[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4037 Introduced in House (IH)]







106th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 4037

   To amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to improve the 
      efficiency of the Federal Election Commission, to authorize 
 appropriations for the Commission for fiscal year 2001, and for other 
                               purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 21, 2000

     Mr. Hoyer (for himself, Mr. Fattah, and Mr. Davis of Florida) 
 introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 
                          House Administration

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to improve the 
      efficiency of the Federal Election Commission, to authorize 
 appropriations for the Commission for fiscal year 2001, 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; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``FEC Reform and 
Authorization Act of 2000''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. References in act.
         TITLE I--PROMOTING DISCLOSURE OF CAMPAIGN INFORMATION

Sec. 101. Disclosure of transfers of funds by national political 
                            parties.
Sec. 102. Disclosure of non-Federal receipts and disbursements of 
                            national political parties.
Sec. 103. Granting Commission authority to waive reporting requirements 
                            or modify deadlines.
Sec. 104. Prohibiting fraudulent misrepresentation in solicitation of 
                            contributions.
Sec. 105. Regulation of contributions and expenditures of draft 
                            committees.
Sec. 106. Permitting principal campaign committees to file reports on 
                            monthly basis.
Sec. 107. Uniform 15-day deadline for semiannual, year-end, and monthly 
                            reports.
Sec. 108. Clarification of permissible use of facsimile machines and 
                            electronic mail to file reports.
Sec. 109. Requiring actual receipt of certain independent expenditure 
                            reports within 24 hours.
Sec. 110. Requiring monthly filing for certain multicandidate political 
                            action committees.
Sec. 111. 24-hour reporting of all contributions made within 20 days of 
                            election.
Sec. 112. Including report on cumulative contributions and expenditures 
                            in post election reports.
Sec. 113. Clarification of election cycle reporting of certain 
                            expenditures.
                TITLE II--CONTRIBUTIONS AND EXPENDITURES

Sec. 201. Application of aggregate contribution limit on calendar year 
                            basis during non-election years.
Sec. 202. Extension of ban on foreign contributions to all campaign-
                            related disbursements; protecting equal 
                            participation of eligible voters.
Sec. 203. Treatment of lines of credit obtained by candidates as 
                            commercially reasonable loans.
Sec. 204. Broader prohibition against force and reprisals.
Sec. 205. Repeal Secretary of Commerce reports on district-specific 
                            population.
Sec. 206. Technical correction regarding treatment of honoraria.
Sec. 207. Banning acceptance of cash contributions greater than $100.
       TITLE III--PROMOTING ENFORCEMENT OF CAMPAIGN FINANCE LAWS

Sec. 301. Authorization of FEC to issue immunity orders.
Sec. 302. Making alternative procedures permanent for imposition of 
                            penalties for reporting violations.
Sec. 303. Extension of post-election period for audits for cause.
Sec. 304. Standard for initiation of actions.
Sec. 305. Signature authority of members of Commission for subpoenas 
                            and reason-to-believe notification.
Sec. 306. Stronger disclaimer language for complaints.
Sec. 307. Authority to seek injunction.
Sec. 308. Permitting referral to Attorney General at any stage of 
                            enforcement process.
     TITLE IV--PUBLIC FINANCING OF PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION CAMPAIGNS

Sec. 401. Eligibility threshold for primary matching funds.
Sec. 402. Elimination of State-specific expenditure limits for primary 
                            candidates.
Sec. 403. Elimination of separate limit on expenditures for fundraising 
                            for primary candidates.
Sec. 404. Eligibility requirements for public financing.
Sec. 405. Deposit of repayments into presidential election campaign 
                            fund.
Sec. 406. Banning contributions to presidential candidates certified to 
                            receive public financing.
                TITLE V--OTHER MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

Sec. 501. Authorization of appropriations for Federal Election 
                            Commission.
Sec. 502. Requiring FEC to update national voting systems standards.
Sec. 503. Abolition of ex officio membership of Clerk of House of 
                            Representatives and Secretary of Senate on 
                            Commission.
                        TITLE VI--EFFECTIVE DATE

Sec. 601. Effective date.

SEC. 2. REFERENCES IN ACT.

    Except as otherwise specifically provided, whenever in this Act an 
amendment is expressed in terms of an amendment to or repeal of a 
section or other provision, the reference shall be considered to be 
made to that section or other provision of the Federal Election 
Campaign Act of 1971 .

