110 HR 2967 IH: Campaign Taxpayer Reimbursement Act of U.S. House of Representatives 2007-07-10 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I 110th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2967 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES July 10, 2007 Mr. Marshall introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on House Administration, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To prohibit the use of Federal funds in support of any travel undertaken by the President, Vice President, or certain other executive branch officials which includes the attendance by the official at any political campaign or fundraising event unless the sponsor of the event reimburses the Federal government for the actual costs incurred in support of the travel, and for other purposes.

1.

Short Title

This Act may be cited as the Campaign Taxpayer Reimbursement Act of 2007.

2.

Prohibiting use of Federal funds in support of travel which includes political campaign or fundraising events

(a)

Prohibition

No funds of the Federal government may be used to carry out or support any travel undertaken by a covered executive branch official away from the official’s designated post of duty if at any time while the official is away from the official’s designated post of duty the official attends any political campaign event or any political fundraising event, unless the office of the official is reimbursed for the actual costs incurred by the Federal government in carrying out or supporting such travel (subject to subsection (b)) by— (1)the principal campaign committee of the candidate, in the case of an event held in support of a candidate; or (2)the political committee involved, in the case of an event held in support of a political committee of a political party. (b)

Special Rules for Presidential and Vice Presidential Travel

In the case of travel undertaken by the President or the Vice President, the amount of the reimbursement required to be made under subsection (a) shall be subject to the following: (1)In the case of travel undertaken by the President or the Vice President which includes a political campaign event in support of the President’s or Vice President’s own campaign— (A)the amount of the reimbursement required to be made for the costs of using an aircraft or other form of transportation may not exceed the commercial charter rate for an airplane or other form of transportation sufficient in size to accommodate the campaign-related travelers, including the President or the Vice President, members of the news media, and the Secret Service (taking into account any reimbursement paid by members of the news media); and (B)any costs attributable to the provision of services by the Secret Service shall be excluded. (2)In the case of travel undertaken by the President or the Vice President for a political campaign event or a political fundraising event on behalf of more than one sponsor, candidate, or political party, the amount required to be reimbursed shall be allocated among the sponsors, candidates, or political parties involved in accordance with a formula established under regulations promulgated by the Federal Election Commission which are consistent with the requirements regarding the reimbursement rate described in paragraph (1). (c)

Exception for Personal Compensation

Subsection (a) does not apply with respect to amounts paid as salary to a covered executive branch official. (d)

Application to Certain Travel by Members of House of Representatives

This section shall apply with respect to funds used to carry out or support travel undertaken by a Member of the House of Representatives (including a Delegate or Resident Commissioner to the Congress) in the same manner as it applies to a covered legislative branch official, other than funds in any Member's Representational Allowance. Nothing in the previous sentence may be construed to waive or otherwise affect any provision of law or any rule or regulation of the House of Representatives which prohibits the use of official funds of the House to support any purposes not related to the official and representational duties of a Member of the House. (e)

Definitions

In this section, the following definitions apply: (1)The term covered executive branch official means— (A)the President, the Vice President, and any other individual whose official travel expenses may be paid using funds under chapter 2 of title 3, United States Code; and (B)the head of any executive agency (as defined in section 105 of title 5, United States Code). (2)The term designated post of duty has the meaning given such term under chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, except that in the case of a covered executive branch official described in paragraph (1)(A), such term means the White House. (3)The term political campaign event means, with respect to a covered executive branch official, an event held in support of a candidate for election for any Federal, State, or local public office or any national, State, or local political party at which the official endorses or supports (or could reasonably be determined to endorse or support) such a candidate or political party. (4)The term political committee has the meaning given such term in the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 431 et seq.). (5)The term political fundraising event means any event during which funds are raised to support any candidate for election for any Federal, State, or local public office or any national, State, or local political party, including an event at which a donation of funds to support any such candidate or party is required in order to attend. (6)The term principal campaign committee has the meaning given such term in the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 431 et seq.), except that in the case of a candidate for election for State or local public office, the determination of the principal campaign committee shall be made in accordance with the applicable law of the State involved.

3.

Requiring Reimbursement by Campaigns

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

325.

Requiring Reimbursement of Certain State and Local Government Security Costs

(a)

Requiring Reimbursement

If a State or unit of local government incurs costs for providing security and related services as the result of the attendance by a covered executive branch official at a political campaign event or a political fundraising event, the actual costs incurred in providing such services shall be reimbursed— (1)in the case of an event held in support of a candidate, by the principal campaign committee of the candidate; and (2)in the case of an event held in support of a political committee of a political party, by the committee involved. (b)

Exception for Certain Presidential and Vice Presidential Events

Subsection (a) shall not apply with respect to costs which are incurred as the result of the attendance of the President or Vice President at a political campaign event held in support of the President’s or Vice President’s own campaign. (c)

Definitions

In this section, the terms covered executive branch official, political campaign event, and political fundraising event have the meaning given such terms in section 2(e) of the Campaign Taxpayer Reimbursement Act of 2007.

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4.

Effective Date

This Act and the amendments made by this Act shall apply with respect to travel undertaken on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.