zli12321/Bills huggingface dataset:
Fair Elections Now Act - Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (FECA) with respect to: (1) eligibility and qualifying contribution requirements, seed money limits, and benefits of fair elections financing of Senate election campaigns; (2) establishment of a Senate Fair 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 participating candidate; (7) benefits for participating candidates; (8) payment of fair fight funds; (9) administration of the Senate Fair Elections System; (10) reporting requirements for nonparticipating candidates; (11) modification of electioneering communication reporting requirements; and (12) the limitation on coordinated expenditures by political party committees with participating candidates. Amends the Communications Act of 1934 with respect to the deposit of proceeds from recovered spectrum auctionsEstablishes the Fair Elections Review Commission. Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to: (1) entitle participating candidates to receive specified reduced broadcast rates in certain circumstances; and (2) provide for political advertisement vouchers for them. Directs the Federal Election Commission (FEC) to charge non-public broadcast stations a spectrum use fee, which shall be deposited into the Senate Fair Elections Fund. 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. Amends FECA to: (1) empower the FEC to petition the U.S. Supreme Court for a proceeding on certiorari; (2) revise requirements for filing with the FEC by Senate candidates; and (3) 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: 2007-05-03
Topic: Government Operations (Political Campaigns)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Ballot Integrity Act of 2007 - Amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to prohibit a state or jurisdiction from purchasing or otherwise acquiring for use in a federal election a direct recording electronic voting system or other electronic voting system that does not produce a voter-verified paper record. Directs the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) to make grants for: (1) replacing or retrofitting direct recording electronic and certain other voting systems; and (2) research on voting technology improvements for the development of completely accessible voting systems. Requires the voting system to: (1) require the use of or produce an individual, durable, voter-verified paper record of the voter's vote for inspection and verification before the voter's vote is cast and counted; and (2) provide the voter with an opportunity to correct any error before the paper record is preserved. Outlines durability and readability requirements. Directs the EAC to study, test, and develop best practices to enhance the accessibility of vote verification mechanisms for individuals with disabilities, for language minorities, and for individuals with difficulties in literacy. Modifies alternative language accessibility requirements.Bans voting systems from at any time: (1) containing or using any software which has not been certified; or (2) containing, using, or being accessible by any wireless, power-line, or concealed communication device. Prohibits any Internet connection for components of any voting device. Requires security standards for voting systems used in federal elections. Requires laboratories to meet standards prohibiting conflicts of interest as a condition of accreditation for testing of voting system hardware and software. Requires each state to establish standards for local jurisdictions to use in conducting election audits. Requires the Commission to establish an Audit Guidelines Development Task Force. Adds federal election requirements pertaining, among other things, to absentee voting and third-party registration. Requires the EAC to study the equitable distribution of voting systems, poll workers, and election resources. Prohibits campaign activities by Chief State Election Officials. Outlines standards for purging voters from voter registration lists, including restoration of erroneously purged voters. Requires each state to promulgate uniform, nondiscriminatory procedures allowing polling place access to international and domestic election observers. Provides for early voting. Amends the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act regarding absentee ballots for military and overseas voters.

Date: 2007-05-24
Topic: Government Operations (Political Campaigns)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Voting Integrity and Verification Act of 2007 - Amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to require each voting system purchased after December 31, 2012, and used in an election for federal office to produce an individual permanent paper record for each ballot that is cast. Requires the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology to establish a program to award cash prizes competitively to eligible persons that advance the research, development, demonstration, and application of voting systems which are specifically designed to enhance accessibility and provide independence for persons with disabilities during the voting process.

