[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 95 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







105th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 S. 95

To provide for Federal campaign finance reform, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            January 21, 1997

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

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To provide for Federal campaign finance reform, 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; AMENDMENT OF CAMPAIGN ACT; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Campaign Finance 
Reform Act of 1997''.
    (b) Amendment of FECA.--When used in this Act, the term ``FECA'' 
means the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 431 et seq.)
    (c) Table of Contents.--

Sec. 1. Short title; amendment of campaign act; table of contents.
                TITLE I--SENATE ELECTION SPENDING LIMITS

Sec. 101. Senate election spending limits.
           TITLE II--REDUCTION IN SPECIAL INTEREST INFLUENCE

Sec. 201. Soft money of political parties.
Sec. 202. Definition of independent expenditure.
Sec. 203. Prohibition on contributions by foreign nationals.
Sec. 204. Broadcast media rates.
               TITLE III--INCREASE IN VOTER PARTICIPATION

Sec. 301. Credit for contributions to congressional candidates.
Sec. 302. Study on voter participation in Federal elections.

                TITLE I--SENATE ELECTION SPENDING LIMITS

SEC. 101. SENATE ELECTION SPENDING LIMITS.

    (a) In General.--FECA is amended by adding at the end the following 
new title:

               ``TITLE V--SENATE ELECTION SPENDING LIMITS

                  ``TITLE V--ELECTION SPENDING LIMITS

                ``Subtitle A--Senate Election Campaigns

``Sec. 501. Expenditure limitations.
``Sec. 502. Contribution limitations.
``Sec. 503. Eligible Senate candidate.
                ``Subtitle B--Administrative Provisions

``Sec. 521. Imposition of fee on Senate candidates exceeding limits.
``Sec. 522. Judicial review.
``Sec. 523. Reports to Congress; certifications; regulations.

             ``Subtitle A--Senate Election Campaign Limits

``SEC. 501. EXPENDITURE LIMITATIONS.

    ``(a) In General.--An eligible Senate candidate may not make 
expenditures with respect to any election aggregating more than the 
limit applicable to the election under subsection (b).
    ``(b) Applicable Limits.--For purposes of subsection (a), except as 
otherwise provided in this subtitle--
            ``(1) General election expenditure limit.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The limit for a general election 
                shall be equal to the lesser of--
                            ``(i) $5,500,000; or
                            ``(ii) the greater of--
                                    ``(I) $950,000; or
                                    ``(II) $400,000, plus an amount 
                                equal to the sum of 30 cents multiplied 
                                by the voting age population not in 
                                excess of 4,000,000, and 25 cents 
                                multiplied by the voting age population 
                                in excess of 4,000,000.
                    ``(B) Special rule where only 1 transmitter.--In 
                the case of an eligible Senate candidate in a State 
                which has no more than 1 transmitter for a commercial 
                Very High Frequency (VHF) television station licensed 
                to operate in that State, subclause (II) of paragraph 
                (1)(B)(ii) shall be applied by substituting `80 cents' 
for `30 cents' and `70 cents' for `25 cents'.
            ``(2) Primary election expenditure limit.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Except as provided in 
                subparagraph (B), the limit for a primary election is 
                an amount equal to the lesser of--
                            ``(i) 67 percent of the general election 
                        expenditure limit under paragraph (1), or
                            ``(ii) $2,750,000.
                The Secretary shall adjust the dollar amount under 
                clause (ii) 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.
                    ``(B) Certain primary elections treated as general 
                elections.--If a primary election may result in the 
                election of a person to a Federal office, the limit for 
                the election is the general election expenditure limit 
                under paragraph (1).
            ``(3) Runoff election expenditure limit.--The limit for a 
        runoff election is an amount equal to 20 percent of the general 
        election expenditure limit under paragraph (1).
    ``(c) Payment of Taxes.--The limitations under subsection (b) shall 
not apply to any expenditure for Federal, State, or local taxes with 
respect to earnings on contributions raised.