         TITLE I--PROMOTING DISCLOSURE OF CAMPAIGN INFORMATION

SEC. 101. DISCLOSURE OF TRANSFERS OF FUNDS BY NATIONAL POLITICAL 
              PARTIES.

    Section 304(b)(4) (2 U.S.C. 434(b)(4)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``and'' at the end of subparagraph (H);
            (2) by adding ``and'' at the end of subparagraph (I); and
            (3) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
                    ``(J) in the case of a political committee of a 
                national political party, all funds transferred to any 
                political committee of a State or local political 
                party, without regard to whether or not the funds are 
                otherwise treated as contributions or expenditures 
                under this title;''.

SEC. 102. DISCLOSURE OF NON-FEDERAL RECEIPTS AND DISBURSEMENTS OF 
              NATIONAL POLITICAL PARTIES.

    Section 304 (2 U.S.C. 434) is amended by adding at the end the 
following new subsection:
    ``(d)(1) In addition to the information required to be included 
under subsection (b), in the case of a political committee of a 
national political party, each report filed under this section shall 
include the following information with respect to the reporting period 
and the calendar year:
            ``(A) Each person who donates funds in an aggregate amount 
        or value in excess of $200 during the calendar year to any of 
        the committee's non-Federal accounts or to the committee's 
        building fund, together with the date of receipt by the 
        committee and the name, mailing address, and occupation or type 
        of business of the donor.
            ``(B) Each person to whom the committee makes a 
        disbursement of funds in an aggregate amount or value in excess 
        of $200 during the calendar year from any of the committee's 
        non-Federal accounts or from the committee's building fund, 
        together with the date of disbursement by the committee and the 
        name, mailing address, and occupation or type of business of 
        the recipient.
    ``(2) The Commission shall ensure that any electronic database 
maintained by the Commission which contains information on the receipts 
and disbursements of a political committee of a national political 
party permits the users of such database to find information on 
receipts and disbursements of both the Federal and non-Federal accounts 
of such committee.''.

SEC. 103. GRANTING COMMISSION AUTHORITY TO WAIVE REPORTING REQUIREMENTS 
              OR MODIFY DEADLINES.

    Section 304 (2 U.S.C. 434), as amended by section 102, is further 
amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(e) The Commission may relieve any person or category of persons 
of the obligation to file any of the reports required by this section, 
or may change the due dates of any of the reports required by this 
section, if it determines that such action is consistent with the 
purposes of this title. During each calendar quarter, the Commission 
shall publish a list of each waiver granted under this subsection 
during the previous quarter.''.

SEC. 104. PROHIBITING FRAUDULENT MISREPRESENTATION IN SOLICITATION OF 
              CONTRIBUTIONS.

    Section 322 (2 U.S.C. 441h) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``No person'' and inserting ``(a) No 
        person''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(b) No person may--
            ``(1) fraudulently misrepresent himself or herself or any 
        entity under the person's control as soliciting contributions 
        for or on behalf of any candidate or political party; or
            ``(2) knowingly and willfully participate in or conspire to 
        participate in any plan, scheme, or design to violate paragraph 
        (1).''.

SEC. 105. REGULATION OF CONTRIBUTIONS AND EXPENDITURES OF DRAFT 
              COMMITTEES.

    (a) In General.--
            (1) Treatment as contributions.--Section 301(8)(A) (2 
        U.S.C. 431(8)(A)) is amended--
                    (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 new clause:
            ``(iii) any gift, subscription, loan, advance, or deposit 
        of money or anything of value made by any person for the 
        purpose of influencing any clearly identified individual to 
        seek nomination or election to Federal office.''.
            (2) Treatment as expenditures.--Section 301(9)(A) (2 U.S.C. 
        431(9)(A)) is amended--
                    (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 new clause:
            ``(iii) any purchase, payment, distribution, loan, advance, 
        deposit, or gift of money or anything of value made by any 
        person for the purpose of influencing any clearly identified 
        individual to seek nomination or election to Federal office.''.
    (b) Application to Corporations and Labor Organizations.--Section 
316(b)(2) (2 U.S.C. 441b(b)(2)) is amended in the matter preceding 
subparagraph (A) by inserting after ``in this section,'' the following: 
``and shall include any contribution described in section 
301(8)(A)(iii) and any expenditure described in section 
301(9)(A)(iii),''.

SEC. 106. PERMITTING PRINCIPAL CAMPAIGN COMMITTEES TO FILE REPORTS ON 
              MONTHLY BASIS.

