[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 493 Introduced in House (IH)]







105th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 493

   To amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to reform the 
        financing of Federal elections, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 21, 1997

   Mr. Shays (for himself, Mr. Meehan, Mrs. Roukema, Mr. Barrett of 
    Wisconsin, Mrs. Smith of Washington, Mr. Kind, and Mr. Duncan) 
 introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 
  House Oversight, and in addition to the Committees on Commerce and 
   Government Reform and Oversight, for a period to be subsequently 
   determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such 
 provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to reform the 
        financing of Federal elections, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 
1997''.

SEC. 2. TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    The table of contents of this Act is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title.
Sec. 2. Table of contents.
TITLE I--HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ELECTION SPENDING LIMITS AND BENEFITS

Sec. 101. House of Representatives election spending limits and 
                            benefits.
Sec. 102. Broadcast rates and preemption.
Sec. 103. Reduced postage rates.
Sec. 104. Contribution limit for eligible House of Representatives 
                            candidates.
Sec. 105. Reporting requirements.
           TITLE II--REDUCTION OF SPECIAL INTEREST INFLUENCE

   Subtitle A--Limitations on Political Action Committees and Large 
                      Contributions of Individuals

Sec. 201. Limitations on activities of political action committees in 
                            Federal elections.
Sec. 202. Aggregate limit on large contributions.
   Subtitle B--Provisions Relating to Soft Money of Political Parties

Sec. 211. Soft money of political parties.
Sec. 212. Increase in contribution limit for individual contributions 
                            to national political parties.
Sec. 212. Increase in contribution limits for contributions to State 
                            parties.
Sec. 213. Reporting requirements.
Sec. 214. Building fund exception to the definition of the term 
                            ``contribution''.
     Subtitle C--Soft Money of Persons Other Than Political Parties

Sec. 221. Soft money of persons other than political parties.
                       Subtitle D--Contributions

Sec. 231. Contributions through intermediaries and conduits.
          Subtitle E--Additional Prohibitions on Contributions

Sec. 241. Prohibition of contributions by noncitizens and other 
                            individuals not qualified to vote.
          Subtitle F--Coordinated and Independent Expenditures

Sec. 251. Clarification of definitions relating to independent 
                            expenditures.
Sec. 252. Treatment of coordinated expenditures as contributions.
Sec. 253. Treatment of certain party expenditures and communications 
                            containing express advocacy as 
                            expenditures.
Sec. 254. Reporting requirements for certain independent expenditures.
                 TITLE III--ENFORCEMENT AND DISCLOSURE

Sec. 301. Audits.
Sec. 302. Change in certain reporting from a calendar year basis to an 
                            election cycle basis.
Sec. 303. Disclosure of personal and consulting services.
Sec. 304. Independent litigation authority.
Sec. 305. Term limits for Federal Election Commission.
Sec. 306. Authority to seek injunction.
Sec. 307. Expedited procedures.
Sec. 308. Increase in penalty for knowing and willful violations.
Sec. 309. Mandatory electronic filing and preservation of Federal 
                            election commission reports.
                   TITLE IV--MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

Sec. 401. Restrictions on use of campaign funds for personal purposes.
Sec. 402. Campaign advertising amendments.
Sec. 403. Use of candidates' names.
Sec. 404. Reporting requirements.
Sec. 405. Simultaneous registration of candidate and candidate's 
                            principal campaign committee.
Sec. 406. Insolvent political committees.
Sec. 407. Regulations relating to use of non-Federal money.
Sec. 408. Ban on franking for unsolicited mass mailings mailed during 
                            election year.
Sec. 409. Intent of congress.
Sec. 410. Severability.
Sec. 411. Expedited review of constitutional issues.
Sec. 412. Effective date.
Sec. 413. Regulations.

TITLE I--HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ELECTION SPENDING LIMITS AND BENEFITS

SEC. 101. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ELECTION SPENDING LIMITS AND 
              BENEFITS.

    The Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 is amended by adding at 
the end the following new title:

 ``TITLE V--SPENDING LIMITS AND BENEFITS FOR HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
                           ELECTION CAMPAIGNS

``SEC. 501. CANDIDATES ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE BENEFITS.

    ``(a) In General.--For purposes of this title, a candidate is an 
eligible House of Representatives candidate if the Commission has 
certified, pursuant to section 504, that the candidate--
            ``(1) meets the election cycle filing requirements of 
        subsection (b); and
            ``(2) meets the threshold contribution requirements of 
        subsection (c).
    ``(b) Filing Requirements.--
            ``(1) In general.--The requirements of this subsection are 
        met if the candidate files with the Commission under penalty of 
        perjury a declaration that--
                    ``(A) the candidate and the candidate's authorized 
                committees--
                            ``(i) will not exceed the expenditure 
                        limits under section 502(a), (b), and (c),
                            ``(ii) will not accept contributions in 
                        excess of the election cycle expenditure limit, 
                        reduced by any amounts transferred to this 
                        election cycle from a preceding election cycle,
                            ``(iii) will not, in the event of a runoff 
                        election, accept contributions in excess of the 
                        runoff expenditure limit, reduced by any 
                        amounts transferred to this election cycle from 
                        a preceding election cycle,
                            ``(iv) will not accept any contributions in 
                        violation of section 315, and
                            ``(v) will comply with the requirement 
                        that, by the end of the election cycle, not 
                        less than 60 percent of the total dollar amount 
                        of all contributions from individuals to the 
                        candidate or the candidate's authorized 
                        committees (including any expenditures, 
                        contributions, or loans made by the candidate) 
                        shall come from individuals legally residing in 
                        the candidate's State; and
                    ``(B) the candidate intends to make use of the 
                benefits provided under section 503.
            ``(2) Deadline for filing declaration.--The declaration 
        under paragraph (1) shall be filed the date the candidate files 
        as a candidate for the primary election. In the case of a 
        candidate who is not eligible to participate in a primary 
        election but qualifies for the general election ballot under 
        State law, the declaration under paragraph (1) shall be filed 
        not later than the date the candidate qualifies for the general 
        election ballot under State law.''.
            ``(3) Notification.--A candidate who--
                    ``(A) files a declaration pursuant to subsection 
                (b)(1) of this Act; and
                    ``(B) subsequently acts in a manner inconsistent 
                with any of the limitations or requirements of the 
                declaration filed under subsection (b)(1) shall file a 
                notification regarding such acts with the Commission 
                not later than 24 hours after the first such act 
                inconsistent with any of the limitations or 
                requirements and shall at the same time notify all 
                other candidates for the same office by sending a copy 
                of the notification filed with the Commission by 
                certified mail, return receipt requested.
    ``(c) Threshold Contribution Requirements.--
            ``(1) In general.--The requirements of this subsection are 
        met if the candidate and the candidate's authorized committees 
        have received allowable contributions during the applicable 
        period in an amount equal to 10 percent of the election cycle 
        expenditure limit under section 502(b), and file with the 
        Commission under penalty of perjury a statement with supporting 
        materials demonstrating that this requirement has been met.
            ``(2) Definitions.--For purposes of this section--
                    ``(A) the term `allowable contributions' means 
                contributions that are made as gifts of money by an 
                individual pursuant to a written instrument identifying 
                such individual as the contributor, except that--
                            ``(i) such term shall not include 
                        contributions from individuals residing outside 
                        the candidate's State to the extent such 
                        contributions exceed 40 percent of the amount 
                        set forth in paragraph (1),
                            ``(ii) no more than $200 of any 
                        contribution from an individual shall be taken 
                        into account; and
                            ``(iii) such term shall not include any 
                        contribution of an intermediary or conduit 
                        within the meaning of section 301(a)(8); and
                    ``(B) the term `applicable period' means--
                            ``(i) the period beginning on January 1 of 
                        the calendar year preceding the calendar year 
                        of the general election involved and ending on 
                        the date of the general election; or
                            ``(ii) in the case of a special election 
                        for the office of Representative in, or 
                        Delegate or Resident Commissioner to, the 
                        Congress, the period beginning on the date the 
                        vacancy in such office occurs and ending on the 
                        date of the general election.

``SEC. 502. LIMITATION ON EXPENDITURES.