``SEC. 502. CONTRIBUTION LIMITATIONS.

    ``(a) Personal Contributions.--
            ``(1) In general.--An eligible Senate candidate may not, 
        with respect to an election cycle, make contributions or loans 
        to his or her own campaign from personal funds totaling more 
        than the lesser of--
                    ``(A) 10 percent of the general election limit 
                under section 501(b), or
                    ``(B) $250,000.
            ``(2) Aggregation.--For purposes of paragraph (1), any 
        contribution or loan to a candidate's campaign by a member of 
        the candidate's immediate family shall be treated as made by 
        the candidate.
    ``(b) Aggregate Contributions.--An eligible Senate candidate may 
not solicit or receive contributions with respect to any election in 
excess of the limit under section 501 for that election.

``SEC. 503. ELIGIBLE SENATE CANDIDATE.

    ``(a) In General.--For purposes of this subtitle, a candidate is an 
eligible Senate candidate if the candidate--
            ``(1) meets the filing requirements of subsection (b); and
            ``(2) meets, and continues to meet, the expenditure and 
        contribution limits of sections 501 and 502.
    ``(b) Filing Requirements.--The requirements of this subsection are 
met if, not later than the date the candidate files as a candidate for 
the primary election with the appropriate State election official (or, 
if earlier, not later than 30 days before the election), the candidate 
files with the Secretary of the Senate a declaration that--
            ``(1) the candidate will meet the expenditure and 
        contribution limits of this subtitle;
            ``(2) the candidate will furnish campaign records, evidence 
        of contributions, and other appropriate information to the 
        Commission; and
            ``(3) the candidate will cooperate in the case of any audit 
        and examination by the Commission and will pay any amounts 
        required to be paid under section 521.

                ``Subtitle B--Administrative Provisions

``SEC. 521. IMPOSITION OF FEE ON SENATE CANDIDATES EXCEEDING LIMITS.

    ``(a) In General.--Any candidate for election to the office of 
United States Senator (whether or not an eligible Senate candidate) who 
makes expenditures with respect to any election in excess of the limit 
applicable to such election under section 501 shall pay to the 
Commission an amount equal to 50 percent of the excess.
    ``(b) Time for Determination and Payment.--
            ``(1) In general.--A candidate shall determine the amount 
        of any excess expenditures on the basis of the quarterly 
        reports required to be filed under section 304(a)(2) and 
        payment of any fee imposed under subsection (a) shall be 
        included with such report. Such determination (and any such 
        payment) shall also be made at the time of any pre-election and 
        post-general election report under such section.
            ``(2) Commission determination.--The Commission may make 
        its own determination under paragraph (1) if--
                    ``(A) a report described in paragraph (1) is not 
                filed, or
                    ``(B) the Commission has reason to believe such 
                report is not accurate.
    ``(c) Payment of Fees.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Commission shall, as soon as 
        practicable after receipt of any payment under subsection (b), 
        pay to opposing eligible Senate candidates of the candidate 
        making the payment their allocable share of the payment.
            ``(2) Allocable share.--The Commission shall by regulation 
        provide for 1 or more methods for allocating payments under 
        paragraph (1). The Commission shall issue final regulations 
        under this paragraph not later than January 1, 1998.

``SEC. 522. JUDICIAL REVIEW.

    ``(a) Judicial Review.--Any agency action by the Commission made 
under the provisions of this title shall be subject to review by the 
United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit 
upon petition filed in such court within 30 days after the agency 
action by the Commission for which review is sought. It shall be the 
duty of the Court of Appeals, ahead of all matters not filed under this 
title, to advance on the docket and expeditiously take action on all 
petitions filed pursuant to this title.
    ``(b) Application of Title 5.--The provisions of chapter 7 of title 
5, United States Code, shall apply to judicial review of any agency 
action by the Commission.
    ``(c) Agency Action.--For purposes of this section, the term 
`agency action' has the meaning given such term by section 551(13) of 
title 5, United States Code.