Date: 2007-07-25
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: 2007-07-31
Topic: Government Operations (Political Campaigns)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Fair and Representative Presidential Primaries 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: 2007-09-06
Topic: Government Operations (Political Campaigns)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971, as amended by the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007, to revise requirements for disclosure of bundled contributions, particularly by an authorized committee of a candidate for the office of President or for nomination to such office (presidential candidate committee).Applies such reporting requirements to bundled contributions by persons other than registered lobbyists. Requires reporting of lobbyist contributions on a separate schedule.Sets the covered period for such reports as the two-year period preceding a presidential election, as well as any applicable reporting period during which any person provided two or more bundled contributions in an aggregate amount greater than the specified applicable amount.Increases the applicable threshold triggering such reporting requirement from $15,000 (currently applicable to any authorized committee of a candidate, a leadership PAC, or a political party committee) to $50,000 in the case of a presidential candidate committee. Excludes from the calculation of a bundled contribution any contribution by the candidate or the candidate's spouse.

Date: 2007-09-06
Topic: Government Operations (Political Campaigns)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Voter Confidence and Increased Accessibility Act of 2007 - Amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA) with respect to: (1) ballot verification and mandatory paper record audit capacity; and (2) accessibility and ballot verification of results for individuals with disabilities.Requires the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology to study, test, and develop best practices to enhance the accessibility of ballot verification mechanisms for individuals with disabilities, voters whose primary language is not English, and voters with difficulties in literacy.Requires laboratories to meet standards prohibiting conflicts of interest as a condition of accreditation for the testing of voting system hardware and software.Outlines additional voting system requirements and prohibitions.Provides for grants for research on development of election-dedicated voting system software. Provides for complaints to the Attorney General by persons aggrieved by violations of HAVA. Directs each state to administer, without advance notice to the precincts selected, audits of the results of elections for federal office held in the state consisting of random hand counts of the voter-verified paper paper ballots required to be produced and preserved for each such election held in the state. Requires the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) to make payments to states to cover the costs incurred in carrying out such mandatory manual audits. Repeals the exemption of the EAC from certain government contracting requirements.

Date: 2007-11-01
Topic: Government Operations (Political Campaigns)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Caging Prohibition Act of 2007 - Prohibits state or local election officials from preventing an individual from registering or voting in any election for federal office, or permitting a formal challenge under state law to an individual's registration status or eligibility to vote in a federal election, if the sole basis for such decision or challenge is evidence consisting of: (1) a voter caging document or voter caging list; (2) an unverified match list; or (3) any other evidence so designated for purposes of this Act by the Federal Election Commission.Defines "voter caging document" as: (1) any nonforwardable document that is sent to an individual at the address at which such individual is registered (or seeking to become registered) as a voter in a federal election, and that is returned to the sender or to a third party as undelivered or undeliverable; and (2) any document (other than a notice warning of possible removal from the voting rolls) that is sent to an individual at the address at which such individual is registered.Defines "unverified match list" as one produced by matching the identity of registered voters or voter registration applicants with the identity of individuals who are ineligible to vote in the registrar's jurisdiction, by virtue of death, conviction, change of address, mental impairment, or otherwise, unless the information establishing the individual's identity contains a signature, photograph, or unique identifying number.Outlines requirements for challenges to an individual's registration or voting eligibility by persons other than election officials.

Date: 2007-11-05
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 campaign contributions (series of contributions exceeding specified threshold amounts).Amends the Energy Policy Act, the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970, and the Public Rangelands Improvement Act of 1978 to increase license fees, royalties, and grazing fees under such Acts.

Date: 2007-12-05
Topic: Government Operations (Political Campaigns)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Robocall Privacy Act of 2008 - Makes it unlawful for a person during specified periods before a federal primary or general election to make certain prerecorded political telephone calls with respect to a candidate for federal office without immediate disclosure of the recorded nature of the calls, the identity of the caller, and the appearance of the caller's telephone number on the recipient's caller identification service.

