[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6448 Introduced in House (IH)]

112th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 6448

  To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to reform the system of 
 public financing for Presidential elections, to establish a system of 
public financing for Congressional elections, to promote the disclosure 
 of disbursements made in coordination with campaigns for election for 
                Federal office, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 20, 2012

 Mr. Price of North Carolina (for himself, Mr. Van Hollen, Mr. Jones, 
 Mr. Larson of Connecticut, Mr. Brady of Pennsylvania, Ms. Eshoo, and 
Mr. Sarbanes) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committee on 
   Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the 
  Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall 
           within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to reform the system of 
 public financing for Presidential elections, to establish a system of 
public financing for Congressional elections, to promote the disclosure 
 of disbursements made in coordination with campaigns for election for 
                Federal office, 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 ``Empowering 
Citizens Act''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
           TITLE I--REFORM OF PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION FINANCING

                     Subtitle A--Primary Elections

Sec. 101. Increase in and modifications to matching payments.
Sec. 102. Eligibility requirements for matching payments.
Sec. 103. Inflation adjustment for matching contributions.
Sec. 104. Repeal of expenditure limitations.
Sec. 105. Period of availability of matching payments.
Sec. 106. Examination and audits of matchable contributions.
Sec. 107. Modification to limitation on contributions for presidential 
                            primary candidates.
                     Subtitle B--General Elections

Sec. 111. Modification of eligibility requirements for public 
                            financing.
Sec. 112. Repeal of expenditure limitations and use of qualified 
                            campaign contributions.
Sec. 113. Matching payments and other modifications to payment amounts.
Sec. 114. Inflation adjustment for payment amounts.
Sec. 115. Increase in limit on coordinated party expenditures.
Sec. 116. Establishment of uniform date for release of payments.
Sec. 117. Amounts in Presidential Election Campaign Fund.
Sec. 118. Use of general election payments for general election legal 
                            and accounting compliance.
                   Subtitle C--Political Conventions

Sec. 121. Repeal of public financing of party conventions.
Sec. 122. Contributions for political conventions.
Sec. 123. Prohibition on use of soft money.
    TITLE II--PUBLIC FINANCING FOR CONGRESSIONAL ELECTION CAMPAIGNS

Sec. 201. Benefits and eligibility requirements for Congressional 
                            candidates.
    ``TITLE V--PUBLIC FINANCING OF CONGRESSIONAL ELECTION CAMPAIGNS

                         ``Subtitle A--Benefits

        ``Sec. 501. Benefits for participating candidates.
        ``Sec. 502. Administration of payments.
        ``Sec. 503. Qualified contribution defined.
              ``Subtitle B--Eligibility and Certification

        ``Sec. 511. Eligibility.
        ``Sec. 512. Qualified contribution requirements.
        ``Sec. 513. Certification.
 ``Subtitle C--Requirements for Candidates Certified as Participating 
                               Candidates

        ``Sec. 521. Restrictions on certain contributions and 
                            expenditures.
        ``Sec. 522. Remitting unspent funds after election.
                ``Subtitle D--Administrative Provisions

        ``Sec. 531. Administration by Commission.
        ``Sec. 532. Violations and penalties.
        ``Sec. 533. Election cycle defined.
Sec. 202. Permitting unlimited coordinated expenditures by political 
                            party committees on behalf of participating 
                            candidates if expenditures are derived from 
                            small dollar contributions.
Sec. 203. Prohibiting use of contributions by participating candidates 
                            for purposes other than campaign for 
                            election.
                TITLE III--COORDINATED CAMPAIGN ACTIVITY

Sec. 301. Clarification of treatment of coordinated expenditures as 
                            contributions to candidates.
Sec. 302. Clarification of ban on fundraising for super PACs by Federal 
                            candidates and officeholders.
    TITLE IV--USE OF PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN FUND FOR PUBLIC 
                     FINANCING OF FEDERAL ELECTIONS

Sec. 401. Use of Presidential Election Campaign Fund for Congressional 
                            candidates.
Sec. 402. Revisions to designation of income tax payments by individual 
                            taxpayers.
Sec. 403. Donation to Presidential Election Campaign Fund.
                TITLE V--OTHER CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORMS

Sec. 501. Regulations with respect to best efforts for identifying 
                            persons making contributions.
Sec. 502. Prohibition on joint fundraising committees.
Sec. 503. Disclosure of bundled contributions to presidential 
                            campaigns.
Sec. 504. Judicial review of actions related to campaign finance laws.
                 TITLE VI--SEVERABILITY; EFFECTIVE DATE

Sec. 601. Severability.
Sec. 602. Effective date.