    ``(a) Limitation on Use of Personal Funds.--
            ``(1) In general.--The aggregate amount of expenditures 
        that may be made during an election cycle by an eligible House 
        of Representatives candidate or such candidate's authorized 
        committees from the sources described in paragraph (2) shall 
        not exceed 10 percent of the election cycle expenditure limit 
        under subsection (b).
            ``(2) Sources.--A source is described in this subsection if 
        it is--
                    ``(A) personal funds of the candidate and members 
                of the candidate's immediate family; or
                    ``(B) personal loans incurred by the candidate and 
                members of the candidate's immediate family.
    ``(b) Election Cycle Expenditure Limit.--
            ``(1) In general.--Except as otherwise provided in this 
        title, the aggregate amount of expenditures for an election 
        cycle by an eligible House of Representatives candidate and the 
        candidate's authorized committees shall not exceed $600,000.
            ``(2) Indexing.--The amount under paragraph (1) shall be 
        increased as of the beginning of each calendar year based on 
        the increase in the price index determined under section 
        315(c), except that the base period shall be calendar year 
        1997.
    ``(c) Runoff Expenditure Limits.--The aggregate amount of 
expenditures for a runoff election by an eligible House of 
Representatives candidate and the candidate's authorized committees 
shall not exceed 20 percent of the election cycle expenditure limit 
under subsection (b).
    ``(d) Payment of Taxes.--The limitation under subsection (b) shall 
not apply to any expenditure for Federal, State, or local taxes with 
respect to earnings on contributions raised.
    ``(e) Contested Primary.--If, as determined by the Commission, an 
eligible House of Representatives candidate in a contested primary wins 
that primary election by a margin of 10 percent or less, the limitation 
contained in subsection (b)(1) shall be increased by 30 percent for 
such candidate, and such candidate shall be entitled to raise 
additional contributions not to exceed this amount.
    ``(f) Complying Candidates Running Against Noncomplying 
Candidates.--
            ``(1) If in the case of an election with more than one 
        candidate where any candidate either--
                    ``(A) fails to be certified as an eligible 
                candidate by the Commission and has expended personal 
                funds in excess of 10 percent of the election cycle 
                limits contained in subsection (b) or has received 
                contributions or expended personal funds which in the 
                aggregate exceed 70 percent of the election cycle 
                limits contained in subsection (b), or
                    ``(B) violates the limitations on expenditures of 
                this Act, any eligible House of Representatives 
                candidate in that election shall be permitted to raise 
                additional contributions up to an amount equal to 50 
                percent of the election cycle limit contained in 
                subsection (b).
            ``(2) If the candidate who has failed to be certified as an 
        eligible candidate or who has violated the limitations on 
        expenditures of this Act has received contributions or expended 
        personal funds which, in the aggregate, exceed 120 percent of 
        the election cycle limits contained in this section, any 
        eligible House of Representatives candidate in that election 
        shall be permitted to raise additional contributions up to an 
        amount equal to 100 percent of the election cycle limit 
        contained in subsection (b).
            ``(3) In the event a noncomplying candidate as defined in 
        subparagraphs (A) or (B) of paragraph (1) spends an amount 
        equal to 105 percent of the election cycle limit contained in 
        subsection (b), the election cycle limit contained in 
        subsection (b) for an eligible House of Representatives 
        candidate in such election shall be increased by 50 percent. In 
        the event a noncomplying candidate spends an amount equal to 
        155 percent of the election cycle limit contained in subsection 
        (b), the election cycle limit in subsection (b) for an eligible 
        House of Representatives candidate in such election shall be 
        increased by 100 percent.
    ``(g) Responding to Independent Expenditures.--In the event an 
eligible House of Representatives candidate is notified pursuant to 
section 304(c)(4) by the Commission that independent expenditures 
totaling in the aggregate $25,000 or more have been made in the same 
election in favor of another candidate or against such eligible 
candidate, such eligible candidate shall be permitted to spend an 
amount equal to the amount of such independent expenditures, without 
such expenditures being subject to such eligible candidates's election 
cycle expenditure limit in subsection (b), as may be modified by 
subsection (c), (e), or (f).

``SEC. 503. BENEFITS ELIGIBLE CANDIDATES ENTITLED TO RECEIVE.

    ``For any election in which an eligible House of Representatives 
candidate has at least one opponent who has qualified for the ballot 
and who has raised in contributions or expended in personal funds an 
amount equal to 10 percent of the election cycle limit in section 
502(b), such eligible candidate shall be entitled to receive--
            ``(1) the broadcast media rates provided under section 
        315(b) of the Communications Act of 1934; and
            ``(2) the reduced postage rates provided in section 3626(e) 
        of title 39, United States Code.

``SEC. 504. CERTIFICATION BY COMMISSION.

    ``(a) In General.--The Commission shall determine whether a 
candidate has met the requirements of this title and, based upon that 
determination, shall issue a certification stating whether or not such 
candidate is eligible to receive benefits under this title.
    ``(b) Certification.--
            ``(1) Issuance of certification.--Upon receipt of the 
        declaration required under section 501(b) and the statement 
required under section 501(c), and such other information as the 
Commission may by regulation require, the Commission shall determine if 
such candidate meets the eligibility requirements in section 501 and, 
if so, shall certify the candidate's eligibility for the benefits 
referred to in section 503.
            ``(2) Revocation.--The Commission shall revoke such 
        certification if, based on relevant information submitted in 
        such form and manner as the Commission may require or based on 
        relevant information that otherwise comes to its attention, it 
        determines a candidate--
                    ``(A) violates any of the expenditure limits under 
                this title by making an aggregate amount of 
                expenditures that exceeds such limits by 5 percent or 
                more;
                    ``(B) uses a benefit made available to the 
                candidate under this title in a manner not provided for 
                under this title; or
                    ``(C) fails to continue to meet the requirements of 
                this title.
            ``(3) Termination of benefits.--A candidate whose 
        certification has been revoked under paragraph (2) shall be 
        ineligible for any further benefits under this title for the 
        duration of the election cycle.
    ``(c) Determination by Commission.--All determinations (including 
certifications under this section) made by the Commission under this 
title shall be final, except to the extent that they are subject to 
examination and audit by the Commission under section 505 and subject 
to judicial review.

``SEC. 505. REPAYMENTS; ADDITIONAL CIVIL PENALTIES.

    ``(a) Requiring Repayment.--If the Commission revokes the 
certification of a candidate as an eligible House of Representatives 
candidate, the Commission shall so notify the candidate and the 
candidate shall pay to the provider of such benefits received an amount 
equal to the difference between the amount the candidate paid for such 
benefits and the amount the candidate would have paid for such benefits 
if the candidate were not an eligible candidate under this title.
    ``(b) Civil Penalties.--
            ``(1) Low amount of excess expenditures.--Any eligible 
        House of Representatives candidate who makes expenditures that 
        exceed a limitation under this title by 2.5 percent or less 
        shall pay to the Commission an amount equal to the amount of 
        the excess expenditures.
            ``(2) Medium amount of excess expenditures.--Any eligible 
        House of Representatives candidate who makes expenditures that 
        exceed a limitation under this title by more than 2.5 percent 
        and less than 5 percent shall pay to the Commission an amount 
        equal to 3 times the amount of the excess expenditures.
            ``(3) Large amount of excess expenditures.--Any eligible 
        House of Representatives candidate who makes expenditures that 
        exceed a limitation under this title by 5 percent or more shall 
        pay to the Commission an amount equal to 3 times the amount of 
        the excess expenditures plus a civil penalty to be imposed 
        pursuant to the procedures of section 309.''.

SEC. 102. BROADCAST RATES AND PREEMPTION.

    (a) Broadcast Rates.--Section 315(b) of the Communications Act of 
1934 (47 U.S.C. 315(b)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``(b) The charges'' and inserting ``(b)(1) 
        The charges'';
            (2) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as 
        subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively;
            (3) in paragraph (1)(A), as redesignated--
                    (A) by striking ``forty-five'' and inserting 
                ``30''; and
                    (B) by striking ``lowest unit charge of the station 
                for the same class and amount of time for the same 
                period'' and inserting ``lowest charge of the station 
                for the same amount of time for the same period on the 
                same date''; and
            (4) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
    ``(2) In the case of an eligible House of Representatives candidate 
(as described in section 501(a) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 
1971), the charges for the use of a television or radio broadcasting 
station during the 30-day period and 60-day period referred to in 
paragraph (1)(A) shall not exceed 50 percent of the lowest charge 
described in paragraph (1)(A).''.
    (b) Preemption; Access.--Section 315 of such Act (47 U.S.C. 315) is 
amended--
            (1) by redesignating subsections (c) and (d) as subsections 
        (d) and (e), respectively; and
            (2) by inserting immediately after subsection (b) the 
        following subsection:
    ``(c)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), a licensee shall not 
preempt the use, during any period specified in subsection (b)(1)(A), 
of a broadcasting station by an eligible House of Representatives 
candidate who has purchased and paid for such use pursuant to 
subsection (b)(2).
    ``(2) If a program to be broadcast by a broadcasting station is 
preempted because of circumstances beyond the control of the 
broadcasting station, any candidate advertising spot scheduled to be 
broadcast during that program may also be preempted.''.
    (c) Revocation of License for Failure To Permit Access.--Section 
312(a)(7) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 312(a)(7)) is 
amended--
            (1) by inserting ``or cable system'' after ``broadcasting 
        station''; and
            (2) by striking ``his candidacy'' and inserting ``the 
        candidacy of such person, under the same terms, conditions, and 
        business practices as apply to its most favored advertiser''.
    (d) Jurisdiction Over Takings Challenge to Broadcast Rates.--The 
United States Court of Federal Claims shall have exclusive jurisdiction 
over any action challenging the constitutionality of the broadcast 
media rates required to be offered to political candidates under 
section 503(1) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 and section 
315(b) of the Communications Act of 1934. Money damages shall be the 
sole and exclusive remedy in such cases, and only individuals or 
entities suffering actual financial injury shall have standing to 
maintain such an action.
    (e) Condition of Renewal or New License.--Section 307 of the 
Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 307) is amended by adding the 
following: ``The continuation of an existing license, the renewal of an 
expiring license, and the issuance of a new license shall be expressly 
conditioned on the agreement by the licensee to abide by the provisions 
of section 503(1) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 and 
section 315(b) of this Act. The Commission shall take such action as it 
deems appropriate to assure compliance with this requirement.''.
    (f) Regulations.--The Federal Communications Commission, in 
consultation with the Federal Communications Commission, shall issue 
regulations to modify the requirements of section 315 of the 
Communications Act of 1934 (as amended by subsection (a)) in any cases 
where a licensee establishes that such requirements would impose 
significant economic hardship.
    (g) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall 
apply to the general elections occurring after the expiratino of the 
60-day period which begins on the date of the enactment of this Act 
(and the election cycles relating thereto).

