[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1190 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







105th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 1190

             To reform the financing of Federal elections.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           September 17, 1997

  Mr. Allard introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
         referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
             To reform the financing of Federal elections.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Campaign Finance 
Integrity Act of 1997''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
                         TITLE I--CONTRIBUTIONS

Sec. 101. Requirement for in-state and in-district contributions to 
                            congressional candidates.
Sec. 102. Use of contributions to pay campaign debt.
Sec. 103. Modification of political party contribution limits to 
                            candidates when candidates make 
                            expenditures from personal funds.
Sec. 104. Modification of contribution limits.
                   TITLE II--DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS

Sec. 201. Disclosure of certain expenditures for issue advocacy.
Sec. 202. Disclosure of certain non-Federal financial activities of 
                            national political parties.
Sec. 203. Political activities of corporations and labor organizations.
                   TITLE III--REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

Sec. 301. Time for candidates to file reports.
Sec. 302. Contributor information required for contributions in any 
                            amount.
Sec. 303. Prohibition of depositing contributions with incomplete 
                            contributor information.
Sec. 304. Filing of reports using computers and facsimile machines; 
                            required electronic disclosure by 
                            commission.
                        TITLE IV--MISCELLANEOUS

Sec. 401. Ban on mass mailings.
Sec. 402. Effective date.

                         TITLE I--CONTRIBUTIONS

SEC. 101. REQUIREMENT FOR IN-STATE AND IN-DISTRICT CONTRIBUTIONS TO 
              CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATES.

    (a) In General.--Section 315 of the Federal Election Campaign Act 
of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 441a) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating subsections (e), (f), (g), and (h) as 
        subsections (f), (g), (h), and (i), respectively;
            (2) by inserting after subsection (d) the following:
    ``(e) Requirement for In-State and In-District Contributions to 
Congressional Candidates.--
            ``(1) Definitions.--
                    ``(A) In-State contribution.--In this subsection, 
                the term `in-State contribution' means a contribution 
                from an individual that is a legal resident of the 
                candidate's State.
                    ``(B) In-district contribution.--In this 
                subsection, the term `in-district contribution' means a 
                contribution from an individual that is a legal 
                resident of the candidate's district.
            ``(2) Limit.--A candidate for nomination to, or election 
        to, the Senate or House of Representatives and the candidate's 
        authorized committees shall not accept an aggregate amount of 
        contributions of which the aggregate amount of in-State 
        contributions and in-district contributions is less than 50 
        percent of the total amount of contributions accepted by the 
        candidate and the candidate's authorized committees.
            ``(3) Time for meeting requirement.--A candidate shall meet 
        the requirement of paragraph (2) at the end of each reporting 
        period under section 304.
            ``(4) Personal funds.--For purposes of this subsection, a 
        contribution that is attributable to the personal funds of the 
        candidate or proceeds of indebtedness incurred by the candidate 
        or the candidate's authorized committees shall not be 
        considered to be an in-State contribution or in-district 
        contribution.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendments.--Section 315 of the Federal Election 
Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 441a) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (b)(1)(A), by striking ``(e)'' and 
        inserting ``(f)'';
            (2) in subsection (d)(2), by striking ``(e)'' and inserting 
        ``(f)''; and
            (3) in subsection (d)(3)(A)(i), by striking ``(e)'' and 
        inserting ``(f)''.

SEC. 102. USE OF CONTRIBUTIONS TO PAY CAMPAIGN DEBT.

    Section 315 of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 
441a) (as amended by section 101) is amended by adding at the end the 
following:
    ``(j) Limit on Use of Contributions To Pay Campaign Debt.--
            ``(1) Time to accept contributions.--Beginning on the date 
        that is 90 days after the date of a general or special 
        election, a candidate for election to the Senate or House of 
        Representatives and the candidate's authorized committees shall 
        not accept a contribution that is to be used to pay a 
debt, loan, or other cost associated with the election cycle of such 
election.
            ``(2) Personal obligation.--A debt, loan, or other cost 
        associated with an election cycle that is not paid in full on 
        the date that is 90 days after the date of the general or 
        special election shall be assumed as a personal obligation by 
        the candidate.''.

SEC. 103. MODIFICATION OF POLITICAL PARTY CONTRIBUTION LIMITS TO 
              CANDIDATES WHEN CANDIDATES MAKE EXPENDITURES FROM 
              PERSONAL FUNDS.