           TITLE I--REFORM OF PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION FINANCING

                     Subtitle A--Primary Elections

SEC. 101. INCREASE IN AND MODIFICATIONS TO MATCHING PAYMENTS.

    (a) Increase and Modification.--
            (1) In general.--The first sentence of section 9034(a) of 
        the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended--
                    (A) by striking ``an amount equal to the amount of 
                each contribution'' and inserting ``an amount equal to 
                500 percent of the amount of each matchable 
                contribution (disregarding any amount of contributions 
                from any person to the extent that the total of the 
                amounts contributed by such person for the election 
                exceeds $250)''; and
                    (B) by striking ``authorized committees'' and all 
                that follows through ``$250'' and inserting 
                ``authorized committees''.
            (2) Matchable contributions.--Section 9034 of such Code is 
        amended--
                    (A) by striking the last sentence of subsection 
                (a); and
                    (B) by inserting after subsection (b) the following 
                new subsection:
    ``(c) Matchable Contribution Defined.--For purposes of this section 
and section 9033(b)--
            ``(1) Matchable contribution.--The term `matchable 
        contribution' means, with respect to the nomination for 
        election to the office of President of the United States, a 
        contribution by an individual to a candidate or an authorized 
        committee of a candidate with respect to which the candidate 
        has certified in writing that--
                    ``(A) the individual making such contribution has 
                not made aggregate contributions (including such 
                matchable contribution) to such candidate and the 
                authorized committees of such candidate in excess of 
                50% of the limit applicable under paragraph (1)(A) or 
                paragraph (2)(A) of section 315(a) of the Federal 
                Election Campaign Act of 1971 to the amount of a 
                contribution which may be made to a candidate who is 
                not eligible to receive payments under section 9037 
                with respect to such nomination;
                    ``(B) such candidate and the authorized committees 
                of such candidate will not accept contributions from 
                such individual (including such matchable contribution) 
                aggregating more than the amount described in 
                subparagraph (A); and
                    ``(C) such contribution was not--
                            ``(i) forwarded from the contributor from 
                        any person other than an individual, or
                            ``(ii) received by the candidate or 
                        committee from a contributor or contributors, 
                        but credited by the committee or candidate to 
                        another person who is not an individual through 
                        records, designations, or other means of 
                        recognizing that a certain amount of money has 
                        been raised by such person.
            ``(2) Contribution.--For purposes of this subsection, the 
        term `contribution' means a gift of money made by a written 
        instrument which identifies the individual making the 
        contribution by full name and mailing address, but does not 
        include a subscription, loan, advance, or deposit of money, or 
        anything of value or anything described in subparagraph (B), 
        (C), or (D) of section 9032(4).''.
            (3) Conforming amendments.--
                    (A) Section 9032(4) of such Code is amended by 
                striking ``section 9034(a)'' and inserting ``section 
                9034''.
                    (B) Section 9033(b)(3) of such Code is amended by 
                striking ``matching contributions'' and inserting 
                ``matchable contributions''.
    (b) Modification of Payment Limitation.--Section 9034(b) of the 
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking ``shall not 
exceed'' and all that follows and inserting ``shall not exceed 
$100,000,000.''

SEC. 102. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR MATCHING PAYMENTS.