``SEC. 523. REPORTS TO CONGRESS; CERTIFICATIONS; REGULATIONS.

    ``(a) Reports.--The Commission shall, as soon as practicable after 
each election, submit a full report to the Senate and House of 
Representatives setting forth--
            ``(1) the expenditures (shown in such detail as the 
        Commission determines appropriate) made by each eligible 
        candidate and the authorized committees of such candidate; and
            ``(2) the amount of payments, if any, required under 
        section 521.
    ``(b) Determinations by Commission.--Subject to section 522, all 
determinations made by the Commission under this title shall be final 
and conclusive.
    ``(c) Rules and Regulations.--The Commission is authorized to 
prescribe such rules and regulations, in accordance with the provisions 
of subsection (d), to conduct such audits, examinations and 
investigations, and to require the keeping and submission of such 
books, records, and information, as it deems necessary to carry out the 
functions and duties imposed on it by this title.
    ``(d) Report of Proposed Regulations.--The Commission shall submit 
to the Senate a report containing a detailed explanation and 
justification of each rule and regulation of the Commission under this 
title. No such rule, regulation, or form may take effect until a period 
of 30 calendar days has elapsed after the report is received. As used 
in this subsection, the terms `rule' and `regulation' mean a provision 
or series of interrelated provisions stating a single, separable rule 
of law.''
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by this section shall apply 
to elections occurring after December 31, 1998.

           TITLE II--REDUCTION IN SPECIAL INTEREST INFLUENCE

SEC. 201. SOFT MONEY OF POLITICAL PARTIES.

    (a) In General.--Title III of FECA (2 U.S.C. 301 et seq.) is 
amended by adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 324. SOFT MONEY OF POLITICAL PARTIES.