Date: 2008-02-12
Topic: Government Operations (Political Campaigns)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Weekend Voting Act - Amends the Revised Statutes with respect to the time of election to establish the first Saturday and Sunday after the first Friday in November, in every even numbered year, as the days for the election, in each state and territory, of Delegates to, or Members of, Congress.Amends federal law with respect to presidential elections and vacancies to establish the first Saturday and Sunday after the first Friday in November, in every fourth year, as the days for the election of the President and Vice President of the United States. Amends such federal laws to establish the same polling place hours in the United States for both congressional and presidential elections, namely from 10:00 a.m. EST on Saturday till 6:00 p.m. EST on Sunday, with polls allowed to close between the hours of 10:00 p.m. local time on Saturday and 6:00 a.m. local time on Sunday as provided by the law of the state in which the polling place is located.

Date: 2008-02-14
Topic: Government Operations (Political Campaigns)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Closing the Foreign Lobbying Loophole Act - Amends the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938 to repeal the exemption of agents of foreign principals from mandatory registration with the Attorney General if they are already registered under the Lobbying Disclosure Act. Redefines "agent of a foreign principal" to extend its meaning to agents who through any other person outside the United States represents the interests of a foreign principal before any agency or official of the federal government.

Date: 2008-06-12
Topic: Government Operations (Political Campaigns)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Do-Not-Text Act of 2008 - Amends the CAN-SPAM Act of 2003 to exclude from the definition of "mobile service commercial message" a commercial e-mail if the message's primary purpose is to: (1) facilitate, complete, or confirm a transaction between the message recipient and the sender; (2) provide warranty, recall, safety, or security information regarding the recipient's product or service; (3) provide notice of a change in terms or conditions, a change in the status of the recipient, or account statements regarding a subscription, membership, account, loan, or comparable ongoing commercial relationship; (4) provide information regarding an employment relationship or benefit plan in which the recipient is involved; or (5) deliver goods or services, including updates or upgrades, that the recipient is entitled to receive.Declares that provisions relating to the application of the Act to wireless do not prohibit: (1) phone-to-phone short messages; and (2) the sending of mobile service commercial messages by a mobile service provider to its subscribers at no cost to its subscribers unless a subscriber has expressed a desire not to receive such messages.Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to require express prior authorization to send a mobile service commercial message to any person in the United States.

Date: 2008-06-16
Topic: Government Operations (Political Campaigns)
Subject: Science, technology, communications
Oversight of the Performance and Effectiveness of National Contracting Act of 2008 - States the policy of the U.S. government concerning the award of contracts or grants to companies organized in an offshore secrecy jurisdiction to avoid federal tax obligations. Prohibits such awards. Requires the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the Secretary of the Treasury to adopt and revise regulations and guidance as necessary to effect this prohibition.Prohibits for one year (with exceptions) entry into or approval of any contract or subcontract with a company that files periodic reports under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and that has failed to certify the most recently due financial report as required by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.Prohibits award of a contract with an executive agency unless the contracting officer determines that the prospective contractor has a satisfactory record of integrity and business ethics, including satisfactory compliance with the law (including tax, labor and employment, environmental, antitrust, and consumer protection laws).Prohibits entry into a covered contract (one in excess of $500,000 for the performance of functions closely associated with governmental functions) without a conflicts of interest clause described in this Act.Requires every contract that provides for award fees to link the fees to successful acquisition outcomes.Directs the Administrator of General Services to maintain a database of information regarding integrity and performance of persons awarded federal contracts and grants for use by federal officials having authority over contracts and grants.Requires the OMB Director to maintain on the USASpending.gov website specified details concerning contractors, including information about the types of work, personnel involved, prices, fees, and performance.Requires the Inspectors General of the Departments of Defense (DOD) and of Homeland Security to report to Congress on functions of the respective departments that are inherently governmental functions or closely associated with the performance of such functions and performed by contractor personnel. Requires the Secretaries of the departments to report plans for staffing such functions with department personnel and to incrementally increase staffing of such functions by their personnel.

Date: 2008-06-16
Topic: Government Operations (Political Campaigns)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Student Voter Opportunity To Encourage Registration Act of 2008 or the Student VOTER Act of 2008 - Amends the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 to require states to designate federally-funded institutions of higher education as agencies for the registration of voters in federal elections. Requires such schools to provide mail voter registration application forms to students registering to enroll in their courses.