    (a) Amount of Aggregate Contributions Per State; Disregarding of 
Amounts Contributed in Excess of $250.--Section 9033(b)(3) of the 
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended--
            (1) by striking ``$5,000'' and inserting ``$25,000''; and
            (2) by striking ``20 States'' and inserting the following: 
        ``20 States (disregarding any amount of contributions from any 
        such resident to the extent that the total of the amounts 
        contributed by such resident for the election exceeds $250)''.
    (b) Contribution Limit.--
            (1) In general.--Paragraph (4) of section 9033(b) of such 
        Code is amended to read as follows:
            ``(4) the candidate and the authorized committees of the 
        candidate will not accept aggregate contributions from any 
        person with respect to the nomination for election to the 
        office of President of the United States in excess of 50% of 
        the limit applicable under paragraph (1)(A) or paragraph (2)(A) 
        of section 315(a) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 
        to the amount of a contribution which may be made to a 
        candidate who is not eligible to receive payments under section 
        9037 with respect to such nomination.''.
            (2) Conforming amendments.--
                    (A) Section 9033(b) of such Code is amended by 
                adding at the end the following new flush sentence:
``For purposes of paragraph (4), the term `contribution' has the 
meaning given such term in section 301(8) of the Federal Election 
Campaign Act of 1971.''.
                    (B) Section 9032(4) of such Code, as amended by 
                section 101(a)(3)(A) is amended by inserting ``or 
                9033(b)'' after ``9034''.
    (c) Ban on Contributions by Lobbyists and PACs.--Section 9033(b) of 
such Code, as amended by subsection (b), is amended--
            (1) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph (3);
            (2) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (4) and 
        inserting ``, and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
            ``(5) the candidate and the authorized committee of the 
        candidate will not accept--
                    ``(A) any contribution from--
                            ``(i) an individual who is a current 
                        registrant under section 4(a)(1) of the 
                        Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995, or
                            ``(ii) an individual who is listed on a 
                        current registration filed under section 
                        4(b)(6) of such Act or a current report under 
                        section 5(b)(2)(C) of such Act,
                    ``(B) any bundled contribution (as defined in 
                section 304(i)(8)) forwarded by or credited to a person 
                described in section 304(i)(7), and
                    ``(C) any contribution from a political committee 
                other than a political committee of a political 
                party.''.
    (d) Participation in System for Payments for General Election.--
Section 9033(b) of such Code, as amended by subsection (c), is 
amended--
            (1) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph (4);
            (2) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (5) and 
        inserting ``, and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
            ``(6) if the candidate is nominated by a political party 
        for election to the office of President, the candidate will 
        apply for and accept payments with respect to the general 
        election for such office in accordance with chapter 95.''.

SEC. 103. INFLATION ADJUSTMENT FOR MATCHING CONTRIBUTIONS.

    Section 9033 of such Code is amended by adding at the end the 
following new subsection:
    ``(d) Inflation Adjustments.--
            ``(1) In general.--In the case of any applicable period 
        beginning after 2012, each of the dollar amounts in section 
        9034(b) shall be increased by an amount equal to--
                    ``(A) such dollar amount, multiplied by
                    ``(B) the cost-of-living adjustment determined 
                under section 1(f)(3) for the calendar year following 
                the year which such applicable period begins, 
                determined by substituting `calendar year 2012' for 
                `calendar year 1992' in subparagraph (B) thereof.
            ``(2) Applicable period.--For purposes of this subsection, 
        the term `applicable period' means the 4-year period beginning 
        with the first day following the date of the last general 
        election for the office of President and ending on the date of 
        the next such general election.
            ``(3) Rounding.--If any amount as adjusted under paragraph 
        (1) is not a multiple of $100, such amount shall be rounded to 
        the nearest multiple of $100.''.

SEC. 104. REPEAL OF EXPENDITURE LIMITATIONS.

    (a) In General.--Subsection (a) of section 9035 of the Internal 
Revenue Code of 1986 is amended to read as follows:
    ``(a) Personal Expenditure Limitation.--No candidate shall 
knowingly make expenditures from his personal funds, or the personal 
funds of his immediate family, in connection with his campaign for 
nomination for election to the office of President in excess of, in the 
aggregate, $50,000.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--Paragraph (1) of section 9033(b) of the 
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended to read as follows:
            ``(1) the candidate will comply with the personal 
        expenditure limitation under section 9035,''.

SEC. 105. PERIOD OF AVAILABILITY OF MATCHING PAYMENTS.

    Section 9032(6) of such Code is amended by striking ``the beginning 
of the calendar year in which a general election for the office of 
President of the United States will be held'' and inserting ``the date 
that is 6 months prior to the date of the earliest State primary 
election''.

SEC. 106. EXAMINATION AND AUDITS OF MATCHABLE CONTRIBUTIONS.

    Section 9038(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by 
inserting ``and matchable contributions accepted by'' after ``qualified 
campaign expenses of''.

SEC. 107. MODIFICATION TO LIMITATION ON CONTRIBUTIONS FOR PRESIDENTIAL 
              PRIMARY CANDIDATES.

    Section 315(a)(6) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 
U.S.C. 441a(a)(6)) is amended by striking ``calendar year'' and 
inserting ``four-year election cycle''.

                     Subtitle B--General Elections

SEC. 111. MODIFICATION OF ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR PUBLIC 
              FINANCING.