    (a) In General.--Section 315 of the Federal Election Campaign Act 
of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 441a) (as amended by section 102) is amended by 
adding at the end the following:
    ``(k) Contribution Limits for Political Party Committees in 
Response to Candidate Expenditures of Personal Funds.--
            ``(1) In general.--In the case of a general election for 
        the Senate or House of Representatives, a political party 
        committee may make contributions to a candidate without regard 
        to any limitation under subsections (a) and (d) until such time 
        as the aggregate amount of contributions is equal to or greater 
        than the applicable limit.
            ``(2) Applicable Limit.--The applicable limit under 
        paragraph (1), with respect to a candidate, shall be the 
        greatest aggregate amount of expenditures that an opponent of 
        the candidate in the same election and the opponent's 
        authorized committee make using the personal funds of the 
        opponent or proceeds of indebtedness incurred by the opponent 
        (including contributions by the opponent to the opponent's 
        authorized committee) in excess of 2 times the limit under 
        subsection (a)(1)(A) with respect to a general election.
            ``(3) Definition of Political Party Committee.--For 
        purposes of this subsection, the term `political party 
        committee' means a political committee that is a national, 
        State, district, or local committee of a political party 
        (including any subordinate committee).''.
    (b) Notification of Expenditures From Personal Funds.--Section 
304(a)(6) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 
434(a)(6)) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating subparagraph (B) as subparagraph (C); 
        and
            (2) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following:
    ``(B)(i) The principal campaign committee of a candidate for 
nomination to, or election to, the Senate or House of Representatives 
shall notify the Commission of the aggregate amount expenditures made 
using personal funds of the candidate or proceeds of indebtedness 
incurred by the candidate (including contributions by the candidate to 
the candidate's authorized committee) in excess of an amount equal to 2 
times the limit under section 301(a)(1)(A).
    ``(ii) The notification under clause (i) shall--
            ``(I) be submitted to the Commission not later than 24 
        hours after the expenditure that is the subject of the 
        notification is made;
            ``(II) include the name of the candidate, the office sought 
        by the candidate, and the date and amount of the expenditure; 
        and
            ``(III) include the aggregate amount of expenditures from 
        personal funds that have been made with respect to that 
        election as of the date of the expenditure that is the subject 
        of the notification.''.

SEC. 104. MODIFICATION OF CONTRIBUTION LIMITS.

    Section 315 of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 
441a) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1)(A), by striking ``$1,000'' and 
                inserting ``$2,500''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (2)(A), by striking ``$5,000'' and 
                inserting ``$2,500''; and
            (2) in subsection (c)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``subsection (b) 
                and subsection (d)'' and inserting ``paragraphs (1)(A) 
                and (2)(A) of subsection (a) and subsections (b) and 
                (d)''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (2)(A), by striking ``means the 
                calendar year 1974.'' and inserting ``means--
                    ``(i) for purposes of subsections (b) and (d), 
                calendar year 1974; and
                    ``(ii) for purposes of paragraphs (1)(A) and (2)(A) 
                of subsection (a), calendar year 1997.''.

                   TITLE II--DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS

SEC. 201. DISCLOSURE OF CERTAIN EXPENDITURES FOR ISSUE ADVOCACY.

    (a) Issue Advocacy.--Section 304 of the Federal Election Campaign 
Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 434) is amended by adding at the end the 
following:
    ``(d) Issue Advocacy.--
            ``(1) Required report.--A person (other than a candidate or 
        a candidate's authorized committee) who makes a payment in an 
        aggregate amount equal to or greater than $1,000 for a 
        communication containing issue advocacy shall submit a 
        statement to the Commission (not later than 24 hours after 
        making the payment) describing the amount spent, the type of 
        communication involved, and the market or area in which the 
        communication was disseminated.
            ``(2) Definition.--
                    ``(A) In general.--In this subsection, the term `a 
                communication containing issue advocacy' means a 
                communication that--
                            ``(i) uses the name or likeness of an 
                        individual holding Federal office or a 
                        candidate for election to a Federal office;
                            ``(ii) mentions a national political party; 
                        or
                            ``(iii) uses the terms `the President', 
                        `Congress', `Senate', or `House of 
                        Representatives' in reference to an individual 
                        holding Federal office.
                    ``(B) Exception.--The term shall not include a 
                payment which would be--
                            ``(i) described in clause (i), (iii), or 
                        (v) of section 301(9)(B) if the payment were an 
                        expenditure under such section; or
                            ``(ii) an independent expenditure.''.
    (b) Increased Reporting for Independent Expenditures.--Section 
304(c) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 434(c)) 
is amended in the matter following paragraph (2)(C), by striking 
``after the 20th day, but more than 24 hours, before any election'' and 
inserting ``during a calendar year''.