    Section 304(a) (2 U.S.C. 434(a)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (2), by striking ``If'' and inserting 
        ``Except as provided in paragraph (12), if''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
    ``(12)(A) A political committee which is the principal campaign 
committee of a candidate for the House of Representatives or for the 
Senate may file monthly reports in accordance with this paragraph in 
lieu of the reports required to be filed under paragraph (2), except 
that--
            ``(i) in addition to such monthly reports, the committee 
        shall file a pre-election report in accordance with paragraph 
        (2)(A)(i) with respect to any primary election in which the 
        candidate participates, except that in the case of a primary 
        election occurring during the first 20 days of a month, the 
        Commission may waive the requirement to file such pre-election 
        report or the requirement to file the report otherwise due 
        under this paragraph during the month, or may revise the 
        deadlines otherwise applicable for submitting such reports; and
            ``(ii) in lieu of filing the reports otherwise due under 
        this paragraph in November and December of any year in which a 
        regularly scheduled general election is held, a pre-general 
        election report shall be filed in accordance with paragraph 
        (2)(A)(i), a post-general election report shall be filed in 
        accordance with paragraph (2)(A)(ii), and a year end report 
        shall be filed no later than January 31 of the following 
        calendar year.
    ``(B) Monthly reports under this paragraph shall be filed by the 
treasurer of the committee 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.''.

SEC. 107. UNIFORM 15-DAY DEADLINE FOR SEMIANNUAL, YEAR-END, AND MONTHLY 
              REPORTS.

    (a) Semiannual Reports.--Section 304(a) (2 U.S.C. 434(a)) is 
amended--
            (1) in paragraphs (2)(B)(i) and (4)(B)(iv), by striking 
        ``July 31'' and inserting ``July 15''; and
            (2) in paragraphs (2)(B)(ii) and (4)(B)(iv), by striking 
        ``January 31'' and inserting ``January 15''.
    (b) Year-End Reports.--
            (1) Final quarter report for committees reporting 
        quarterly.--Section 304(a) (2 U.S.C. 434(a)) is amended in 
        paragraphs (2)(A)(iii) and (4)(A)(i), by striking ``: except 
        that'' and all that follows through ``year''.
            (2) Reports of other committees.--Section 304(a) (2 U.S.C. 
        434(a)) is amended in paragraphs (3)(A)(i), (4)(B), and (12)(B) 
        by striking ``January 31'' and inserting ``January 15''.
    (c) Monthly Reports.--Section 304(a) (2 U.S.C. 434(a)) is amended 
in paragraphs (3)(A)(i), (3)(B)(i), (4)(B), and (12)(B) by striking 
``20th day'' and inserting ``15th day''.

SEC. 108. CLARIFICATION OF PERMISSIBLE USE OF FACSIMILE MACHINES AND 
              ELECTRONIC MAIL TO FILE REPORTS.

    Section 304(a)(11)(A)(i) (2 U.S.C. 434(a)(11)(A)(i)), as amended by 
section 639(a) of the Treasury and General Government Appropriations 
Act, 2000 (Public Law 106-58), is amended by inserting after 
``computers'' the following: ``(including by facsimile device or 
electronic mail in the case of any report required to be filed within 
24 hours after the transaction reported has occurred)''.

SEC. 109. REQUIRING ACTUAL RECEIPT OF CERTAIN INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURE 
              REPORTS WITHIN 24 HOURS.

    (a) In General.--Section 304(c)(2) (2 U.S.C. 434(c)(2)) is amended 
in the matter following subparagraph (C)--
            (1) by striking ``shall be reported'' and inserting ``shall 
        be filed''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following new sentence: 
        ``Notwithstanding subsection (a)(5), the time at which the 
        statement under this subsection is received by the Secretary, 
        the Commission, or any other recipient to whom the notification 
        is required to be sent shall be considered the time of filing 
        of the statement with the recipient.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 304(a)(5) (2 U.S.C. 434(a)(5)) 
is amended by striking ``or (4)(A)(ii)'' and inserting ``or (4)(A)(ii), 
or the second sentence of subsection (c)(2)''.

SEC. 110. REQUIRING MONTHLY FILING FOR CERTAIN MULTICANDIDATE POLITICAL 
              ACTION COMMITTEES.