SEC. 103. REDUCED POSTAGE RATES.

    (a) In General.--Section 3626(e) of title 39, United States Code, 
is amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (3);
            (2) in paragraph (3) (as so redesignated)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (A)--
                            (i) by striking ``and the National'' and 
                        inserting ``the National''; and
                            (ii) by inserting before the semicolon the 
                        following: ``, and, subject to paragraph (2), 
                        the principal campaign committee of an eligible 
                        House of Representatives candidate;'';
                    (B) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``and'' after 
                the semicolon;
                    (C) in subparagraph (C), by striking the period and 
                inserting a semicolon; and
                    (D) by adding after subparagraph (C) the following 
                new subparagraphs:
            ``(D) the term `principal campaign committee' has the 
        meaning given such term in section 301 of the Federal Election 
        Campaign Act of 1971;
            ``(E) the term `eligible House of Representatives 
        candidate' has the meaning given such term in section 501(a) of 
        the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971; and
            ``(F) the term `voting age population' has the meaning 
        given such term in section 315(e) of the Federal Election 
        Campaign Act of 1971.''; and
            (3) by adding after paragraph (1) the following new 
        paragraph:
    ``(2) In the case of mail sent by the principal campaign committee 
of an eligible House of Representatives candidate, paragraph (1) shall 
not apply, with respect to any election, except--
            ``(A) if the mail is sent to an individual in the voting 
        age population of the congressional district involved; and
            ``(B) with respect to any individual under subparagraph 
        (A), to the extent of not to exceed 3 pieces of mail.''.

SEC. 104. CONTRIBUTION LIMIT FOR ELIGIBLE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
              CANDIDATES.

    Section 315(a)(1) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 
U.S.C. 441a(a)(1)) is amended--
            (1) by inserting ``except as provided in subparagraph 
        (B),'' before ``to'' in subparagraph (A);
            (2) by redesignating subparagraphs (B) and (C) as 
        subparagraphs (C) and (D), respectively; and
            (3) by inserting immediately after subparagraph (A) the 
        following new subparagraph:
                    ``(B) to any eligible House of Representatives 
                candidate under title V and the authorized political 
                committees of such candidate with respect to any 
                general election for the office of Representative in, 
                or Delegate or Resident Commissioner to, the Congress, 
                which, in the aggregate, exceed $2,000, if----
                            ``(i) any other candidate in the election 
                        is a candidate who is not an eligible House of 
                        Representatives candidate under title V and for 
                        whom one of the following applies:
                                    ``(I) The candidate expends 
                                personal funds in excess of 25 percent 
                                of the applicable expenditure limit 
                                with respect to the election under 
                                section 502.
                                    ``(II) The sum of the aggregate 
                                amount of the contributions the 
                                candidate has received and the amount 
                                of personal funds the candidate has 
                                expended exceeds 50 percent of the 
                                applicable expenditure limit with 
                                respect to the election under section 
                                502; or
                            ``(ii) any other candidate in the election 
                        is an eligible House of Representatives 
                        candidate under title V who expends more than 
                        the applicable expenditure limit with respect 
                        to the election under section 502.''.

SEC. 105. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.

    Section 304 of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 
434) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsections:
    ``(d)(1) The principal campaign committee of any candidate for 
election as Representative in, or Delegate or Resident Commissioner to, 
the Congress shall report to the Commission if the amount of personal 
funds expended by the candidate with respect to a general election 
exceeds the limitation described in section 502(a) and if the amount of 
personal funds expended by the candidate with respect to a general 
election cycle exceeds 25 percent of the applicable expenditure limit 
with respect to the election under section 502.
    ``(2) Any report under paragraph (1) shall be submitted within 48 
hours of the date on which the amount of personal funds expended 
exceeds the amount requiring the submission of the report (or, if such 
date occurs after the 20th day, but more than 24 hours before the 
election involved, within 24 hours of such date).
    ``(3) Within 48 hours of receiving any report under this subsection 
with respect to a candidate in a general election (or within 24 hours 
in the case of a report required to be submitted to the Commission 
within 24 hours), the Commission shall notify each candidate in the 
election who is an eligible House of Representatives candidate under 
title V of the report.
    ``(4) In this subsection, the term `personal funds' means personal 
funds of a candidate, the funds of the candidate's immediate family, 
and personal loans incurred by the candidate and the candidate's 
immediate family.
    ``(e)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (4), the principal 
campaign committee of any candidate for election as Representative in, 
or Delegate or Resident Commissioner to, the Congress shall report to 
the Commission if the sum of the aggregate amount of the contributions 
the candidate has received and the amount of personal funds the 
candidate has expended with respect to a general election exceeds 50 
percent of the applicable expenditure limit with respect to the 
election under section 502, if such sum exceeds 70 percent of such 
limit, and if such sum exceeds 120 percent of such limit.
    ``(2) Any report under paragraph (1) shall be submitted within 48 
hours of the date on which the sum of the candidate's contributions and 
personal funds expended exceeds the amount requiring the submission of 
the report (or, if such date occurs after the 20th day, but more than 
24 hours before the election involved, within 24 hours of such date).
    ``(3) Within 48 hours of receiving any report under this subsection 
with respect to a candidate in a general election (or within 24 hours 
in the case of a report required to be submitted to the Commission 
within 24 hours), the Commission shall notify each candidate in the 
election who is an eligible House of Representatives candidate under 
title V of the report.
    ``(4) Paragraph (1) shall not apply to the principal campaign 
committee of any candidate who is an eligible House of Representatives 
candidate under title V.
    ``(5) In this subsection, the term `personal funds' means personal 
funds of a candidate, the funds of the candidate's immediate family, 
and personal loans incurred by the candidate and the candidate's 
immediate family.
    ``(f)(1) The principal campaign committee of any candidate for 
election as Representative in, or Delegate or Resident Commissioner to, 
the Congress shall report to the Commission if the aggregate amount of 
funds expended by the candidate with respect to a general election 
exceeds 105 percent of the applicable expenditure limit with respect to 
the election under section 502 and if such amount exceeds 155 percent 
of such limit.
    ``(2) Any report under paragraph (1) shall be submitted within 48 
hours of the date on which the amount of funds expended exceeds the 
amount requiring the submission of the report (or, if such date occurs 
after the 20th day, but more than 24 hours before the election 
involved, within 24 hours of such date).
    ``(3) Within 48 hours of receiving any report under this subsection 
with respect to a candidate in a general election (or within 24 hours 
in the case of a report required to be submitted to the Commission 
within 24 hours), the Commission shall notify each candidate in the 
election who is an eligible House of Representatives candidate under 
title V of the report.''.

           TITLE II--REDUCTION OF SPECIAL INTEREST INFLUENCE

   Subtitle A--Limitations on Political Action Committees and Large 
                      Contributions of Individuals

SEC. 201. LIMITATIONS ON ACTIVITIES OF POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEES IN 
              FEDERAL ELECTIONS.

    (a) Modification of Limits on Contributions by Political Action 
Committees.--
            (1) In general.--Section 315(a)(2)(A) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 
        441a(a)(2)(A)) is amended to read as follows:
            ``(A) to any candidate and the candidate's authorized 
        political committees with respect to any election for Federal 
        office--
                    ``(i) in the case of a candidate for election for 
                the office of Representative to, or Delegate or 
                Resident Commissioner in, the Congress, to the extent 
                that the acceptance of the contribution will result in 
                the aggregate amount of contributions received by the 
                candidate and the committees to exceed 25 percent of 
                the applicable limit on expenditures with respect to 
                the election cycle involved under section 502, without 
                regard to whether or not the candidate is an eligible 
                House of Representatives candidate under title V; or
                    ``(ii) which, in the aggregate, exceed the maximum 
                amount which an individual may contribute to the 
                candidate and the candidate's authorized political 
                committees with respect to the election under paragraph 
                (1)(A);''.
            (2) Return of certain excess contributions.--Section 315(f) 
        of such Act (2 U.S.C. 441a(f)) is amended--
                    (A) by striking ``(f)'' and inserting ``(f)(1)''; 
                and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following new 
                paragraph:
    ``(2) A candidate (or authorized committees of such candidate) who 
receives a contribution from a multicandidate political committee in 
excess of the amount allowed under subsection (a)(2)(A)(i) shall return 
the amount of such excess contribution to the contributor.''.
    (b) Prohibition of Leadership Committees.--Section 302(e) of the 
Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 432(e)) is amended--
            (1) by amending paragraph (3) to read as follows:
    ``(3) No political committee that supports or has supported more 
than one candidate may be designated as an authorized committee, except 
that--
            ``(A) a candidate for the office of President nominated by 
        a political party may designate the national committee of such 
        political party as the candidate's principal campaign 
        committee, but only if that national committee maintains 
        separate books of account with respect to its functions as a 
        principal campaign committee; and
            ``(B) a candidate may designate a political committee 
        established solely for the purpose of joint fundraising by such 
        candidates as an authorized committee.''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
    ``(6)(A) A candidate for Federal office or any individual holding 
Federal office may not directly or indirectly establish, finance, 
maintain, or control any Federal or non-Federal political committee 
other than a principal campaign committee of the candidate, authorized 
committee, party committee, or other political committee designated in 
accordance with paragraph (3). A candidate for more than one Federal 
office may designate a separate principal campaign committee for each 
Federal office. This paragraph shall not preclude a Federal 
officeholder who is a candidate for State or local office from 
establishing, financing, maintaining, or controlling a political 
committee for election of the individual to such State or local office.
    ``(B) For one year after the effective date of this paragraph, any 
political committee established before such date but which is 
prohibited under subparagraph (A) may continue to make contributions. 
At the end of that period such political committee shall disburse all 
funds by one or more of the following means:
            ``(i) Making contributions to an entity qualified under 
        section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 that is 
        not established, maintained, financed, or controlled directly 
        or indirectly by any candidate for Federal office or any 
        individual holding Federal office.
            ``(ii) Making a contribution to the treasury of the United 
        States.
            ``(iii) Making contributions to the national, State, or 
        local committees of a political party.
            ``(iv) Making contributions not to exceed $1,000 to 
        candidates for elective office.''.

