primary and general election periods, unless they are not candidates for re-election to any other federal office. Amends FECA to: (1) empower the Federal Election Commission (FEC) to petition the U.S. Supreme Court for a proceeding on certiorari; and (2) reduce from 48 to 24 hours the deadline for electronic filing with the FEC of reports by each political committee of contributions received within 90 days before an election.

Date: 2007-03-20
Topic: Government Operations (Political Campaigns)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Mail-In Ballot Tracking Act of 2007 - Amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to require each state and jurisdiction which transmits ballots by mail in the administration of a federal election to implement appropriate procedures to ensure that the ballots (except those of absent overseas and military voters) may be tracked. Authorizes appropriations for requirements payments to states for FY2008.

Date: 2007-03-22
Topic: Government Operations (Political Campaigns)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Vote by Mail Act of 2007 - Directs the Election Assistance Commission to establish a Vote by Mail program of grants to participating states solely for implementation of procedures for the conduct of all elections by mail at the state or local level. Directs the Comptroller General to evaluate and report to Congress on the benefits of broader implementation of mail-in voting in elections.

Date: 2007-03-23
Topic: Government Operations (Political Campaigns)
Subject: Government operations and politics
House Ethics Commission Establishment Act of 2007 - Establishes an independent House Ethics Commission within the legislative branch. Amends Rule XI (Procedures of Committees and Unfinished Business) of the Rules of the House of Representatives to revise the duties of the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct to conform with this Act.

Date: 2007-03-29
Topic: Government Operations (Political Campaigns)
Subject: Congress
Amends the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (LDA) to revise the definition of "lobbying activities" (for purposes of a lobbying firm only) to include paid communications campaigns to influence the general public to lobby Congress. Redefines "lobbying firm" to include a person or entity retained by one or more clients (other than that person or entity) to engage in paid communications campaigns to influence the general public to lobby Congress, and receives income of, or spends or agrees to spend, an aggregate of $100,000 or more for such efforts in any quarterly period. Defines "paid communications campaigns to influence the general public to lobby Congress" as efforts by a lobbying firm, on behalf of a client, to influence the general public or its segments to contact one or more covered legislative or executive branch officials (or Congress generally) to urge them to take specific action regarding a specific matter. Excludes from the meaning of such communications: (1) any made to the members of the client; or (2) direct mail communications to the general public or its segments made primarily to recruit members to join an organization. Sets forth LDA registration and reporting requirements of such lobbying firms.

Date: 2007-05-01
Topic: Government Operations (Political Campaigns)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Allows absentee ballots in federal elections to be mailed free of postage, except for any mail matter transmitted under the provisions of the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act.

Date: 2007-05-03
Topic: Government Operations (Political Campaigns)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Redistricting Reform Act of 2007 - Prohibits a state that has been redistricted after an apportionment from being redistricted again until after the next apportionment of Representatives, unless the state is ordered by a court to conduct such a subsequent redistricting in order to: (1) comply with the U.S. Constitution; or (2) enforce the Voting Rights Act of 1965.Requires such redistricting to be conducted according to: (1) a plan developed by the independent redistricting commission established in the state; or (2) if such plan is not enacted into law, the redistricting plan selected by the state's highest court or developed by a U.S. district court.Provides for: (1) establishment by each state of an independent bi-partisan redistricting commission; (2) development by such commission of a redistricting plan; (3) submission of the plan to, and consideration and enactment of a plan by, the state legislature; (4) selection of a plan by the state's highest court or development of a plan by the U.S. district court, under specified conditions; (5) special rules for redistricting conducted under a federal court order; (6) Election Assistance Commission payments to states for carrying out redistricting; (7) civil enforcement to carry out this Act; and (8) the right of action for a person who is aggrieved by a violation of this Act.

Date: 2007-05-09
Topic: Government Operations (Political Campaigns)
Subject: Congress
Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to reduce from $2,000 to $1,000 the maximum amount of contributions that any person may make to any candidate with respect to election for federal office. Requires adjustment to such amount (indexing) for inflation after 2010.