Date: 2008-07-31
Topic: Government Operations (Political Campaigns)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Prohibits the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac) and their affiliates from making: (1) lobbying expenditures; (2) political contributions; or (3) contributions to any nonprofit tax-exempt organization.Declares that violating this Act shall constitute violation of federal law limiting the use of appropriated funds to influence certain federal contracting and financial transactions (thus, imposing the same penalties).

Date: 2008-09-11
Topic: Government Operations (Political Campaigns)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Makes it unlawful to knowingly and intentionally sell or forge a ticket to a presidential inaugural ceremony or to use, unlawfully possess, or exhibit a forged ticket with the intent to defraud. Exempts the sale of tickets to a presidential inaugural ceremony that has already occurred. Imposes a fine and/or prison term of up to one year for violations.

Date: 2008-11-17
Topic: Government Operations (Political Campaigns)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Renders Treasury Notice 2008-83 (suspending restrictions on the offset of net operating losses and unrealized built-in losses against the taxable income of certain corporate entities that acquire or merge with other entities) null and void and of no effect.

Date: 2008-11-19
Topic: Government Operations (Political Campaigns)
Subject: Taxation
Accountability for Economic Rescue Assistance Act of 2008 - Prohibits recipients of emergency economic assistance under the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 or under the Federal Reserve Act, or any subsidiary, from using such funds for lobbying expenditures or political contributions.Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to develop and publish corporate governance principles and ethical guidelines for recipients of such funds, including restrictions governing: (1) the hosting, sponsorship, or payments for conferences and events; (2) the use of corporate aircraft, travel accommodations, and travel expenditures; (3) expenses relating to office or facility renovations or relocations; and (4) expenses relating to entertainment, holiday parties, employee recognition events, or similar ancillary corporate expenses.Requires recipients of such funds to file quarterly reports and certifications with the Secretary, which shall be made publicly available online, and at no cost.Subjects violators of this Act to specified civil penalties.Makes any person who violates this Act ineligible to receive any future emergency economic assistance unless the Secretary determines that reasonable steps have been taken to bring actions into compliance with and to prevent future violations of this Act.

Date: 2008-11-19
Topic: Government Operations (Political Campaigns)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Ex-Offenders Voting Rights Act of 2009 - Declares that the right of a U.S. citizen to vote in any election for federal office shall not be denied or abridged because that individual has been convicted of a criminal offense unless, at the time of the election, such individual is serving a felony sentence in a correctional institution or facility. Requires the chief correctional officer of each state to inform convicted felons within 30 days after their release of their right to vote in elections for federal office and the date of the next election in which they are eligible to vote. Provides for enforcement and remedies for violations of this Act. Specifies that: (1) nothing in this Act shall be construed to prohibit a state from enacting any state law that affords the right to vote in any election for federal office on terms less restrictive than those terms established by this Act; and (2) the rights and remedies established by this Act shall be in addition to all other rights and remedies provided by law, and shall not supersede, restrict, or limit the application of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 or the National Voter Registration Act of 1993.

Date: 2009-01-06
Topic: Government Operations (Political Campaigns)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Public Official Accountability Act - Amends the federal criminal code to provide for a two-year increase in the prison sentence of public officials convicted of any crime: (1) committed during the course of official duty and intended to enrich such officials; and (2) involving bribery, fraud, extortion, or theft of public funds greater than $10,000.