    ``(a) National Committees.--A national committee of a political 
party (including a national congressional campaign committee of a 
political party, an entity that is established, financed, maintained, 
or controlled by the national committee, a national congressional 
campaign committee of a political party, and an officer or agent of any 
such party or entity but not including an entity regulated under 
subsection (b)) 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.
    ``(b) State, District, and Local Committees.--
            ``(1) Limitation.--Any amount that is expended or disbursed 
        by a State, district, or local committee of a political party 
        (including an entity that is established, financed, maintained, 
        or controlled by a State, district, or local committee of a 
        political party and an agent or officer of any such committee 
        or entity) during a calendar year in which a Federal election 
        is held, for any activity that might affect the outcome of a 
        Federal election, including any voter registration or get-out-
        the-vote activity, any generic campaign activity, and any 
        communication that identifies a candidate (regardless of 
        whether a candidate for State or local office is also mentioned 
        or identified) shall be made from funds subject to the 
        limitations, prohibitions, and reporting requirements of this 
        Act.
            ``(2) Activity not included in paragraph (1).--
                    ``(A) In general.--Paragraph (1) shall not apply to 
                an expenditure or disbursement made by a State, 
                district, or local committee of a political party for--
                            ``(i) a contribution to a candidate for 
                        State or local office if the contribution is 
                        not designated or otherwise earmarked to pay 
                        for an activity described in paragraph (1);
                            ``(ii) the costs of a State, district, or 
                        local political convention;
                            ``(iii) 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 
                        the individual's time on activity during the 
                        month that may affect the outcome of a Federal 
                        election) except that for purposes of this 
                        paragraph, the non-Federal share of a party 
                        committee's administrative and overhead 
                        expenses shall be 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;
                            ``(iv) the costs of grassroots campaign 
                        materials, including buttons, bumper stickers, 
                        and yard signs that name or depict only a 
                        candidate for State or local office; and
                            ``(v) the cost of any campaign activity 
                        conducted solely on behalf of a clearly 
                        identified candidate for State or local office, 
                        if the candidate activity is not an activity 
                        described in paragraph (1).
                    ``(B) Fundraising.--Any amount that is expended or 
                disbursed by a national, State, district, or local 
                committee, by an entity that is established, financed, 
                maintained, or controlled by a State, district, or 
                local committee of a political party, or by an agent or 
                officer of any such committee or entity to raise funds 
                that are used, in whole or in part, to pay the costs of 
                an activity described in subparagraph (A) shall be made 
                from funds subject to the limitations, prohibitions, 
                and reporting requirements of this Act.
    ``(c) Tax-Exempt Organizations.--No national, State, district, or 
local committee of a political party shall solicit any funds for or 
make any donations to an organization that is exempt from Federal 
taxation under section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
    ``(d) Candidates.--
            ``(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), no 
        candidate, individual holding Federal office, or agent of a 
        candidate or individual holding Federal office may--
                    ``(A) solicit or receive funds in connection with 
                an election for Federal office unless the funds are 
                subject to the limitations, prohibitions, and reporting 
                requirements of this Act; or
                    ``(B) solicit or receive funds that are to be 
                expended in connection with any election for other than 
                a Federal election unless the funds--
                            ``(i) are not in excess of the amounts 
                        permitted with respect to contributions to 
                        candidates and political committees under 
                        section 315(a) (1) and (2); and
                            ``(ii) are not from sources prohibited by 
                        this Act from making contributions with respect 
                        to an election for Federal office.
            ``(2) Exception.--Paragraph (1) does not apply to the 
        solicitation or receipt of funds by an individual who is a 
        candidate for a State or local office if the solicitation or 
        receipt of funds is permitted under State law for the 
        individual's State or local campaign committee.''
    (b) Reporting Requirements.--
            (1) Reporting requirements.--Section 304 of FECA (2 U.S.C. 
        434) is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(d) Political Committees.--
            ``(1) National and congressional political committees.--The 
        national committee of a political party, any congressional 
        campaign committee of a political party, and any subordinate 
        committee of either, shall report all receipts and 
        disbursements during the reporting period, whether or not in 
        connection with an election for Federal office.
            ``(2) Other political committees to which section 324 
        applies.--A political committee (not described in paragraph 
        (1)) to which section 324(b)(1) applies shall report all 
        receipts and disbursements whether or not the receipts are 
        received or disbursements are made in connection with a Federal 
        election.
            ``(3) Transfers.--In a report under paragraph (1) or (2), a 
        political committee shall--
                    ``(A) include any amount received by a national 
                committee that is to be transferred to a State 
                committee for use directly for (or primarily to 
                support) activities described in section 324(b)(2); and
                    ``(B) itemize such amounts to the extent required 
                by subsection (b)(3)(A).
            ``(4) Other political committees.--Any political committee 
        to which paragraph (1) or (2) does not apply shall report any 
        receipts or disbursements that are used in connection with a 
        Federal election.
            ``(5) Itemization.--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 paragraphs 
        (3)(A), (5), and (6) of subsection (b).
            ``(6) Reporting periods.--Reports required to be filed 
        under this subsection shall be filed for the same time periods 
        required for political committees under subsection (a).''
            (2) Report of exempt contributions.--Section 301(8) of the 
        FECA (2 U.S.C. 431(8)) is amended by inserting at the end the 
        following:
                    ``(C) Reporting requirement.--The exclusion 
                provided in subparagraph (B)(viii) shall not apply for 
                purposes of any requirement to report contributions 
                under this Act, and all such contributions aggregating 
                in excess of $200 shall be reported.''
            (3) Reports by state committees.--Section 304 of FECA (2 
        U.S.C. 434) (as amended by subsection (a)) is amended by adding 
        at the end the following:
    ``(e) Filing of State Reports.--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.''
            (4) Other reporting requirements.--
                    (A) Authorized committees.--Section 304(b)(4) of 
                FECA (2 U.S.C. 434(b)(4)) is amended--
                            (i) by striking ``and'' at the end of 
                        subparagraph (H);
                            (ii) by inserting ``and'' at the end of 
                        subparagraph (I); and
                            (iii) 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;''.
                    (B) Names and addresses.--Section 304(b)(5)(A) of 
                FECA (2 U.S.C. 434(b)(5)(A)) is amended--
                            (i) by striking ``within the calendar 
                        year''; and
                            (ii) by inserting ``, and the election to 
                        which the operating expenditure relates'' after 
                        ``operating expenditure''.