Date: 2007-05-10
Topic: Government Operations (Political Campaigns)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Lobbying Transparency Act of 2007 - Amends the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 to require a registered lobbyist who bundles two or more contributions made (in an aggregate amount exceeding $5,000) to a covered recipient during a quarterly period to: (1) file a quarterly report with the Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the House of Representatives; and (2) notify the covered recipient by certified mail before filing such report. Requires the notification to express the covered recipient's right to respond to the statement to challenge and correct any information included before the registered lobbyist files such report. Defines "covered recipient" as a federal candidate, an individual holding federal office, a leadership PAC (an unauthorized political committee which is associated with an individual holding federal office, excluding a political committee of a political party), a multicandidate political committee, or a political party committee.

Date: 2007-05-15
Topic: Government Operations (Political Campaigns)
Subject: Congress
Ethics in Foreign Lobbying Act of 2007 - Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to prohibit contributions and expenditures in federal elections by multicandidate political committees or separate segregated funds sponsored by foreign-controlled corporations and associations (at least 50% owned by a non-U.S. citizen or foreign national). Sets forth ownership and operating fund reporting requirements. Prohibits a foreign national from participating in the decision-making process of any person's election-related activities (such as those of a corporation, labor organization, or political committee). Establishes within the Federal Election Commission a clearinghouse of existing public information regarding the political activities of foreign principals and agents of foreign principals. Amends the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938, as amended, to: (1) revise foreign agents' supplemental reporting requirements; and (2) provide civil penalties for specified reporting violations.

Date: 2007-05-16
Topic: Government Operations (Political Campaigns)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Same Day Voter Registration Act of 2007 - Amends the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 to require states to permit individuals to register to vote in an election for federal office on the date of the election.

Date: 2007-05-23
Topic: Government Operations (Political Campaigns)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Amends the federal criminal code to increase from one year to two years after leaving office the period during which former Members or elected officers of Congress may not engage in certain lobbying activities.

Date: 2007-05-24
Topic: Government Operations (Political Campaigns)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Independent Expenditure Opt Out Act - Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to modify the definition of "independent expenditure," which currently means an expenditure by a person: (1) expressly advocating the election or defeat of a clearly identified candidate; and (2) that is not made in concert or cooperation with or at the request or suggestion of such candidate, the candidate's authorized political committee, or their agents, or a political party committee or its agents. Declares that an expenditure made by a political party committee may not be considered to have been made in concert or cooperation with a candidate or an agent or authorized committee of the candidate solely because the candidate has requested that the committee not make any expenditure in support of the candidate or in opposition to an opponent of the candidate. (That is, a political party committee expenditure in support of a candidate, or in opposition to an opponent, may not be disqualified as an independent expenditure solely because the candidate has communicated to the committee a request that it not make such expenditures.)

Date: 2007-06-06
Topic: Government Operations (Political Campaigns)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Count Every Vote Act of 2007 - Amends federal law to extend the date provided for the meeting of electors of the President and Vice President in the states, and the date provided for the joint session of Congress held for the counting of electoral votes. Changes the date for the meeting of electors from the first Monday after the second Wednesday in December following their appointment to the first day after January 1 following their appointment. Changes the date for the counting of electoral votes from the sixth day of January succeeding the meeting of the electors in the states to the second day following the extended deadline for the receipt of certificates and votes by the President of the Senate or the Archivist of the United States. Reduces from six to three days before the meeting of the electors in a state the end of the "safe harbor" period for resolution of any controversy or contest regarding appointment of state electors.

Date: 2007-06-07
Topic: Government Operations (Political Campaigns)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Campaign Expenditure Transparency Act - Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to prohibit authorized committees of a candidate or any other political committee established, maintained, or controlled by a candidate or an individual holding federal office (other than a political committee of a political party) from directly or indirectly compensating the spouse of the candidate or the individual (as the case may be) for services provided to or on behalf of the committee. Requires any such committee to report on disbursements to the spouse or an immediate family member of the candidate or individual. Requires any penalty imposed for violation of this Act to be imposed on the candidate or federal office holder whose spouse receives compensation. Prohibits the committee involved from reimbursing the candidate or office holder for any such penalty.

Date: 2007-06-07
Topic: Government Operations (Political Campaigns)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Let the People Decide Clean Campaign Act - Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (FECA) to set forth specified expenditure limitations for House of Representatives general elections.Permits additional expenditures by eligible major party, third party, and independent candidates.Establishes in the Treasury the Grassroots Good Citizenship Fund (Fund), which shall provide public funding for House candidates' expenditures. Authorizes certain additional amounts from state and national party committees.Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) authorize taxpayers to designate specified overpayments and contributions for the Fund; and (2) increase corporate tax rates on taxable income above $10 million, and require payment of the amounts received by reason of such increase to the Fund. Amends FECA to: (1) ban independent expenditures in House elections; (2) ban the use of nonfederal funds for certain disbursements; and (3) set forth specified House limitations for expenditures for elections other than general elections.