Date: 2009-01-06
Topic: Government Operations (Political Campaigns)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Caging Prohibition Act of 2009 - Amends the federal criminal code to prohibit state or local election officials from preventing an individual from registering or voting in any election for federal office, or from permitting a formal challenge under state law to an individual's registration status or eligibility to vote, if the basis for such decision is evidence consisting of: (1) a voter caging document or voter caging list; (2) an unverified match list; (3) an error or omission on voter application or registration documents that is not material to an individual's eligibility to vote; or (4) any other evidence so designated by the Election Assistance Commission. Defines "voter caging document" as: (1) a nonforwardable document that is returned to the sender or a third party as undelivered or undeliverable despite an attempt to deliver it to the address of a registered voter or applicant; or (2) any document with instructions to an addressee that the document be returned to a sender or third party but is not so returned, despite an attempt to deliver it to the address of a registered voter, unless at least two federal election cycles have passed since the date of the attempted delivery.Defines "unverified match list" as a list produced by matching the information of registered voters or applicants to a list of individuals ineligible to vote in the registrar's jurisdiction due to death, conviction, change of address, or otherwise, unless one of the pieces of information matched includes a signature, photograph, or unique identifying number ensuring that the information from each source refers to the same individual. Requires any private individual who challenges the right of another citizen to vote to set forth in writing, under penalty of perjury, personal, first-hand knowledge establishing the grounds for ineligibility.

Date: 2009-01-06
Topic: Government Operations (Political Campaigns)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Presidential Signing Statements Act of 2009 - Requires the President to transmit to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the chairmen of the House and Senate Committees on the Judiciary, and to the Senate Majority Leader each signing statement that declares or insinuates the President's intention to disregard provisions of any bill he has signed into law because he believes it is unconstitutional. Requires the President, on the same day that he signs such statement, to transmit it to the Librarian of Congress who shall place it on the Thomas Web site administered by the Library with all other such statements during that Congress. Requires the Attorney General, Deputy Attorney General, or White House Counsel to testify before such congressional committees at the behest of any single Member of either committee to explain the meaning and justification of every presidential signing statement covered by this Act. Prohibits executive privilege from being recognized as a valid basis for refusing to appear or refusing to answer a question pertinent to the legal reasoning behind a signing statement or its legal ramifications. Bars authorization or expenditure of federal funds to implement any law accompanied by a presidential signing statement noncompliant with this Act.

Date: 2009-01-06
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, 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: 2009-01-06
Topic: Government Operations (Political Campaigns)
Subject: Congress
Critical Election Infrastructure Act of 2009 - Directs the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) to make grants to eligible states to carry out election administration improvement plans to promote efficiency and fairness in the operation of polling places in federal elections (including early voting sites), which may include: (1) acquisition of additional voting systems and equipment; (2) improved training of election administration officials; and (3) allocation of additional election administration officials to polling places serving greater numbers of voters.

Date: 2009-01-07
Topic: Government Operations (Political Campaigns)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Weekend Voting Act - Amends the Revised Statutes with respect to the time of election to establish the first Saturday and Sunday after the first Friday in November, in every even numbered year, as the days for the election, in each state and territory, of Delegates to, or Members of, Congress. Amends federal law with respect to presidential elections and vacancies to establish the first Saturday and Sunday after the first Friday in November, in every fourth year, as the days for the election of the President and Vice President of the United States. Amends such federal laws to establish the same polling place hours in the United States for both congressional and presidential elections, namely from 10:00 a.m. EST on Saturday till 6:00 p.m. EST on Sunday, with polls allowed to close between the hours of 10:00 p.m. local time on Saturday and 6:00 a.m. local time on Sunday as provided by the law of the state in which the polling place is located.

Date: 2009-01-07
Topic: Government Operations (Political Campaigns)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Federal Election Integrity Act of 2010 - 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. Waives application of this Act if the chief state election administration official himself or herself, or an immediate family member, is a candidate. States that the budgetary effects of this Act, for compliance with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, shall be determined by reference to the latest statement titled "Budgetary Effects of PAYGO Legislation" for this Act, provided that such statement has been submitted before the vote on passage.

Date: 2009-01-14
Topic: Government Operations (Political Campaigns)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Citizen Involvement in Campaigns Act of 2009- Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow: (1) a $200 tax credit ($400 for joint returns) for contributions to a candidate for federal elective public office or to the national committee of a national political party; and (2) a tax deduction (available to taxpayers who do not itemize deductions) for such political contributions up to $600 ($1,200 for joint returns).