SEC. 202. DISCLOSURE OF CERTAIN NON-FEDERAL FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES OF 
              NATIONAL POLITICAL PARTIES.

    Section 304(b)(4) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 
U.S.C. 434(b)(4)) is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (H)(v), by striking ``and'' at the end;
            (2) in subparagraph (I), by inserting ``and'' after the 
        semicolon; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(J) for a national political committee of a political 
        party, disbursements made by the committee in an aggregate 
        amount greater than $1,000, during a calendar year, in 
        connection with a political activity (as defined in section 
        316(c)(3));''.

SEC. 203. POLITICAL ACTIVITIES OF CORPORATIONS AND LABOR ORGANIZATIONS.

    (a) Disclosure to Employees and Shareholders Regarding Political 
Activities.--Section 316 of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 
(2 U.S.C. 441b) is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(c) Authorization Required for Political Activity.--
            ``(1) In general.--Except with the separate, written, 
        voluntary authorization of each individual, a national bank, 
        corporation or labor organization shall not--
                    ``(A) in the case of a national bank or corporation 
                described in this section, collect from or assess its 
                stockholders or employees any dues, initiation fee, or 
                other payment as a condition of employment or 
                membership if any part of the dues, fee, or payment 
                will be used for a political activity in which the 
                national bank or corporation is engaged; and
                    ``(B) in the case of a labor organization described 
                in this section, collect from or assess its members or 
                nonmembers any dues, initiation fee, or other payment 
                if any part of the dues, fee, or payment will be used 
                for a political activity.
            ``(2) Effect of authorization.--An authorization described 
        in paragraph (1) shall remain in effect until revoked and may 
        be revoked at any time.
            ``(3) Definition of political activity.--For purposes of 
        this subsection, the term `political activity' includes a 
        communication or other activity that involves carrying on 
        propaganda, attempting to influence legislation, or 
        participating or intervening in a political party or political 
        campaign for a Federal office.
    ``(d) Disclosure of Disbursements for Political Activities.--
            ``(1) Corporations and national banks.--A corporation or 
        national bank shall submit an annual written report to 
        shareholders stating the amount of each disbursement made for 
        political activities or that otherwise influences Federal 
        elections.
            ``(2) Labor organizations.--A labor organization shall 
        submit an annual written report to dues paying members and 
        nonmembers stating the amount of each disbursement made for 
        political activities or that otherwise influences Federal 
        elections, including contributions and expenditures.''.
    (b) Disclosure to the Commission of Certain Permissible Activities 
by Labor Organizations and Corporations.--Section 304 of the Federal 
Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 434) (as amended in section 
201) is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(e) Required Statement of Corporations and Labor Organizations.--
Each corporation, national bank, or labor organization who makes an 
aggregate amount of disbursements during a year in an amount equal to 
or greater than $1,000 for any activity described in subparagraph (A), 
(B), or (C) of section 316(a)(2) shall submit a statement to the 
Commission (not later than 24 hours after making the payments) 
describing the amount spent and the activity involved.''.

                   TITLE III--REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

SEC. 301. TIME FOR CANDIDATES TO FILE REPORTS.

    Section 304(a)(2)(A) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 
(2 U.S.C. 434(a)(2)(A)) is amended--
            (1) in clause (ii), by striking ``and'' following the 
        semicolon;
            (2) in clause (iii), by striking ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(v) monthly reports during the months of July, 
                August, September, and October, that shall be filed no 
later than the final day of the reporting month; and
                    ``(vi) 24-hour reports, beginning on the day that 
                is 15 days preceding an election, that shall be filed 
                no later than the end of each 24-hour period; and''.

SEC. 302. CONTRIBUTOR INFORMATION REQUIRED FOR CONTRIBUTIONS IN ANY 
              AMOUNT.