Date: 2007-06-21
Topic: Government Operations (Political Campaigns)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Independent Ethics Commission Act of 2007 - Establishes within the House of Representatives an Independent Ethics Commission composed only of former federal judges. Prescribes procedures for: (1) initiation of investigations, upon the filing of a complaint or upon the Commission's own initiative; and (2) for consequent actions.

Date: 2007-06-21
Topic: Government Operations (Political Campaigns)
Subject: Congress
Campaign Taxpayer Reimbursement Act of 2007 - Prohibits the use of federal funds to carry out or support any travel undertaken by a covered executive branch official away from his or her designated post of duty if at any time while the official is away he or she attends any political campaign or fundraising event, unless the official's office is reimbursed by the appropriate political committee for the actual travel costs incurred. Makes special rules for presidential and vice presidential travel. Applies this Act to travel by Members of the House of Representatives. Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to require political committee reimbursement of certain state and local government security costs resulting from attendance by a covered executive branch official, other than the President or Vice President, at a political campaign or fundraising event.

Date: 2007-07-10
Topic: Government Operations (Political Campaigns)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to permit candidates for election to federal office to: (1) designate an individual for each of a candiate's authorized campaign committees who will be authorized to disburse funds of the committee in the event of the candidate's death; and (2) designate another individual to carry out the responsibilities of the designated individual in the event of the death or incapacity of the designated individual or the designated individual's unwillingness to carry out the responsibilities. Prescribes procedures for filing and revoking such a designation. Permits the filing of a designation to contain the candidate's instructions regarding the disbursement of funds.

Date: 2007-07-12
Topic: Government Operations (Political Campaigns)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Regional Presidential Primary and Caucus Act of 2007 - Divides the United States into four regions of specified states (including the District of Columbia) for holding presidential primaries in each presidential election year. Requires four successive presidential primaries in each such year, to be held during the period beginning on the first Tuesday of March, April, May, and June and ending on the sixth day following such Tuesday. Directs the Election Assistance Commission to establish procedures for the conduct of a lottery by March 1, 2010, to select which of four regions will hold the first primary. Sets forth a rule for subsequent election cycles. Provides that, in the case where a state elects to select delegates to a political party's national presidential nominating convention through a caucus, the state shall hold a caucus during the period in which its region is scheduled to hold a primary.

Date: 2007-09-06
Topic: Government Operations (Political Campaigns)
Subject: Government operations and politics
PAC Fairness Act of 2007 - Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to: (1) increase contribution limits for certain political committees, including multicandidate committees; (2) extend indexing of contribution limits for certain kinds of political committees to all political committees covered by the Act; and (3) revise requirements for the period of increase for contribution limitations, determination of the base year, permitted contribution-related communications between corporations and labor organizations and their members, and permitted contribution-related solicitations by trade associations.

Date: 2007-09-06
Topic: Government Operations (Political Campaigns)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Freedom of Political Speech Act of 2007 - Amends the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 to repeal: (1) disclosure requirements about disbursements for electioneering communications; and (2) the exception from the prohibition against such disbursements, directly or indirectly, by national banks, corporations, labor unions, or foreign nationals, in the case of disbursements from a segregated account to which individual U.S. citizens or lawful resident aliens have contributed for the express purpose of making such disbursements.

Date: 2007-10-01
Topic: Government Operations (Political Campaigns)
Subject: Government operations and politics
State and Local Candidate Fairness Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that the graduated income tax rates applicable to principal campaign committees of candidates for Congress shall also apply to all comparable committees of candidates for state and local offices.

Date: 2007-10-04
Topic: Government Operations (Political Campaigns)
Subject: Taxation
Campaign Accountability Act of 2007 - Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to repeal the limitation on party expenditures on behalf of candidates in general elections.

Date: 2007-10-10
Topic: Government Operations (Political Campaigns)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Voter Access Protection Act of 2007 - Amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to prohibit an election official from requiring an individual to provide a photo identification as a condition for receiving or casting a ballot in any election for federal office.

Date: 2007-10-31
Topic: Government Operations (Political Campaigns)
Subject: Government operations and politics