Date: 2009-01-27
Topic: Government Operations (Political Campaigns)
Subject: Taxation
Executive Accountability Act of 2009 - Amends the federal criminal code to prohibit the President or any officer or employee of the executive branch from knowingly and willfully misleading Congress for the purpose of gaining Congress's support for the use of the Armed Forces of the United States by: (1) falsifying, concealing, or covering up by any trick, scheme, or device a material fact; (2) making any materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or representation; or (3) making or using any false writing or document knowing the same to contain any materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or entry. Makes such offense punishable by a fine and up to 10 years' imprisonment. Suspends the running of any statute of limitations applicable to such offense until the end of the term of the President in office at the time the offense is committed. Requires a referral to the Attorney General of any resolution passed by either house of Congress finding that a violation of this Act has occurred.

Date: 2009-01-28
Topic: Government Operations (Political Campaigns)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
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: 2009-01-28
Topic: Government Operations (Political Campaigns)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Ethical and Legal Elections for Congressional Transitions Act - Requires states to hold special elections when a vacancy occurs in the office of U.S. Senator for the state. Amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to reimburse the states for a portion of special election costs.

Date: 2009-02-04
Topic: Government Operations (Political Campaigns)
Subject: Congress
Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to require the principal campaign committee of a candidate for election to the Office of President to include with the committee's statement of organization a copy of the candidate's birth certificate, together with such other documentation as may be necessary to establish that the candidate meets the qualifications for eligibility to the Office of President under the Constitution.

Date: 2009-03-12
Topic: Government Operations (Political Campaigns)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Universal Right to Vote by Mail Act of 2009 - 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 for purposes of obtaining signature verification for acceptance and processing of a submitted ballot, or to the extent that it imposes a deadline for requesting the ballot and returning it to the appropriate state or local election official.

Date: 2009-03-19
Topic: Government Operations (Political Campaigns)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Fixing the Federal Voting Assistance Program Act of 2009 - Amends the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act to require the presidential designee responsible for carrying out federal functions under the Act to have experience in election administration and be approved by the Senate. Establishes the Overseas Voting Advisory Board to conduct studies and issue reports with respect to various issues, including the ability of U.S. citizens who reside outside of the United States to register to vote and vote in elections for public office.

Date: 2009-03-23
Topic: Government Operations (Political Campaigns)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Voter Registration Modernization Act of 2009 - Amends the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA) to direct states to ensure the availability of the Internet for online voter registration. Amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA) to direct the appropriate state or local election official to ensure the availability of the Internet for updating voter registration information. Amends NVRA to allow a voter registration applicant to provide his or her email address on the appropriate form to receive voting information. Requires states to consider an applicant to have provided a valid voter registration form if he or she has provided all necessary information to demonstrate eligibility to vote. Allows a state to use a HAVA requirements payment to carry out the new NVRA requirements imposed by this Act.

Date: 2009-03-25
Topic: Government Operations (Political Campaigns)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Student Voter Opportunity To Encourage Registration Act of 2009 or the Student VOTER Act of 2009 - Amends the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 to require states to designate federally-funded institutions of higher education as agencies for the registration of voters in federal elections. Requires such schools to provide mail voter registration application forms to students registering to enroll in their courses.