SEC. 202. AGGREGATE LIMIT ON LARGE CONTRIBUTIONS.

    Title III of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 
431 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

     ``aggregate limit on large contributions for house candidates

    ``Sec. 323. (a) In General.--It shall be unlawful for a candidate 
for election for the office of Representative in, or Delegate or 
Resident Commissioner to, the Congress (or the authorized committees of 
such candidate) to accept any contribution from an individual in excess 
of $250 to the extent that the acceptance of such contribution will 
cause the aggregate amount of contributions from individuals in excess 
of $250 received by the candidate and the candidate's authorized 
committees to exceed an amount equal to 25 percent of the applicable 
election cycle spending limit with respect to the election under 
section 502, without regard to whether or not the candidate is an 
eligible House of Representatives candidate under title V.
    ``(b) Exception for Certain Candidates.--The restrictions of 
subsection (a) shall not apply to any candidate with respect to whom 
section 315(a) (1)(B) (as added by section 104 of the Bipartisan 
Campaign Finance Reform Act of 1997) applies.''.

   Subtitle B--Provisions Relating to Soft Money of Political Parties

SEC. 211. SOFT MONEY OF POLITICAL PARTIES.

    Title III of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 
431 et seq.), as amended by section 202, is further amended by adding 
at the end the following new section:

                   ``soft money of political parties

    ``Sec. 324. (a) National Parties.--A national committee of a 
political party, including the national congressional campaign 
committees of a political party, and any officers or agents of such 
party committees, shall not solicit or receive any contributions, 
donations, or transfers of funds, or spend any funds, not subject to 
the limitations, prohibitions, and reporting requirements of this Act. 
This subsection shall apply to any entity that is established, 
financed, maintained, or controlled (directly or indirectly) by, or 
acting on behalf of, a national committee of a political party, 
including the national congressional campaign committees of a political 
party, and any officers or agents of such party committees.
    ``(b) Expenditures by State or Local Parties.--
            ``(1) In general.--Any amount expended or disbursed by a 
        State, district, or local committee of a political party during 
        a calendar year in which a Federal election is held, for any 
        activity which may affect the outcome of a Federal election, 
        including but not limited to any voter registration and get-
        out-the-vote activity, any generic campaign activity, and any 
        communication that identifies a Federal candidate (regardless 
        of whether a State or local candidate is also mentioned or 
        identified) shall be made from funds subject to the 
        limitations, prohibitions and reporting requirements of this 
        Act.
            ``(2) Exceptions.--Paragraph (1) shall not apply to 
        expenditures or disbursements made by a State, district or 
        local committee of a political party for--
                    ``(A) a contribution to a candidate other than for 
                Federal office, provided that such contribution is not 
                designated or otherwise earmarked to pay for activities 
                described in paragraph (1);
                    ``(B) the costs of a State, district, or local 
                political convention;
                    ``(C) the non-Federal share of a State, district or 
                local party committee's administrative and overhead 
                expenses (but not including the compensation in any 
                month of any individual who spends more than 20 percent 
of his or her time on activity during such month which may affect the 
outcome of a Federal election), as determined by applying the ratio of 
the non-Federal disbursements to the total Federal expenditures and 
non-Federal disbursements made by the committee during the previous 
presidential election year to the committee's administrative and 
overhead expenses in the election year in question;
                    ``(D) the costs of grassroots campaign materials, 
                including buttons, bumper stickers, and yard signs, 
                which materials solely name or depict a State or local 
                candidate; or
                    ``(E) the cost of any campaign activity conducted 
                solely on behalf of a clearly identified State or local 
                candidate, provided that such activity is not a get out 
                the vote activity or any other activity covered by 
                paragraph (1).
            ``(3) Amounts expended for fundraising to finance 
        activities.--Any amount spent by a national, State, district or 
        local committee or entity of a political party to raise funds 
        that are used, in whole or in part, to pay the costs of any 
        activity covered by paragraph (1) shall be made from funds 
        subject to the limitations, prohibitions, and reporting 
        requirements of this Act. This paragraph shall apply to any 
        entity that is established, financed, maintained, or controlled 
        (directly or indirectly) by, or acting on behalf of, a State, 
        district or local committee of a political party or any agent 
        or officer of such party committee in the same manner as it 
        applies to that committee.
    ``(c) Prohibiting Solicitation or Donation of Funds From Nonprofit 
Organizations.--No national, State, district or local committee of a 
political party, including any entity described in subsection (a) or 
subsection (b)(3) and any agent or officer of such an entity, shall 
solicit any funds for or make any donations to any organization that is 
exempt from Federal taxation under section 501(c) of the Internal 
Revenue Code of 1986.
    ``(d) All Candidates.--
            ``(1) In general.--No candidate for Federal office, 
        individual holding Federal office, or any agent of such 
        candidate or officeholder, may solicit or receive--
                    ``(A) any funds in connection with any Federal 
                election unless such funds are subject to the 
                limitations, prohibitions and reporting requirements of 
                this Act;
                    ``(B) any funds that are to be expended in 
                connection with any election for other than a Federal 
                election unless such funds are not in excess of the 
                amounts permitted with respect to contributions to 
                Federal candidates and political committees under 
                section 315(a) (1) and (2), and are not from sources 
                prohibited from making contributions by this Act with 
                respect to election for Federal office; or
                    ``(C) any funds on behalf of any person which are 
                not subject to the limitations, prohibitions, and 
                reporting requirements of this Act if such funds are 
                for the purpose of financing any activity on behalf of 
                a candidate for election for Federal office or any 
                communication which refers to a clearly identified 
                candidate for election for Federal office.
            ``(2) Exception for certain activities.--Paragraph (1) 
        shall not apply to the solicitation or receipt of funds by an 
        individual who is a candidate for a non-Federal office if such 
        activity is permitted under State law for such individual's 
        non-Federal campaign committee.''.
    ``(e) Prohibiting Fundraising Activities for Certain Nonprofit 
Organizations.--
            ``(1) In general.--No candidate for Federal office or 
        individual holding Federal office may raise funds for any 
        organization described in section 501(c) of the Internal 
        Revenue Code of 1986 if the activities of the organization 
        include voter registration or get-out-the-vote campaigns.
            ``(2) Certain individuals treated as holding federal 
        office.--For purposes of this paragraph, the term `individual 
        holding Federal office' includes any individual who holds a 
        position described in level I of the Executive Schedule under 
        5312 of title 5, United States Code.''.

SEC. 212. INCREASE IN CONTRIBUTION LIMIT FOR INDIVIDUAL CONTRIBUTIONS 
              TO NATIONAL POLITICAL PARTIES.

    Section 315(a)(1)(B) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 
(2 U.S.C. 441a(a)(1)(B)) is amended by striking ``$20,000'' and 
inserting the following: ``$20,000 (or, in the case of an individual, 
$25,000)''.

SEC. 213. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.

    (a) Reporting Requirements.--Section 304 of the Federal Election 
Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 434), as amended by section 105, is 
further amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(g)(1) A political committee other than a national committee of a 
political party, any congressional campaign committee of a political 
party, and any subordinate committee of either, to which section 
324(b)(1) applies shall report all receipts and disbursements.
    ``(2) Any political committee other than the committees of a 
political party shall report any receipts or disbursements that are 
used in connection with a Federal election.
    ``(3) If a political committee has receipts or disbursements to 
which this subsection applies from any person aggregating in excess of 
$200 for any calendar year, the political committee shall separately 
itemize its reporting for such person in the same manner as required in 
subsection (b)(3)(A), (5), or (6).
    ``(4) Reports required to be filed under this subsection shall be 
filed for the same time periods required for political committees under 
subsection (a).''.
    (b) Reports by State Committees.--Section 304 of the Federal 
Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 434), as amended by section 105 
and subsection (a), is further amended by adding at the end the 
following new subsection:
    ``(h) In lieu of any report required to be filed by this Act, the 
Commission may allow a State committee of a political party to file 
with the Commission a report required to be filed under State law if 
the Commission determines such reports contain substantially the same 
information.''.
    (c) Other Reporting Requirements.--
            (1) Authorized committees.--Section 304(b)(4) of the 
        Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 434(b)(4)) is 
        amended--
                    (A) by striking ``and'' at the end of subparagraph 
                (H);
                    (B) by inserting ``and'' at the end of subparagraph 
                (I); and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following new 
                subparagraph:
                    ``(J) in the case of an authorized committee, 
                disbursements for the primary election, the general 
                election, and any other election in which the candidate 
                participates;''.
            (2) Names and addresses.--Section 304(b)(5)(A) of the 
        Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 434(b)(5)(A)) 
        is amended--
                    (A) by striking ``within the calendar year''; and
                    (B) by inserting ``, and the election to which the 
                operating expenditure relates'' after ``operating 
                expenditure''.