    Section 9003(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended to 
read as follows:
    ``(a) In General.--In order to be eligible to receive any payments 
under section 9006, the candidates of a political party in a 
presidential election shall meet the following requirements:
            ``(1) Participation in primary payment system.--The 
        candidate for President received payments under chapter 96 for 
        the campaign for nomination for election to be President.
            ``(2) Agreements with commission.--The candidates, in 
        writing--
                    ``(A) agree to obtain and furnish to the Commission 
                such evidence as it may request of the qualified 
                campaign expenses of such candidates,
                    ``(B) agree to keep and furnish to the Commission 
                such records, books, and other information as it may 
                request, and
                    ``(C) agree to an audit and examination by the 
                Commission under section 9007 and to pay any amounts 
                required to be paid under such section.
            ``(3) Ban on certain contributions and solicitations.--The 
        candidates certify to the Commission, under penalty of perjury, 
        the following:
                    ``(A) Lobbyists and pacs.--Such candidates and the 
                authorized committees of such candidates will not 
                accept--
                            ``(i) any contribution from--
                                    ``(I) an individual who is a 
                                current registrant under section 
                                4(a)(1) of the Lobbying Disclosure Act 
                                of 1995, or
                                    ``(II) an individual who is listed 
                                on a current registration filed under 
                                section 4(b)(6) of such Act or a 
                                current report under section 5(b)(2)(C) 
                                of such Act,
                            ``(ii) any bundled contribution (as defined 
                        in section 304(i)(8)) forwarded by or credited 
                        to a person described in section 304(i)(7), and
                            ``(iii) any contribution from a political 
                        committee other than a political committee of a 
                        political party.
                    ``(B) Solicitations for joint fundraising 
                committees.--Such candidates and their authorized 
                committees will not, after June 1 of the election year, 
                solicit any funds for any joint fundraising committee 
                that includes any committee of a political party.
                    ``(C) Solicitation for political parties.--Such 
                candidates and their authorized committees will not, 
                after the date described in section 9006(b), solicit 
                any funds for any committee of a political party.
        Such certification shall be made within such time prior to the 
        day of the presidential election as the Commission shall 
        prescribe by rules or regulations.''.

SEC. 112. REPEAL OF EXPENDITURE LIMITATIONS AND USE OF QUALIFIED 
              CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS.

    (a) Major Parties.--Subsection (b) of section 9003 of the Internal 
Revenue Code of 1986 is amended to read as follows:
    ``(b) Major Parties.--In order to be eligible to receive any 
payments under section 9006, the candidates of a major party in a 
presidential election shall certify to the Commission, under penalty of 
perjury, that--
            ``(1) such candidates and their authorized committees have 
        not and will not accept any contributions to defray qualified 
        campaign expenses other than--
                    ``(A) qualified campaign contributions, and
                    ``(B) contributions to the extent necessary to make 
                up any deficiency payments received out of the fund on 
                account of the application of section 9006(c), and
            ``(2) such candidates and their authorized committees have 
        not and will not accept any contribution to defray expenses 
        which would be qualified campaign expenses but for subparagraph 
        (C) of section 9002(11).
Such certification shall be made at the same time as the certification 
required under subsection (a)(3).''.
    (b) Minor and New Parties.--Subsection (c) of section 9003 of the 
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended to read as follows:
    ``(c) Minor and New Parties.--In order to be eligible to receive 
any payments under section 9006, the candidates of a minor or new party 
in a presidential election shall certify to the Commission, under 
penalty of perjury, that such candidates and their authorized 
committees have not and will not accept any contributions to defray 
qualified campaign expenses other than--
            ``(1) qualified campaign contributions, and
            ``(2) contributions other than qualified campaign 
        contributions to the extent to which--
                    ``(A) the aggregate payments to which such 
                candidates would be entitled under section 9004 if such 
                candidates were candidates of a major party, exceed
                    ``(B) the aggregate payments to which such 
                candidates are entitled to under section 9004.
Such certification shall be made at the same time as the certification 
required under subsection (a)(3).''.
    (c) Definition of Qualified Campaign Contributions.--Section 9002 
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end 
the following new paragraph:
            ``(13) Qualified campaign contribution.--The term 
        `qualified campaign contribution' means, with respect to any 
        election for the office of President of the United States, a 
        contribution from an individual to a candidate or an authorized 
        committee of a candidate which--
                    ``(A) is made after June 1 of the year in which the 
                election is held;
                    ``(B) does not exceed 50% of the limit applicable 
                under paragraph (1)(A) or paragraph (2)(A) of section 
                315(a) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to 
                the amount of a contribution which may be made to a 
                candidate who is not eligible to receive payments under 
                section 9006 with respect to such election; and
                    ``(C) with respect to which the candidate has 
                certified in writing that--
                            ``(i) the individual making such 
                        contribution has not made aggregate 
                        contributions (including such qualified 
                        contribution) to such candidate and the 
                        authorized committees of such candidate in 
                        excess of the amount described in subparagraph 
                        (B), and
                            ``(ii) such candidate and the authorized 
                        committees of such candidate will not accept 
                        contributions from such individual (including 
                        such qualified contribution) aggregating more 
                        than the amount described in subparagraph (B) 
                        with respect to such election.''.
    (d) Conforming Amendments.--
            (1) Repeal of expenditure limits.--
                    (A) Section 315 of the Federal Election Campaign 
                Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 441a) is amended by striking 
                subsection (b).
                    (B) Section 315(c) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 441a(c)) 
                is amended--
                            (i) in paragraph (1)(B)(i), by striking ``, 
                        (b)''; and
                            (ii) in paragraph (2)(B)(i), by striking 
                        ``subsections (b) and (d)'' and inserting 
                        ``subsection (d)''.
            (2) Limitation on payments to candidates of minor and new 
        parties.--Paragraph (1) of section 9004(b) of the Internal 
        Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by inserting ``, other than 
        qualified contributions,'' after ``contributions''.
            (3) Repayments.--
                    (A) Section 9007(b) of such Code is amended by 
                striking paragraph (2) and redesignating paragraphs 
                (3), (4), and (5) as paragraphs (2), (3), and (4), 
                respectively.
                    (B) Paragraph (2) of section 9007(b) of such Code, 
                as redesignated by subparagraph (A), is amended by 
                inserting ``qualified contributions and'' after 
                ``contributions (other than''.
            (4) Criminal penalties.--
                    (A) Excess expenses.--Section 9012(a) of the 
                Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking 
                the first sentence.
                    (B) Contributions.--
                            (i) Candidates of major parties.--Section 
                        9012(b)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 
                        is amended by inserting ``other than qualified 
                        contributions,'' after ``to defray qualified 
                        campaign expenses,''.
                            (ii) Candidates of other parties.--Section 
                        9012(b)(2) of such Code is amended by inserting 
                        ``, other than qualified contributions,'' after 
                        ``contributions''.