SEC. 202. DEFINITION OF INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURE.

    Section 301 of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 
431) is amended by striking paragraph (17) and inserting the following:
            ``(17) Independent expenditure.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The term ``independent 
                expenditure'' means an expenditure by a person other 
                than a candidate or candidate's authorized committee--
                            ``(i) that is made for a communication that 
                        contains express advocacy; and
                            ``(ii) is made without the participation or 
                        cooperation of and without coordination with a 
                        candidate.
                    ``(B) Express advocacy.--The term `express 
                advocacy' means a communication advocating the election 
                or defeat of a clearly identified candidate and 
                includes any communication that--
                            ``(i)(I) contains a phrase such as `vote 
                        for', `re-elect', `support', `cast your ballot 
                        for', `(name of candidate) for Congress', 
                        `(name of candidate) in 1997', `vote against', 
                        `defeat', `reject';
                            ``(II) recommends a position on an issue 
                        and clearly identifies 1 or more candidates as 
                        supporting or opposing that position; or
                            ``(III) contains campaign slogans or 
                        individual words that in context can have no 
                        reasonable meaning other than to recommend the 
                        election or defeat of 1 or more clearly 
                        identified candidates;
                            ``(ii) clearly identifies 1 or more 
                        candidates and is broadcast by a radio 
                        broadcast station or a television broadcast 
                        station (including a cable system) within 60 
                        calendar days preceding the date of an election 
                        (or with respect to a candidate for the office 
                        of Vice President or President in a general 
                        election, within 90 calendar days preceding the 
                        date of the general election); or
                            ``(iii) taken as a whole and with limited 
                        reference to external events, such as proximity 
                        to an election, expresses unmistakable support 
                        for or opposition to 1 or more clearly 
                        identified candidates.
                    ``(C) Without the participation or cooperation of 
                and without coordination with a candidate.--The term 
                `without the participation or cooperation of and 
                without coordination with a candidate', with respect to 
                an expenditure, means an expenditure that is made--
                            ``(i) without any request or suggestion 
                        from or any involvement of a candidate or 
                        candidate's representative;
                            ``(ii) without the involvement of any 
                        person who, during the election cycle in which 
                        the expenditure is made, has raised funds on 
                        behalf of the candidate, counseled or advised 
                        the candidate or the candidate's representative 
                        regarding the election (other than to provide 
                        legal and accounting services to ensure 
                        compliance with this Act), engaged in campaign-
                        related research or polling analysis with 
                        respect to the election, or communicated with 
                        or received information from the candidate or 
                        the candidate's representative about the 
                        candidate's plans, resources, expenditures, or 
                        needs regarding the election; and
                            ``(iii) without the involvement of any 
                        person who received compensation, during the 
                        election cycle in which the expenditure is 
                        made, from the candidate or candidate's 
                        representative and from the person making the 
                        independent expenditure.''.

SEC. 203. PROHIBITION ON CONTRIBUTIONS BY FOREIGN NATIONALS.