SEC. 214. BUILDING FUND EXCEPTION TO THE DEFINITION OF THE TERM 
              ``CONTRIBUTION''.

    Section 301(8)(B) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 
U.S.C. 431(8)(B)) is amended--
            (1) by striking out clause (viii); and
            (2) by redesignating clauses (ix) through (xiv) as clauses 
        (viii) through (xiii), respectively.

     Subtitle C--Soft Money of Persons Other Than Political Parties

SEC. 221. SOFT MONEY OF PERSONS OTHER THAN POLITICAL PARTIES.

    Section 304 of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 
434), as amended by sections 105, 213(a), and 213(c), is further 
amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(i)(1)(A)(i) If any person to which section 324 does not apply 
makes (or obligates to make) disbursements for activities described in 
section 324(b)(1) in excess of $2,000, such person shall file a 
statement--
            ``(I) within 48 hours after the disbursements (or 
        obligations) are made; or
            ``(II) in the case of disbursements (or obligations) that 
        are required to be made within 20 days of the election, within 
        24 hours after such disbursement (or obligations) are made.
    ``(ii) An additional statement shall be filed each time additional 
disbursements aggregating $2,000 are made (or obligated to be made) by 
a person described in clause (i).
    ``(B) This paragraph shall not apply to--
            ``(i) a candidate or a candidate's authorized committees; 
        or
            ``(ii) an independent expenditure (as defined in section 
        301(17)).
    ``(2) Any statement under this section shall be filed with the 
Commission and shall contain such information as the Commission shall 
prescribe, including whether the disbursement is in support of, or in 
opposition to, 1 or more candidates or any political party.''.

                       Subtitle D--Contributions

SEC. 231. CONTRIBUTIONS THROUGH INTERMEDIARIES AND CONDUITS.

    Section 315(a)(8) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 
U.S.C. 441a(a)(8)) is amended to read as follows:
            ``(8) For the purposes of this subsection:
                    ``(A) Contributions made by a person, either 
                directly or indirectly, to or on behalf of a particular 
                candidate, including contributions that are in any way 
                earmarked or otherwise directed through an intermediary 
                or conduit to a candidate, shall be treated as 
                contributions from the person to the candidate. If a 
                contribution is made to a candidate through an 
                intermediary or conduit, the intermediary or conduit 
                shall report the original source and the intended 
                recipient of the contribution to the Commission and the 
                intended recipient.
                    ``(B) Contributions made directly or indirectly by 
                a person to or on behalf of a particular candidate 
                through an intermediary or conduit, including 
                contributions arranged to be made by an intermediary or 
                conduit, shall be treated as contributions from the 
                intermediary or conduit to the candidate if--
                            ``(i) the contributions made through the 
                        intermediary or conduit are in the form of a 
                        check or other negotiable instrument made 
                        payable to the intermediary or conduit rather 
                        than the intended recipient;
                            ``(ii) the intermediary or conduit is--
                                    ``(I) a political committee, a 
                                political party, or an officer, 
                                employee, or agent of either;
                                    ``(II) a person whose activities 
                                are required to be reported under the 
                                Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995, the 
                                Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938 
                                (22 U.S.C. 611 et seq.), or a person 
                                whose activities are required to be 
                                reported pursuant to any successor 
                                Federal law which requires reporting on 
                                the activities of person who is a 
                                lobbyist or foreign agent;
                                    ``(III) a person who is prohibited 
                                from making contributions under section 
                                316 or a partnership; or
                                    ``(IV) an officer, employee, or 
                                agent of a person described in 
                                subclause (II) or (III) acting on 
                                behalf of such person.
                    ``(C) The term `contributions arranged to be made' 
                includes--
                            ``(i)(I) contributions delivered directly 
                        or indirectly to a particular candidate or the 
                        candidate's authorized committee or agent by 
                        the person who facilitated the contribution; 
                        and
                            ``(II) contributions made directly or 
                        indirectly to a particular candidate or the 
                        candidate's authorized committee or agent that 
                        are provided at an event sponsored by an 
                        intermediary or conduit described in 
                        subparagraph (B).
                            ``(ii) The term `acting on behalf of such 
                        person' includes the following activities by an 
                        officer, employee, or agent of a person 
                        described in subparagraph (B)(ii) (II) or 
                        (III):
                                    ``(I) Soliciting the making of a 
                                contribution to a particular candidate 
                                in the name of such a person;
                                    ``(II) Soliciting the making of a 
                                contribution to a particular candidate 
                                using other than incidental resources 
                                of such a person; and
                                    ``(III) Soliciting contributions 
                                for a particular candidate by directing 
                                a significant portion of the 
                                solicitations to other officers, 
                                employees, or agents of such a person 
                                or the person's spouse.
                    ``(D) This subsection shall not prohibit--
                            ``(i) fundraising efforts for the benefit 
                        of a candidate that are conducted by another 
                        candidate or Federal officeholder; or
                            ``(ii) the solicitation by an individual 
                        using the individual's resources and acting in 
                        the individual's own name of contributions from 
                        other persons in a manner not described in 
                        subparagraphs (B) and (C).''.

          Subtitle E--Additional Prohibitions on Contributions

SEC. 241. PROHIBITION OF CONTRIBUTIONS BY NONCITIZENS AND OTHER 
              INDIVIDUALS NOT QUALIFIED TO VOTE.

    (a) Prohibition.--Section 319 of the Federal Election Campaign Act 
of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 441e) is amended--
            (1) in the heading, by adding ``AND INDIVIDUALS NOT 
        QUALIFIED TO REGISTER TO VOTE'' at the end; and
            (2) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) by striking ``(a)'' and inserting ``(a)(1)''; 
                and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following new 
                paragraph:
            ``(2) It shall be unlawful for an individual who is not 
        qualified to register to vote in a Federal election to make a 
        contribution, or to promise expressly or impliedly to make a 
        contribution, in connection with a Federal election, or for any 
        person to solicit, accept, or receive a contribution in 
        connection with a Federal election from an individual who is 
        not qualified to register to vote in a Federal election.''.
    (b) Inclusion in Definition of Identification.--Section 301(13) of 
such Act (2 U.S.C. 431(13)) is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``employer;'' and 
        inserting ``employer, together with an affirmation that the 
        individual is an individual who is not prohibited by section 
        319 from making a contribution'' after ``employer''; and
            (2) in subparagraph (B) by inserting ``and an affirmation 
        that the person is a person that is not prohibited by section 
        319 from making a contribution'' after ``such person''.

          Subtitle F--Coordinated and Independent Expenditures

SEC. 251. CLARIFICATION OF DEFINITIONS RELATING TO INDEPENDENT 
              EXPENDITURES.

    (a) Definition of ``Independent Expenditure''.--Section 301(17) of 
the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 431(17)) is amended 
to read as follows:
    ``(17)(A) The term `independent expenditure' means an expenditure 
that--
            ``(i) contains express advocacy; and
            ``(ii) is made without the participation or cooperation of, 
        or without consultation with, or without coordination with a 
        candidate or a candidate's authorized committee or agent 
        (within the meaning of section 301(8)(A)(iii).
    ``(B) The term `independent expenditure' does not include an 
expenditure or payment made in coordination with a candidate (within 
the meaning of section 301(8)(A)(iii)).''.
    (b) Definition of ``Express Advocacy''.--Section 301 of such Act (2 
U.S.C. 431) is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(20)(A) Subject to subparagraph (B), the term `express advocacy' 
includes--
            ``(i) a communication that conveys a message that advocates 
        the election or defeat of a clearly identified candidate for 
        Federal office by using an expression such as `vote for,' 
        `elect,' `support,' `vote against,' `defeat,' `reject,' `(name 
        of candidate) for Congress', `vote pro-life,' or `vote pro-
        choice', accompanied by a listing or picture of a clearly 
        identified candidate described as `pro-life' or `pro-choice,' 
        `reject the incumbent', or a similar expression;
            ``(ii) a communication that is made through a broadcast 
        medium, newspaper, magazine, billboard, direct mail, or similar 
        type of general public communication or political advertising 
        that refers to a clearly identified candidate, that a 
        reasonable person would understand as advocating the election 
        or defeat of the candidate, and that is made within 30 days 
        before the date of a primary election (and is targeted to the 
        State in which the primary is occurring), or 60 days before a 
        general election; or
            ``(iii) a communication that is made through a broadcast 
        medium, newspaper, magazine, billboard, direct mail, or similar 
        type of general public communication or political advertising 
        that refers to a clearly identified candidate, that a 
        reasonable person would understand as advocating the election 
        or defeat of a candidate, that is made before the date that is 
        30 days before the date of a primary election, or 60 days 
        before the date of a general election, and that is made for the 
        purpose of advocating the election or defeat of the candidate, 
        as shown by one or more factors such as a statement or action 
        by the person making the communication, the targeting or 
        placement of the communication, or the use by the person making 
        the communication of polling, demographic, or other similar 
        data relating to the candidate's campaign or election.
    ``(B) The term `express advocacy' does not include the publication 
or distribution of a communication that is limited solely to providing 
information about the voting record of elected officials on legislative 
matters and that a reasonable person would not understand as advocating 
the election or defeat of a particular candidate.''.