    (a) In General.--Section 304(a)(3) (2 U.S.C. 434(a)(3)) is 
amended--
            (1) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking 
        ``President--'' and inserting ``President or is a 
        multicandidate political committee described in section 
        315(a)(4)--'';
            (2) by striking ``and'' at the end of subparagraph (A);
            (3) in subparagraph (B) in the matter preceding clause (i), 
        by striking ``calendar year,'' and inserting ``calendar year in 
        the case of a committee which is the principal campaign 
        committee of a candidate for the office of President,'';
            (4) by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (B) 
        and inserting ``; and'';
            (5) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
            ``(C) in any other calendar year in the case of a 
        multicandidate political committee described in section 
        315(a)(4), the treasurer shall file reports in accordance with 
        paragraph (4).''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 304(a)(4) (2 U.S.C. 434(a)(4)) 
is amended in the matter preceding subparagraph (A) by striking ``All 
political committees'' and inserting ``Except as otherwise provided in 
this subsection, all political committees''.

SEC. 111. 24-HOUR REPORTING OF ALL CONTRIBUTIONS MADE WITHIN 20 DAYS OF 
              ELECTION.

    Section 304(a)(6)(A) (2 U.S.C. 434(a)(6)(A)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``after the 20th day, but more than 48 
        hours before any election'' and inserting ``during the period 
        which begins on the 20th day before an election and ends at the 
        time the polls close for such election''; and
            (2) by striking ``48 hours'' the second place it appears 
        and inserting the following: ``24 hours (or, if earlier, by 
        midnight of the day on which the contribution is deposited)''.

SEC. 112. INCLUDING REPORT ON CUMULATIVE CONTRIBUTIONS AND EXPENDITURES 
              IN POST ELECTION REPORTS.

    Section 304(a)(7) (2 U.S.C. 434(a)(7)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``(7)'' and inserting ``(7)(A)''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
    ``(B) In the case of any report required to be filed by this 
subsection which is the first report required to be filed after the 
date of an election, the report shall include a statement of the total 
contributions received and expenditures made as of the date of the 
election.''.

SEC. 113. CLARIFICATION OF ELECTION CYCLE REPORTING OF CERTAIN 
              EXPENDITURES.

    (a) In General.--Section 304(b) (2 U.S.C. 434(b)), as amended by 
section 641(a) of the Treasury and General Government Appropriations 
Act, 2000 (Public Law 106-58), is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (5)(A), by inserting after ``calendar 
        year'' the following: ``(or election cycle, in the case of an 
        authorized committee of a candidate for Federal office)'';
            (2) in paragraph (6)(A), by striking ``calendar year (or 
        election cycle, in the case of an authorized committee of a 
        candidate for Federal office)'' and inserting ``election 
        cycle''; and
            (3) in paragraphs (6)(B)(iii) and (6)(B)(v), by striking 
        ``(or election cycle, in the case of an authorized committee of 
        a candidate for Federal office)'' each place it appears.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) shall 
apply with respect to reporting periods beginning after December 31, 
2000.

                TITLE II--CONTRIBUTIONS AND EXPENDITURES

SEC. 201. APPLICATION OF AGGREGATE CONTRIBUTION LIMIT ON CALENDAR YEAR 
              BASIS DURING NON-ELECTION YEARS.

    Section 315(a)(3) (2 U.S.C. 441a(a)(3)) is amended by striking the 
second sentence.

SEC. 202. EXTENSION OF BAN ON FOREIGN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ALL CAMPAIGN-
              RELATED DISBURSEMENTS; PROTECTING EQUAL PARTICIPATION OF 
              ELIGIBLE VOTERS.