    (a) In General.--Section 319(a) of the Federal Election Campaign 
Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 441e(a)) is amended to read as follows:
    ``(a) Prohibitions.--
            ``(1) Foreign nationals.--It shall be unlawful for a 
        foreign national, either directly or through another person--
                    ``(A) to make any contribution of money or other 
                thing of value, or to promise expressly or impliedly to 
                make any such contribution, in connection with an 
                election to any political office or in connection with 
                any primary election, convention, or caucus held to 
                select candidates for any political office; or
                    ``(B) to solicit, accept, or receive any such 
                contribution.
            ``(2) Other persons.--It shall be unlawful for any person 
        to solicit, accept, or receive any contribution from a foreign 
        national.''
    (b) Definition of Foreign National.--Section 319(b) of FECA (2 
U.S.C. 441e(b)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``and who is not lawfully admitted for 
        permanent residence, as defined by section 101(a)(20) of the 
        Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(20))'', and
            (2) by inserting ``Foreign National.--'' after ``(b)''.

SEC. 204. BROADCAST MEDIA RATES.

    Section 315(b) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 315(b)) 
is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``if the communication 
        or advertisement is 1 minute or longer and contains a clearly 
        identifiable photographic or similar image of the candidate 
        during at least 75 percent of the broadcast time'' after ``for 
        the same period''; and
            (2) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``and for communications 
        other than those described in paragraph (1)'' after ``at any 
        other time''.

               TITLE III--INCREASE IN VOTER PARTICIPATION

SEC. 301. CREDIT FOR CONTRIBUTIONS TO CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATES.

    (a) General Rule.--Subpart A of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 
1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to nonrefundable 
personal credits) is amended by inserting after section 23 the 
following new section:

``SEC. 24. CONTRIBUTIONS TO CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATES.

    ``(a) General Rule.--In the case of an individual, there shall be 
allowed as a credit against the tax imposed by this chapter for the 
taxable year an amount equal to the total of contributions to 
candidates for the office of Senator or Representative in, or Delegate 
or Resident Commissioner to, the Congress.
    ``(b) Limitations.--
            ``(1) Maximum credit.--The credit allowed by subsection (a) 
        for a taxable year shall not exceed $100 ($200 in the case of a 
        joint return under section 6013).
            ``(2) Verification.--The credit allowed by subsection (a) 
        shall be allowed, with respect to any contribution, only if 
        such contribution is verified in such manner as the Secretary 
        shall prescribe by regulations.
    ``(c) Definition.--For purposes of this section, the term 
`contribution' has the meaning given that term in section 301 of the 
Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971.''
    (b) Conforming Amendments.--
            (1) Section 642 of such Code (relating to special rules for 
        credits and deductions of estates or trusts) is amended by 
        adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(j) Credit for Certain Contributions Not Allowed.--An estate or 
trust shall not be allowed the credit against tax provided by section 
24.''
            (2) The table of sections for subpart A of part IV of 
        subchapter A of chapter 1 of such Code is amended by inserting 
        after the item relating to section 23 the following new item:

                              ``Sec. 24. Contributions to congressional 
                                        candidates.''
    (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall 
apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 1996.

SEC. 302. STUDY ON VOTER PARTICIPATION IN FEDERAL ELECTIONS.

    (a) In General.--The Federal Election Commission shall conduct a 
study (or arrange for a study to be conducted) of current voter 
participation and methods to increase voter participation in Federal 
elections.
    (b) Issues Studied.--The issues to be studied shall include--
            (1) the efficacy of current efforts to increase voter 
        participation, including extended polling place hours, early 
        polling place hours, and mail-in ballot elections;
            (2) a review of election laws of other countries and an 
        analysis of why those voter participation rates differ from the 
        United States; and
            (3) proposals for methods to increase voter participation 
        in Federal elections.
    (c) Report.--
            (1) Contents.--The Federal Election Commission shall 
        prepare a report containing the findings and conclusions of the 
        study and recommendations for methods to increase voter 
        participation in Federal elections.
            (2) Submission of report.--Not later than 1 year after the 
        date of enactment of this Act, the report shall be submitted to 
        the Committee on Appropriations and the Committee on Rules of 
        the Senate and the Committee on Appropriations and the 
        Committee on House Oversight of the House of Representatives.
    (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated $150,000 to carry out the provisions of this section.
                                 <all>