SEC. 252. TREATMENT OF COORDINATED EXPENDITURES AS CONTRIBUTIONS.

    (a) In General.--Section 301(8) of the Federal Election Campaign 
Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 431(8)) is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (A)--
                    (A) by striking ``or'' at the end of clause (i);
                    (B) by striking the period at the end of clause 
                (ii) and inserting ``; or''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
                            ``(iii) a payment made for a communication 
                        or anything of value that is for the purpose of 
                        influencing an election for Federal office and 
                        that is a payment made in coordination with a 
                        candidate.''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(C) For the purposes of subparagraph (A)(iii), 
                the term `payment made in coordination with a 
                candidate' includes--
                            ``(i) a payment made by a person in 
                        cooperation, consultation, or concert with, at 
                        the request or suggestion of, or pursuant to 
                        any general or particular understanding with a 
                        candidate, the candidate's authorized 
                        committee, or an agent acting on behalf of a 
                        candidate or authorized committee;
                            ``(ii) a payment made by a person for the 
                        dissemination, distribution, or republication, 
                        in whole or in part, of any broadcast or any 
                        written, graphic, or other form of campaign 
                        material prepared by a candidate, a candidate's 
                        authorized committee, or an agent of a 
                        candidate or authorized committee (not 
                        including a communication described in 
                        subparagraph (B)(i) or a communication that 
                        expressly advocates the candidate's defeat);
                            ``(iii) a payment made based on information 
                        about a candidate's plans, projects, or needs 
                        provided to the person making the payment by 
                        the candidate or the candidate's agent who 
                        provides the information with a view toward 
                        having the payment made;
                            ``(iv) a payment made by a person if, in 
                        the same election cycle in which the payment is 
                        made, the person making the payment is serving 
                        or has served as a member, employee, 
                        fundraiser, or agent of the candidate's 
                        authorized committee in an executive or 
                        policymaking position;
                            ``(v) a payment made by a person if the 
                        person making the payment has served in any 
                        formal policy or advisory position with the 
                        candidate's campaign or has participated in 
                        strategic or policymaking discussions with the 
                        candidate's campaign relating to the 
                        candidate's pursuit of nomination for election, 
                        or election, to Federal office, in the same 
                        election cycle as the election cycle in which 
                        the payment is made; and
                            ``(vi) a payment made by a person if, in 
                        the same election cycle, the person making the 
                        payment retains the professional services of 
                        any individual or person who has provided or is 
                        providing campaign-related services in the same 
                        election cycle to a candidate in connection 
                        with the candidate's pursuit of nomination for 
                        election, or election, to Federal office, 
                        including services relating to the candidate's 
                        decision to seek Federal office, and the 
                        professional is retained to work on activities 
                        relating to that candidate's campaign.
                    ``(D) For purposes of subparagraph (C)(vi), the 
                term `professional services' includes services in 
                support of a candidate's pursuit of nomination for 
                election, or election, to Federal office such as 
                polling, media advice, direct mail, fundraising, or 
                campaign research.
    (b) Application for Purposes of Contribution Limits.--Section 
315(a)(7)(B) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 441a(a)(7)(B)) is amended to read as 
follows:
                    ``(B) Payments made in coordination with a 
                candidate, as described in section 301(8)(A)(iii), 
                shall be considered to be contributions to such 
                candidate, and in the case of limitations on 
                expenditures, shall be treated as expenditures for 
                purposes of this paragraph.''.
    (c) Application for Purposes of Contributions of Corporations and 
Labor Organizations.--Section 316(b)(2) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 441b(b)) 
is amended by striking ``shall include'' and inserting ``includes a 
contribution or expenditure, as those terms are defined in section 301, 
and also includes''.

SEC. 253. TREATMENT OF CERTAIN PARTY EXPENDITURES AND COMMUNICATIONS 
              CONTAINING EXPRESS ADVOCACY AS EXPENDITURES.

    Section 301(9)(A) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 
U.S.C. 431(9)(A)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``and'' at the end of clause (i);
            (2) by striking the period at the end of clause (ii) and 
        inserting a semicolon; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
                            ``(iii) any payment during an election year 
                        (or within 60 days before a special election in 
                        a nonelection year) for a communication that is 
                        made through any broadcast medium, newspaper, 
                        magazine, billboard, direct mail, or similar 
                        type of general public communication or 
                        political advertising by a national, State, 
                        district, or local committee of a political 
                        party, including a congressional campaign 
                        committee of a party, that refers to a clearly 
                        identified candidate; and
                            ``(iv) any payment for a communication that 
                        contains express advocacy.''.

SEC. 254. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS FOR CERTAIN INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURES.

    Section 304(c) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 
U.S.C. 434(c)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (2), by striking the undesignated matter 
        after subparagraph (C);
            (2) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (7); and
            (3) by inserting after paragraph (2), as amended by 
        paragraph (1), the following new paragraphs:
    ``(3)(A) Any person (including a political committee) making 
independent expenditures as defined in section 301(17) and (18) with 
respect to a candidate in an election aggregating $1,000 or more made 
after the 20th day, but more than 24 hours, before the election shall 
file a report within 24 hours after such independent expenditures are 
made. An additional report shall be filed each time independent 
expenditures aggregating $1,000 are made with respect to the same 
candidate after the latest report filed under this subparagraph.
    ``(B) Any person (including a political committee) making 
independent expenditures with respect to a candidate in an election 
aggregating $10,000 or more made at any time up to and including the 
20th day before the election shall file a report within 48 hours after 
such independent expenditures are made. An additional report shall be 
filed each time independent expenditures aggregating $10,000 are made 
with respect to the same candidate after the latest report filed under 
this paragraph.
    ``(C) A report under subparagraph (A) or (B) shall be filed with 
the Commission and shall identify each candidate whom the expenditure 
is actually intended to support or to oppose. Not later than 2 business 
days after the Commission receives a report, the Commission shall 
transmit a copy of the report to each candidate seeking nomination or 
election to that office.
    ``(D) For purposes of this section, an independent expenditure 
shall be considered to have been made upon the making of any payment or 
the taking of any action to incur an obligation for payment.
    ``(4) The Commission may, upon a request of a candidate or on its 
own initiative, make its own determination that a person, including a 
political committee, has made, or has incurred obligations to make, 
independent expenditures with respect to any candidate in any election 
which in the aggregate exceed the applicable amounts under paragraph 
(3). The Commission shall notify each candidate in such election of 
such determination made within 2 business days after making it. Any 
determination made at the request of a candidate shall be made within 
48 hours of the request.
    ``(5) In the event that independent expenditures totaling in the 
aggregate $25,000 have been made in the same election in favor of 
another candidate or against an eligible House of Representatives 
candidate under title V, the Commission shall, within 2 business days, 
notify the eligible candidate that such candidate is entitled under 
section 502(g) to raise additional contributions equaling the amount of 
such independent expenditures. At such time as the aggregate amount the 
independent expenditures referred to in the preceding sentence, 
combined with the expenditures of all other candidates in such 
election, equals 100 percent of the applicable expenditure limit with 
respect to the election under section 502, the Commission shall, within 
2 business days, notify the eligible candidate that such candidate is 
entitled under section 502(g) to make the expenditures provided for in 
section 502(g).
    ``(6)(A) A person who reserves broadcast time the payment for which 
would constitute an independent expenditure within the meaning of 
section 301(17) shall at the time of the reservation--
            ``(i) inform the broadcast licensee that payment for the 
        broadcast time will constitute an independent expenditure;
            ``(ii) inform the broadcast licensee of the names of all 
        candidates for the office to which the proposed broadcast 
relates and state whether the message to be broadcast is intended to be 
made in support of or in opposition to each such candidate; and
            ``(iii) provide the broadcast licensee a copy of the report 
        described in paragraph (3).
    ``(B) For purposes of this paragraph, the term `broadcast' includes 
any cablecast.
    ``(C) A licensee who is informed as described in subparagraph (A) 
shall--
            ``(i) notify each such candidate described in subparagraph 
        (A)(ii) of the proposed making of the independent expenditure; 
        and
            ``(ii) allow any such candidate (other than a candidate for 
        whose benefit the independent expenditure is made) to purchase 
        the same amount of broadcast time immediately after the 
        broadcast time paid for by the independent expenditure, at the 
        cost specified in section 315(b) of the Communications Act of 
        1934, as amended by section 102 of the Bipartisan Campaign 
        Reform Act of 1997.''.

                 TITLE III--ENFORCEMENT AND DISCLOSURE

SEC. 301. AUDITS.

    (a) Random Audits.--Section 311(b) of the Federal Election Campaign 
Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 438(b)) is amended--
            (1) by inserting ``(1)'' before ``The Commission''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
    ``(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), the Commission may conduct 
random audits and investigations to ensure voluntary compliance with 
this Act. The subjects of such audits and investigations shall be 
selected on the basis of criteria established by vote of at least 4 
members of the Commission to ensure impartiality in the selection 
process. This paragraph does not apply to an authorized committee of a 
candidate for President or Vice President subject to audit under 
chapter 95 or 96 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.''.
    (b) Extension of Period During Which Campaign Audits May Be 
Begun.--Section 311(b) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 
U.S.C. 438(b)) is amended by striking out ``6 months'' and inserting in 
lieu thereof ``12 months''.

SEC. 302. CHANGE IN CERTAIN REPORTING FROM A CALENDAR YEAR BASIS TO AN 
              ELECTION CYCLE BASIS.