    (a) Prohibition on Disbursements by Foreign Nationals.--Section 319 
(2 U.S.C. 441e) is amended--
            (1) in the heading, by striking ``contributions'' and 
        inserting ``donations and other disbursements'';
            (2) in subsection (a), by striking ``contribution'' each 
        place it appears and inserting ``donation or other 
        disbursement''; and
            (3) in subsection (a), by striking the semicolon and 
        inserting the following: ``, including any donation or other 
        disbursement to a political committee of a political party and 
        any donation or other disbursement for an independent 
        expenditure;''.
    (b) Codification of Regulations Prohibiting Use of Foreign Funds by 
Multicandidate Political Committees; Protecting Equal Participation of 
Eligible Voters in Campaigns and Elections.--Section 319 (2 U.S.C. 
441e) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating subsection (b) as subsection (d); and
            (2) by inserting after subsection (a) the following new 
        subsections:
    ``(b) It shall be unlawful for any person organized under or 
created by the laws of the United States or of any State or other place 
subject to the jurisdiction of the United States to make any donation 
or other disbursement to any candidate for political office in 
connection with an election for any political office, or to make any 
donation or other disbursement to any political committee or to any 
organization or account created or controlled by any United States 
political party, unless such donation or disbursement is derived solely 
from funds generated from such person's own business activities in the 
United States.
    ``(c) Nothing in this Act may be construed to prohibit any 
individual eligible to vote in an election for Federal office from 
making contributions or expenditures in support of a candidate for such 
an election (including voluntary contributions or expenditures made 
through a separate segregated fund established by the individual's 
employer or labor organization) or otherwise participating in any 
campaign for such an election in the same manner and to the same extent 
as any other individual eligible to vote in an election for such 
office.''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall 
apply with respect to contributions, donations, and other disbursements 
made on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.

SEC. 203. TREATMENT OF LINES OF CREDIT OBTAINED BY CANDIDATES AS 
              COMMERCIALLY REASONABLE LOANS.

    Section 301(8)(B) (2 U.S.C. 431(8)(B)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``and'' at the end of clause (xiii);
            (2) by striking the period at the end of clause (xiv) and 
        inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following new clause:
            ``(xv) any loan of money derived from an advance on a 
        candidate's brokerage account, credit card, home equity line of 
        credit, or other line of credit available to the candidate, if 
        such loan is made in accordance with applicable law and under 
        commercially reasonable terms and if the person making such 
        loan makes loans in the normal course of the person's 
        business.''.

SEC. 204. BROADER PROHIBITION AGAINST FORCE AND REPRISALS.

    Section 316(b)(3) (2 U.S.C. 441b(b)(3)) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) through (C) as 
        subparagraphs (B) through (D); and
            (2) by inserting before subparagraph (B) (as so 
        redesignated) the following new subparagraph:
            ``(A) for such a fund to cause another person to make a 
        contribution or expenditure by physical force, job 
        discrimination, financial reprisals, or the threat of force, 
        job discrimination, or financial reprisal;''.

SEC. 205. REPEAL SECRETARY OF COMMERCE REPORTS ON DISTRICT-SPECIFIC 
              POPULATION.

    (a) Repeal Report by Secretary of Commerce on District-Specific 
Voting Age Population.--Section 315(e) (2 U.S.C. 441a(e)) is amended by 
striking ``States, of each State, and of each congressional district'' 
and inserting ``States and of each State''.
    (b) Deadline for Reporting of Certain Annual Estimates to 
Commission.--
            (1) Price index.--Section 315(c)(1) (2 U.S.C. 441a(c)(1)) 
        is amended--
                    (A) by striking ``At the beginning'' and inserting 
                ``Not later than February 15''; and
                    (B) by striking ``as there become available 
                necessary data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics of 
                the Department of Labor,''.
            (2) Voting age population.--Section 315(e) (2 U.S.C. 
        441a(e)) is amended by striking ``During the first week of 
        January 1975, and every subsequent year,'' and inserting ``Not 
        later than February 15 of 1975 and each subsequent year,''.

SEC. 206. TECHNICAL CORRECTION REGARDING TREATMENT OF HONORARIA.

    Section 301(8)(B) (2 U.S.C. 431(8)(B)), as amended by section 203, 
is further amended--
            (1) by adding ``and'' at the end of clause (xiii);
            (2) by striking clause (xiv); and
            (3) by redesignating clause (xv) as clause (xiv).

SEC. 207. BANNING ACCEPTANCE OF CASH CONTRIBUTIONS GREATER THAN $100.

    Section 315 (2 U.S.C. 441a) is amended by adding at the end the 
following new subsection:
    ``(i) No candidate or political committee may accept any 
contributions of currency of the United States or currency of any 
foreign country from any person which, in the aggregate, exceed 
$100.''.

       TITLE III--PROMOTING ENFORCEMENT OF CAMPAIGN FINANCE LAWS

SEC. 301. AUTHORIZATION OF FEC TO ISSUE IMMUNITY ORDERS.

    Section 6001(1) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by 
inserting ``the Federal Election Commission,'' after ``the Federal 
Deposit Insurance Corporation,''.

SEC. 302. MAKING ALTERNATIVE PROCEDURES PERMANENT FOR IMPOSITION OF 
              PENALTIES FOR REPORTING VIOLATIONS.