Date: 2009-03-26
Topic: Government Operations (Political Campaigns)
Subject: Education
Fair Elections Now Act - Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (FECA) with respect to: (1) eligibility and qualifying contribution requirements and benefits of fair elections financing of House of Representatives election campaigns; (2) establishment of a Fair Elections Fund; (3) eligibility for Fund allocations; (4) contribution and expenditure requirements; (5) a public debate requirement; (6) certification of whether or not a federal election candidate is a participating candidate; (7) benefits for participating candidates; (8) matching payments for qualified small dollar contributions; (9) political advertising vouchers; (10) establishment of a Fair Elections Oversight Board; (11) civil penalties for violation of contribution and expenditure requirements; (12) prohibition of joint fundraising committees with any political committee other than a candidate's authorized committee; and (13) a specified limitation on coordinated expenditures by political party committees with participating candidates. Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to require the deposit into the Fair Elections Fund of 10% of the proceeds from competitive auctions for recovered analog spectrum. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow for designation of a certain amount of income tax liability to the Fair Elections Fund. Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to: (1) prohibit the preemption of the use of a broadcasting station by a legally qualified House candidate who has purchased and paid for such use; (2) revise Federal Communications Commission (FCC) authority to revoke licenses for broadcasting stations who fail to provide access to House candidates; and (3) revise the formula for determining reduced broadcast rates for participating candidates in certain circumstances. Directs the FCC to initiate a rulemaking proceeding to establish a standardized form to be used by broadcasting stations to record and report the purchase of advertising time by or on behalf of a candidate for nomination for election, or for election, to federal elective office. Amends FECA to: (1) empower the Federal Election Commission (FEC) to petition the U.S. Supreme Court for a writ of certiorari to appeal a civil action; (2) require all designations, statements, and reports required to be filed under FECA to be filed directly with the FEC, and in computer-accessible electronic form; and (3) reduce from 48 to 24 hours after their receipt the deadline for the FEC to make designations, statements, reports, or notifications available to the public in the FEC office and on the Internet.

Date: 2009-03-31
Topic: Government Operations (Political Campaigns)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Clean Law for Earmark Accountability Reform Act or the CLEAR Act - Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to prohibit an authorized committee of a candidate who is a Member of Congress from accepting contributions from any entity for which the candidate sought a congressional earmark, or from any senior executive of such an entity, or any lobbyist for whom the entity was a client. Prohibits the acceptance of any contribution from a separate segregated fund established and administered by a corporation or labor organization if the Member sought a congressional earmark for the corporation.

Date: 2009-04-22
Topic: Government Operations (Political Campaigns)
Subject: Congress
Clean Money, Clean Elections Act of 2009 - 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: 2009-04-22
Topic: Government Operations (Political Campaigns)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Military and Overseas Voting Enhancement Act - Amends the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act to require states to accept and process absentee ballots of overseas uniformed services and civilian voters submitted by the voter to a provider of express mail no later than the day before election day for transmission to the appropriate state election official, as long as the ballot is received within 10 days after the election. Requires the Presidential designee to reimburse overseas uniformed services voters for the costs of using a provider of express mail services to transmit the ballot to the official.

Date: 2009-04-23
Topic: Government Operations (Political Campaigns)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Financial Disclosure Integrity Act - Amends the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 to require the annual financial disclosure reports of certain federal officers and employees to include mortgages secured by real properties which are the personal residences of the reporting individuals or their spouses. Requires the reporting of any liability consisting of such a mortgage to include applicable interest rate payments during the preceding calendar year and the number of years (or portions) remaining on the mortgage. Requires in the financial report a brief description, the date, and category of value of any purchase, sale, or exchange of such a property during a preceding calendar year.

Date: 2009-04-27
Topic: Government Operations (Political Campaigns)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Provides that the prohibition against a state or local officer or employee being a candidate for elective office shall not apply to any local government office of an area with a population of less than 100,000.

Date: 2009-04-28
Topic: Government Operations (Political Campaigns)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Voters' Right to Know Act of 2009 - 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: 2009-05-12
Topic: Government Operations (Political Campaigns)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Amends the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act to: (1) require states to accept and process, with respect to any election for federal office, any otherwise valid voter registration application, absentee ballot application, and absentee ballot submitted by an absent uniformed services voter without any requirement for notarization of the document; and (2) permit the submittal of the official post card form (for simultaneous voter registration application and absentee ballot application) by electronic means. Expresses the sense of Congress concerning encouragement by states and the Department of Defense (DOD) of the use of electronic means to submit absentee ballots.

Date: 2009-06-11
Topic: Government Operations (Political Campaigns)
Subject: Armed forces and national security