    (a) In General.--Paragraphs (2), (3), (4), (6), and (7) of section 
304(b) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 434(b) 
(2)-(7)) are amended by inserting ``(election cycle, in the case of an 
authorized committee of a candidate for Federal office)'' after 
``calendar year'' each place it appears.
    (b) Election Cycle Defined.--Section 301 of such Act (2 U.S.C. 
431), as amended by section 251(b), is amended by adding at the end the 
following:
            ``(21) The term `election cycle' means--
                    ``(A) in the case of a candidate or the authorized 
                committees of a candidate, the period beginning on the 
                day after the date of the most recent general election 
                for the specific office or seat that the candidate 
                seeks and ending on the date of the next general 
                election for that office or seat; and
                    ``(B) in the case of all other persons, the period 
                beginning on the first day following the date of the 
                last general election and ending on the date of the 
                next general election.''.

SEC. 303. DISCLOSURE OF PERSONAL AND CONSULTING SERVICES.

    (a) Reporting by Political Committees.--Section 304(b)(5)(A) of the 
Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 434(b)(5)(A)) is 
amended by adding before the semicolon at the end the following: ``, 
except that if a person to whom an expenditure is made by a candidate 
or the candidate's authorized committees is merely providing personal 
or consulting services and is in turn making expenditures to other 
persons (not including its owners or employees) who provide goods or 
services to the candidate or the candidate's authorized committees, the 
name and address of such other person, together with the date, amount, 
and purpose of such expenditure shall also be disclosed''.
    (b) Recordkeeping and Reporting by Persons To Whom Expenditures Are 
Passed Through.--Section 302 of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 
1971 (2 U.S.C. 432) is amended by adding at the end the following new 
subsection:
    ``(j) The person described in section 304(b)(5)(A) who is providing 
personal or consulting services and who is in turn making expenditures 
to other persons (not including employees) for goods or services 
provided to a candidate shall maintain records of and shall provide to 
a political committee the information necessary to enable the political 
committee to report the information described in section 
304(b)(5)(A).''.

SEC. 304. INDEPENDENT LITIGATION AUTHORITY.

    Section 306(f)(4) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 
U.S.C. 437c(f)(4)) is amended to read as follows:
            ``(4)(A) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (2) or 
        of any other provision of law, the Commission is authorized to 
        appear on its own behalf in any action related to the exercise 
        of its statutory duties or powers in any court as either a 
        party or as amicus curiae, either--
                    ``(i) by attorneys employed in its office, or
                    ``(ii) by counsel whom it may appoint, on a 
                temporary basis as may be necessary for such purpose, 
                without regard to the provisions of title 5, United 
                States Code, governing appointments in the competitive 
                service, and whose compensation it may fix without 
                regard to the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter 
                III of chapter 53 of such title, and whose compensation 
                shall be paid out of any funds otherwise available to 
                pay the compensation of employees of the Commission.
            ``(B) The authority granted under subparagraph (A) includes 
        the power to appeal from, and petition the Supreme Court for 
        certiorari to review, judgments or decrees entered with respect 
        to actions in which the Commission appears pursuant to the 
        authority provided in this section.''.

SEC. 305. TERM LIMITS FOR FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION.

    Section 306 of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 
437c(a)(2)(A)) is amended by striking ``terms'' and inserting in lieu 
thereof ``no more than one term''.

SEC. 306. AUTHORITY TO SEEK INJUNCTION.

    Section 309(a) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 
U.S.C. 437g(a)) is amended--
            (1) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
    ``(13)(A) If, at any time in a proceeding described in paragraph 
(1), (2), (3), or (4), the Commission believes that--
            ``(i) there is a substantial likelihood that a violation of 
        this Act is occurring or is about to occur;
            ``(ii) the failure to act expeditiously will result in 
        irreparable harm to a party affected by the potential 
        violation;
            ``(iii) expeditious action will not cause undue harm or 
        prejudice to the interests of others; and
            ``(iv) the public interest would be best served by the 
        issuance of an injunction,
the Commission may initiate a civil action for a temporary restraining 
order or a temporary injunction pending the outcome of the proceedings 
described in paragraphs (1), (2), (3), and (4).
    ``(B) An action under subparagraph (A) shall be brought in the 
United States district court for the district in which the defendant 
resides, transacts business, or may be found, or in which the violation 
is occurring, has occurred, or is about to occur.'';
            (2) in paragraph (7), by striking ``(5) or (6)'' and 
        inserting ``(5), (6), or (13)''; and
            (3) in paragraph (11), by striking ``(6)'' and inserting 
        ``(6) or (13)''.

SEC. 307. EXPEDITED PROCEDURES.

    Section 309(a) of Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 
437g(a)), as amended by section 306, is further amended by adding at 
the end the following new paragraph:
    ``(14)(A) If the complaint in a proceeding was filed within 60 days 
immediately preceding a general election, the Commission may take 
action described in this subparagraph.
    ``(B) If the Commission determines, on the basis of facts alleged 
in the complaint and other facts available to it, that there is clear 
and convincing evidence that a violation of this Act has occurred, is 
occurring, or is about to occur and it appears that the requirements 
for relief stated in paragraph (13)(A) (ii), (iii), and (iv) are met, 
the Commission may--
            ``(i) order expedited proceedings, shortening the time 
        periods for proceedings under paragraphs (1), (2), (3), and (4) 
        as necessary to allow the matter to be resolved in sufficient 
        time before the election to avoid harm or prejudice to the 
        interests of the parties; or
            ``(ii) if the Commission determines that there is 
        insufficient time to conduct proceedings before the election, 
        immediately seek relief under paragraph (13)(A).
    ``(C) If the Commission determines, on the basis of facts alleged 
in the complaint and other facts available to it, that the complaint is 
clearly without merit, the Commission may--
            ``(i) order expedited proceedings, shortening the time 
        periods for proceedings under paragraphs (1), (2), (3), and (4) 
as necessary to allow the matter to be resolved in sufficient time 
before the election to avoid harm or prejudice to the interests of the 
parties; or
            ``(ii) if the Commission determines that there is 
        insufficient time to conduct proceedings before the election, 
        summarily dismiss the complaint.''.

SEC. 308. INCREASE IN PENALTY FOR KNOWING AND WILLFUL VIOLATIONS.

    (a) Violation Under Conciliation Agreement.--Section 308(a)(5)(B) 
of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 437g(a)(5)(B)) 
is amended by striking ``the greater of $10,000 or an amount equal to 
200 percent'' and inserting ``the greater of $15,000 or an amount equal 
to 300 percent''.
    (b) Violation Under Civil Action.--Section 308(a)(6)(B) of such Act 
(2 U.S.C. 437g(a)(6)(C)) is amended by striking ``the greater of 
$10,000 or an amount equal to 200 percent'' and inserting ``the greater 
of $15,000 or an amount equal to 300 percent''.

SEC. 309. MANDATORY ELECTRONIC FILING AND PRESERVATION OF FEDERAL 
              ELECTION COMMISSION REPORTS.

    (a) In General.--Subsection 304(a)(11)(A) of the Federal Election 
Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 434(a)(11)(A)) is amended--
            (1) by striking out ``permit reports required by'' and 
        inserting in lieu thereof ``require reports under''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following new sentences: 
        ``With respect to reports of amounts of contributions, amounts 
        of expenditures, or other dollar amounts, the Commission may 
        provide for exceptions to the requirement of the preceding 
        sentence in the case of small amounts, the levels of which the 
        Commission shall prescribe by regulation. Such exceptions shall 
        permit filing and preservation by means of electronic format or 
        method by persons to whom the exceptions apply.''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) shall 
apply with respect to reports for periods beginning after the 
expiration of the 60-day period which begins on the date of the 
enactment of this Act.

                   TITLE IV--MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

SEC. 401. RESTRICTIONS ON USE OF CAMPAIGN FUNDS FOR PERSONAL PURPOSES.

    (a) Restrictions on Use of Campaign Funds.--Title III of the 
Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 431 et seq.), as 
amended by sections 202 and 211, is further amended by adding at the 
end the following new section:

     ``restrictions on use of campaign funds for personal purposes

    ``Sec. 325. (a) In General.--An individual who receives 
contributions as a candidate for Federal office--
            ``(1) shall use such contributions only for legitimate and 
        verifiable campaign expenses; and
            ``(2) shall not use such contributions for any inherently 
        personal purpose.
    ``(b) Definitions.--As used in this subsection--
            ``(1) the term `campaign expenses' means expenses 
        attributable solely to bona fide campaign purposes; and
            ``(2) the term `inherently personal purpose' means a 
        purpose that, by its nature, confers a personal benefit, 
        including a home mortgage, rent, or utility payment, clothing 
        purchase, noncampaign automobile expense, country club 
        membership, vacation, or trip of a noncampaign nature, 
        household food items, tuition payments, admission to a sporting 
        event, concert, theater, or other form of entertainment not 
        associated with a campaign, dues, fees, or contributions to a 
        health club or recreational facility, and any other inherently 
        personal living expense as determined under the regulations 
        promulgated pursuant to section 301(b) of the Bipartisan Clean 
        Congress Act of 1997.''.
    (b) Regulations.--Not later than 90 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Federal Election Commission shall promulgate 
regulations consistent with this Act to implement subsection (a). Such 
regulations shall apply to all contributions possessed by an individual 
on the date of enactment of this Act.

SEC. 402. CAMPAIGN ADVERTISING AMENDMENTS.