    (a) Section 302.--Section 302 of the Federal Election Campaign Act 
of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 432) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``, and if the 
                amount'' and all that follows through the period and 
                inserting: ``and the following information:
            ``(A) The identification of the contributor.
            ``(B) The date of the receipt of the contribution.''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (2)--
                            (i) in subsection (A), by striking ``such 
                        contribution'' and inserting ``the contribution 
                        and the identification of the contributor''; 
                        and
                            (ii) in subsection (B), by striking ``such 
                        contribution'' and all that follows through the 
                        period and inserting ``, no later than 10 days 
                        after receiving the contribution, the 
                        contribution and the following information:
                    ``(i) The identification of the contributor.
                    ``(ii) The date of the receipt of the 
                contribution.'';
            (2) in subsection (c)--
                    (A) by striking paragraph (2);
                    (B) in paragraph (3), by striking ``or 
                contributions aggregating more than $200 during any 
                calendar year''; and
                    (C) by redesignating paragraphs (3), (4), and (5) 
                as paragraphs (2), (3), and (4), respectively; and
            (3) in subsection (h)(2), by striking ``(c)(5)'' and 
        inserting ``(c)(4)''.
    (b) Section 304.--Section 304(b)(3)(A) of the Federal Election 
Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 434(b)(3)(A)) is amended by striking 
``whose contributions'' and all that follows through ``so elect,''.

SEC. 303. PROHIBITION OF DEPOSITING CONTRIBUTIONS WITH INCOMPLETE 
              CONTRIBUTOR INFORMATION.

    Section 302 of Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 432) 
is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(j) Deposit of Contributions.--The treasurer of a candidate's 
authorized committee shall not deposit or otherwise negotiate a 
contribution unless the information required by this section is 
complete.''.

SEC. 304. FILING OF REPORTS USING COMPUTERS AND FACSIMILE MACHINES; 
              REQUIRED ELECTRONIC DISCLOSURE BY COMMISSION.

    Section 304(a) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 
U.S.C. 434(a)) is amended by striking paragraph (11) and inserting the 
following:
    ``(11) Electronic filing.--
            ``(A) In general.--The Commission shall issue a regulation 
        to permit a report, designation, or statement required to be 
        filed with the Commission under this Act to be filed in 
        electronic form accessible by computer or through the use of a 
        facsimile machine or other method of transmission that 
        corresponds with the method of record-keeping or transmission 
        used by persons required to file under this Act.
            ``(B) Internet access to campaign finance information.--The 
        Commission shall make the information contained in a 
        designation, statement, report, or notification filed with the 
        Commission under this section accessible to the public on the 
        Internet and publicly available at the offices of the 
        Commission not later than 24 hours after the designation, 
        statement, report, or notification is received by the 
        Commission.''.

                        TITLE IV--MISCELLANEOUS

SEC. 401. BAN ON MASS MAILINGS.

    (a) In General.--Section 3210(a)(6) of title 39, United States 
Code, is amended by striking subparagraph (A) and inserting the 
following:
    ``(A) A Member of, or Member-elect to, Congress may not mail any 
mass mailing as franked mail.''.
    (b) Technical and Conforming Amendments.--
            (1) Section 3210 of title 39, United States Code, is 
        amended--
                    (A) in subsection (a)--
                            (i) in paragraph (3)--
                                    (I) in subparagraph (G), by 
                                striking ``, including general mass 
                                mailings,'';
                                    (II) in subparagraph (I), by 
                                striking ``or other general mass 
                                mailing''; and
                                    (III) in subparagraph (J), by 
                                striking ``or other general mass 
                                mailing'';
                            (ii) in paragraph (6)--
                                    (I) by striking subparagraphs (B), 
                                (C), and (F);
                                    (II) by striking the second 
                                sentence of subparagraph (D); and
                                    (III) by redesignating 
                                subparagraphs (D) and (E) as 
                                subparagraphs (B) and (C), 
                                respectively; and
                            (iii) by striking paragraph (7);
                    (B) in subsection (c), by striking ``subsection (a) 
                (4) and (5)'' and inserting ``paragraphs (4), (5), and 
                (6) of subsection (a)'';
                    (C) by striking subsection (f); and
                    (D) by redesignating subsection (g) as subsection 
                (f).
            (2) Section 316 of the Legislative Branch Appropriations 
        Act, 1990 (39 U.S.C. 3210 note) is amended by striking 
        subsection (a).
            (3) Section 311 of the Legislative Branch Appropriations 
        Act, 1991 (2 U.S.C. 59e) is amended by striking subsection (f) 
        and inserting the following:
    ``(f) [Reserved].''.
    (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall take 
effect at the beginning of the first Congress that begins after 
December 31, 1998.

SEC. 402. EFFECTIVE DATE.

    Except as otherwise provided in this Act, this Act and the 
amendments made by this Act shall apply with respect to elections 
occurring, payments made, and filing periods beginning after December 
31, 1998.
                                 <all>