    (a) In General.--Section 640(c) of the Treasury and General 
Government Appropriations Act, 2000 (Public Law 106-58), is amended by 
striking ``between January 1, 2000 and December 31, 2001'' and 
inserting ``on or after January 1, 2000''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall 
take effect as if included in the enactment of the Treasury and General 
Government Appropriations Act, 2000.

SEC. 303. EXTENSION OF POST-ELECTION PERIOD FOR AUDITS FOR CAUSE.

    The sixth sentence of section 311(b) (2 U.S.C. 438(b)) is amended 
by striking ``6 months'' and inserting ``12 months''.

SEC. 304. STANDARD FOR INITIATION OF ACTIONS.

    (a) In General.--Section 309(a)(2) (2 U.S.C. 437g(a)(2)) is amended 
by striking ``it has reason to believe'' and all that follows through 
``of 1954,'' and inserting the following: ``it has a reason to seek 
additional information regarding a possible violation of this Act or of 
chapter 95 or chapter 96 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 that has 
occurred or is about to occur (based on the same criteria applicable 
under this paragraph prior to the enactment of the FEC Reform and 
Reauthorization Act of 2000),''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall 
apply with respect to complaints filed on or after January 1, 2001.

SEC. 305. SIGNATURE AUTHORITY OF MEMBERS OF COMMISSION FOR SUBPOENAS 
              AND REASON-TO-BELIEVE NOTIFICATION.

    (a) Issuance of Subpoenas.--Section 307(a)(3) (2 U.S.C. 437d(a)(3)) 
is amended by striking ``signed by the chairman or the vice chairman'' 
and inserting ``signed by any member of the Commission''.
    (b) Notifications of Alleged Violation.--Section 309(a)(2) (2 
U.S.C. 437g(a)(2)) is amended by striking ``through its chairman or 
vice chairman'' and inserting ``through any of its members''.

SEC. 306. STRONGER DISCLAIMER LANGUAGE FOR COMPLAINTS.

    Section 309(a)(1) (2 U.S.C. 437g(a)(1)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``(a)(1)'' and inserting ``(a)(1)(A)''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
    ``(B) The written notice of a complaint provided by the Commission 
under subparagraph (A) to a person alleged to have committed a 
violation referred to in the complaint shall include a cover letter (in 
a form prescribed by the Commission) and the following statement: `The 
enclosed complaint has been filed against you with the Federal Election 
Commission. The Commission has simply received this complaint and will 
make no decision to pursue or dismiss the complaint for a period of at 
least 15 days from your receipt of this complaint. You may, if you 
wish, submit a written statement to the Commission explaining why the 
Commission should take no action against you based on this complaint. 
If the Commission should decide to seek additional information, you 
will be notified and be given further opportunity to respond.'''.

SEC. 307. AUTHORITY TO SEEK INJUNCTION.

    (a) In General.--Section 309(a) (2 U.S.C. 437g(a)) is amended by 
adding at the end the following new paragraph:
    ``(13) Authority to seek injunction.--
            ``(A) In general.--At any time in a proceeding described in 
        paragraph (1), (2), (3), or (4), the Commission may initiate a 
        civil action for a temporary restraining order or preliminary 
        injunction pending the outcome of such proceeding if 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;
            ``(B) Venue.--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.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendments.--Section 309(a) (2 U.S.C. 437g(a)) is 
amended--
            (1) in paragraph (7), by striking ``(5) or (6)'' and 
        inserting ``(5), (6), or (13)''; and
            (2) in paragraph (11), by striking ``(6)'' and inserting 
        ``(6) or (13)''.

SEC. 308. PERMITTING REFERRAL TO ATTORNEY GENERAL AT ANY STAGE OF 
              ENFORCEMENT PROCESS.

    Section 309(a)(5) (2 U.S.C. 437g(a)(5)) is amended by striking 
subparagraph (C) and inserting the following:
    ``(C) The Commission may at any time, by an affirmative vote of at 
least 4 of its members, refer a possible violation of this Act or 
chapter 95 or 96 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, to the Attorney 
General of the United States, without regard to any limitation set 
forth in this section.''.

     TITLE IV--PUBLIC FINANCING OF PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION CAMPAIGNS

SEC. 401. ELIGIBILITY THRESHOLD FOR PRIMARY MATCHING FUNDS.

    Section 9033(b)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. 
9033(b)(3)) is amended by striking ``20 States'' and inserting ``30 
States''.