    Section 318 of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 
441d) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1)--
                            (i) by striking ``Whenever'' and inserting 
                        ``Whenever a political committee makes a 
disbursement for the purpose of financing any communication through any 
broadcasting station, newspaper, magazine, outdoor advertising 
facility, mailing, phone bank or any other type of general public 
political advertising, or whenever'';
                            (ii) by striking ``an expenditure'' and 
                        inserting ``a disbursement''; and
                            (iii) by striking ``direct''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (3), by inserting ``and permanent 
                street address'' after ``name''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following new subsections:
    ``(c) Any printed communication described in subsection (a) shall 
be--
            ``(1) of sufficient type size to be clearly readable by the 
        recipient of the communication;
            ``(2) contained in a printed box set apart from the other 
        contents of the communication; and
            ``(3) consist of a reasonable degree of color contrast 
        between the background and the printed statement.
    ``(d)(1) Any broadcast or cablecast communication described in 
subsection (a)(1) or subsection (a)(2) shall include, in addition to 
the requirements of those subsections, an audio statement by the 
candidate that identifies the candidate and states that the candidate 
is responsible for the content of the advertisement.
    ``(2) If a broadcast or cablecast communication described in 
paragraph (1) is broadcast or cablecast by means of television, the 
communication shall include, in addition to the audio statement under 
paragraph (1), a written statement which--
            ``(A) appears at the end of the communication in a clearly 
        readable manner with a reasonable degree of color contrast 
        between the background and the printed statement, for a period 
        of at least 4 seconds; and
            ``(B) is accompanied by a clearly identifiable photographic 
        or similar image of the candidate.
    ``(e) Any broadcast or cablecast communication described in 
subsection (a)(3) shall include, in addition to the requirements of 
those subsections, in a clearly spoken manner, the following statement: 
`________________ is responsible for the content of this 
advertisement.' (with the blank to be filled in with the name of the 
political committee or other person paying for the communication and 
the name of any connected organization of the payor). If broadcast or 
cablecast by means of television, the statement shall also appear in a 
clearly readable manner with a reasonable degree of color contrast 
between the background and the printed statement, for a period of at 
least 4 seconds.''.

SEC. 403. USE OF CANDIDATES' NAMES.

    Section 302(e)(4) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 
U.S.C. 432(e)(4)) is amended to read as follows:
    ``(4)(A) The name of each authorized committee shall include the 
name of the candidate who authorized the committee under paragraph (1).
    ``(B) A political committee which is not an authorized committee 
may not--
            ``(i) include the name of any candidate in its name; or
            ``(ii) except in the case of a national, State, or local 
        party committee, use the name of any candidate in any activity 
        on behalf of such committee in such a context as to suggest 
        that the committee is an authorized committee of the candidate 
        or that the use of the candidate's name has been authorized by 
        the candidate.''.

SEC. 404. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.

    (a) Option To File Monthly Reports.--Section 304(a)(2) of the 
Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 434(a)(2)) is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (A) by striking ``and'' at the end;
            (2) in subparagraph (B) by striking the period at the end 
        and inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by inserting the following new subparagraph at the end:
            ``(C) in lieu of the reports required by subparagraphs (A) 
        and (B), the treasurer may file monthly reports in all calendar 
        years, which shall be filed no later than the 20th day after 
        the last day of the month and shall be complete as of the last 
        day of the month, except that, in lieu of filing the reports 
        otherwise due in November and December of any year in which a 
        regularly scheduled general election is held, a pre-primary 
        election report and a pre-general election report shall be 
        filed in accordance with subparagraph (A)(i), a post-general 
        election report shall be filed in accordance with subparagraph 
        (A)(ii), and a year end report shall be filed no later than 
        January 31 of the following calendar year.''.
    (b) Political Committees.--Section 304(a)(4) of the Federal 
Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 434(a)(4)) is amended in 
subparagraph (A)(i) by inserting ``, and except that if at any time 
during the election year a committee receives contributions in excess 
of $100,000 or makes disbursements in excess of $100,000, monthly 
reports on the 20th day of each month after the month in which that 
amount of contributions is first received or that amount of 
disbursements is first anticipated to be made during that year'' before 
the semicolon.
    (c) Incomplete or False Contributor Information.--Section 302(i) of 
the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 432(i)) is 
amended--
            (1) by inserting ``(1)'' after ``(i)'';
            (2) by striking ``submit'' and inserting ``report''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
    ``(2) A treasurer shall be considered to have used best efforts 
under this section only if--
            ``(A) all written solicitations include a clear and 
        conspicuous request for the contributor's identification and 
        inform the contributor of the committee's obligation to report 
        the identification in a statement prescribed by the Commission;
            ``(B) the treasurer makes at least 1 additional request for 
        the contributor's identification for each contribution received 
        that aggregates in excess of $200 per calendar year and which 
        does not contain all of the information required by this Act; 
        and
            ``(C) the treasurer reports all information in the 
        committee's possession regarding contributor 
        identifications.''.
    (d) Waiver.--Section 304 of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 
1971 (2 U.S.C. 434), as amended by sections 105, 213(a), 213(c), and 
221, is further amended by adding at the end the following new 
subsection:
    ``(j) The Commission may relieve any category of political 
committees of the obligation to file 1 or more reports required by this 
section, or may change the due dates of such reports, if it determines 
that such action is consistent with the purposes of this Act. The 
Commission may waive requirements to file reports in accordance with 
this subsection through a rule of general applicability or, in a 
specific case, may waive or extend the due date of a report by 
notifying all political committees affected.''.

SEC. 405. SIMULTANEOUS REGISTRATION OF CANDIDATE AND CANDIDATE'S 
              PRINCIPAL CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE.

    Section 303(a) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 
U.S.C. 433(a)) is amended in the first sentence by striking ``no later 
than 10 days after designation'' and inserting ``on the date of its 
designation''.

SEC. 406. INSOLVENT POLITICAL COMMITTEES.

    Section 303(d) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 
U.S.C. 433(d)) is amended by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph:
    ``(3) Proceedings by the Commission under paragraph (2) constitute 
the sole means, to the exclusion of proceeding under title 11, United 
States Code, by which a political committee that is determined by the 
Commission to be insolvent may compromise its debts, liquidate its 
assets, and terminate its existence.''.

SEC. 407. REGULATIONS RELATING TO USE OF NON-FEDERAL MONEY.

    Section 306 of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 
437c) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(g) The Commission shall promulgate regulations to prohibit 
devices or arrangements which have the purpose or effect of undermining 
or evading the provisions of this Act restricting the use of non-
Federal money to affect Federal elections.''.

SEC. 408. BAN ON FRANKING FOR UNSOLICITED MASS MAILINGS MAILED DURING 
              ELECTION YEAR.

    (a) In General.--Section 3210(a)(6)(A) of title 39, United States 
Code, is amended--
            (1) in clause (i), by striking ``fewer than 60 days'' and 
        all that follows through ``or runoff)'' and inserting ``during 
        the year in which the date of any election occurs''; and
            (2) in clause (ii)(II), by striking ``fewer than 90 days'' 
        and all that follows through ``or runoff)'' and inserting 
        ``during the year in which the date of any election occurs''.
    (b) Additional Mailings Exempt From Treatment as Mass Mailings.--
Section 3210(a)(6)(E) of title 39, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in clause (i), by striking the semicolon at the end and 
        inserting the following: ``, together with a single follow-up 
        to any such direct response, if it is made before the end of 
        the Congress in which the direct response was made and if it 
        occurs within 6 weeks after any significant congressional 
        action (as defined by the House Commission on Congressional 
        Mailing Standards) on the subject matter involved;'';
            (2) in clause (ii), by striking ``or'' at the end;
            (3) in clause (iii) by striking the period at the end and 
        inserting ``; or''; and
            (4) by adding at the end the following new clause:
            ``(iv) any mailing described in clause (iv) or (v) of 
        section 6(b)(1)(B) of the Legislative Branch Appropriations 
        Act, 1995, subject to the same restriction as specified in such 
        clause (iv) with respect to a Member of the Senate.''.

SEC. 409. INTENT OF CONGRESS.

    It is the intent of Congress that any funds realized by section 409 
shall be designated to pay for reduced postage rates for eligible House 
of Representatives candidates under section 3626(e) of title 39, United 
States Code (as amended by section 103).

SEC. 410. SEVERABILITY.

    If any provision of this Act, an amendment made by this Act, or the 
application of such provision or amendment to any other person or 
circumstance is held to be unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act, 
the amendments made by this Act, and the application of the provisions 
of such to any other person or circumstance shall not be affected 
thereby.

SEC. 411. EXPEDITED REVIEW OF CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES.

    (a) Direct Appeal to Supreme Court.--An appeal may be taken 
directly to the Supreme Court of the United States from any 
interlocutory order or final judgment, decree, or order issued by any 
court ruling on the constitutionality of any provision of this Act or 
amendment made by this Act.
    (b) Acceptance and Expedition.--The Supreme Court shall, if it has 
not previously ruled on the question addressed in the ruling below, 
accept jurisdiction over, advance on the docket, and expedite the 
appeal to the greatest extent possible.

SEC. 412. EFFECTIVE DATE.

    Except as otherwise provided in this Act, the amendments made by, 
and the provisions of, this Act shall take effect 60 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act.

SEC. 413. REGULATIONS.

    The Federal Election Commission shall prescribe any regulations 
required to carry out this Act not later than 9 months after the 
effective date of this Act.
                                 <all>