SEC. 402. ELIMINATION OF STATE-SPECIFIC EXPENDITURE LIMITS FOR PRIMARY 
              CANDIDATES.

    Section 315(b)(1)(A) (2 U.S.C. 441a(b)(1)(A)) is amended by 
striking ``, except the aggregate'' and all that follows through 
``$200,000''.

SEC. 403. ELIMINATION OF SEPARATE LIMIT ON EXPENDITURES FOR FUNDRAISING 
              FOR PRIMARY CANDIDATES.

    (a) In General.--Section 301(9)(B)(vi) (2 U.S.C. 431(9)(B)(vi)) is 
amended--
            (1) by inserting ``with respect to a general election'' 
        after ``such a candidate''; and
            (2) by striking ``section 315(b)'' and inserting ``section 
        315(b)(1)(B)''.
    (b) Establishment of Unified Expenditure Limitation.--Section 
315(b)(1)(A) (2 U.S.C. 441a(b)(1)(A)) is amended by striking 
``$10,000,000'' and inserting ``$12,000,000''.

SEC. 404. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR PUBLIC FINANCING.

    (a) Eligibility for General Election.--Section 9003 of the Internal 
Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. 9003) is amended by adding at the end 
the following new subsection:
    ``(f) Ineligibility of Certain Candidates.--A candidate shall not 
be eligible to receive payments under section 9006 if--
            ``(1) the candidate has been convicted of willfully 
        violating any provision of this chapter or chapter 96;
            ``(2) the candidate has failed to make any repayment 
        required under section 9007 or section 9038; or
            ``(3) the candidate would not be eligible to serve as 
        President if elected.''.
    (b) Eligibility for Primary Elections.--Section 9033 of such Code 
(26 U.S.C. 9033) is amended by adding at the end the following new 
subsection:
    ``(d) Ineligibility of Certain Candidates.--A candidate shall not 
be eligible to receive payments under section 9037 if--
            ``(1) the candidate has been convicted of willfully 
        violating any provision of this chapter or chapter 95;
            ``(2) the candidate has failed to make any repayment 
        required under section 9007 or section 9038; or
            ``(3) the candidate would not be eligible to serve as 
        President if elected.''.

SEC. 405. DEPOSIT OF REPAYMENTS INTO PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN 
              FUND.

    Section 9007(d) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. 
9007(d)) is amended by striking ``in the general fund of the Treasury'' 
and inserting ``in the fund''.

SEC. 406. BANNING CONTRIBUTIONS TO PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES CERTIFIED TO 
              RECEIVE PUBLIC FINANCING.

    Section 315 (2 U.S.C. 441a), as amended by section 207, is further 
amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(j) Except to the extent permitted under sections 9003(b)(2) and 
9003(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, no person may make any 
contribution to a candidate for election for President who is eligible 
to receive benefits with respect to such election under chapter 95 of 
such Code by making a certification described in section 9003(b) and 
section 9003(c) of such Code.''.

                TITLE V--OTHER MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

SEC. 501. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR FEDERAL ELECTION 
              COMMISSION.

    The second sentence of section 314 (2 U.S.C. 439c) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``and'' after ``1978''; and
            (2) by striking the period at the end and inserting the 
        following: ``, and $40,960,000 for the fiscal year ending 
        September 30, 2001.''.

SEC. 502. REQUIRING FEC TO UPDATE NATIONAL VOTING SYSTEMS STANDARDS.

    Upon the request of the National Voting System Board, the Federal 
Election Commission shall (directly or by contract) update the current 
national voting systems standards and conduct ongoing analyses of the 
technological advances to the equipment, and shall publish the updated 
standards for such equipment.

SEC. 503. ABOLITION OF EX OFFICIO MEMBERSHIP OF CLERK OF HOUSE OF 
              REPRESENTATIVES AND SECRETARY OF SENATE ON COMMISSION.

    Section 306(a) (2 U.S.C. 437c(a)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``the Secretary of the 
        Senate and the Clerk'' and all that follows through ``right to 
        vote, and''; and
            (2) in paragraphs (3), (4), and (5), by striking ``(other 
        than the Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the House of 
        Representatives)'' each place it appears.

                        TITLE VI--EFFECTIVE DATE

SEC. 601. EFFECTIVE DATE.

    Except as otherwise provided, the amendments made by this Act shall 
apply with respect to elections occurring after January 2001.

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