SEC. 113. MATCHING PAYMENTS AND OTHER MODIFICATIONS TO PAYMENT AMOUNTS.

    (a) In General.--
            (1) Amount of payments for major party candidates.--
        Subsection (a) of section 9004 of the Internal Revenue Code of 
        1986 is amended to read as follows:
    ``(a) In General.--Subject to the provisions of this chapter--
            ``(1) Major parties.--The eligible candidates of each major 
        party in a presidential election shall be entitled to equal 
        payment under section 9006 in an amount equal to--
                    ``(A) $50,000,000, plus
                    ``(B) an amount equal to 500 percent of the amount 
                of each matchable contribution received by such 
                candidate on or after June 1 of the year of the 
                presidential election, or by his authorized committees 
                (disregarding any amount of contributions from any 
                person to the extent that the total of the amounts 
                contributed by such person for the election exceeds 
                $250).
        The total amount of payments to which a major party candidate 
        is entitled under subparagraph (B) shall not exceed 
        $150,000,000.
            ``(2) Pre-election payments for minor and new parties.--
                    ``(A) Payment based on prior votes received by 
                party.--
                            ``(i) In general.--The eligible candidates 
                        of a minor party in a presidential election 
                        shall be entitled to equal payment under 
                        section 9006 in an amount equal to the sum of--
                                    ``(I) the product of the popular 
                                vote ratio with respect to such minor 
                                party and the amount in effect under 
                                paragraph (1)(A), plus
                                    ``(II) an amount equal to the 
                                applicable percentage of the amount of 
                                each matchable contribution received by 
                                such candidate on or after June 1 of 
                                the year of the presidential election, 
                                or by his authorized committees.
                        The total amount of payments to which such a 
                        candidate is entitled under subclause (II) 
                        shall not exceed the product of the amount in 
                        effect under the last sentence of paragraph 
                        (1)(A) and the popular vote ratio with respect 
                        to such minor party.
                            ``(ii) Popular vote ratio with respect to a 
                        minor party.--For purposes of this 
                        subparagraph, the popular vote ratio with 
                        respect to a minor party is the ratio of the 
                        number of popular votes received by the 
                        candidate for President of the minor party, as 
                        such candidate, in the preceding presidential 
                        election to the average number of popular votes 
                        received by the candidates for President of the 
                        major parties in the preceding presidential 
                        election.
                            ``(iii) Applicable percentage.--For 
                        purposes of subparagraph (A), the applicable 
                        percentage is the product of 500 percent and 
                        the popular vote ratio with respect to such 
                        minor party.
                    ``(B) Payment based on prior votes received by 
                candidate.--
                            ``(i) In general.--If the candidate of one 
                        or more political parties (not including a 
                        major party) for the office of President was a 
                        candidate for such office in the preceding 
                        presidential election and received 5 percent or 
                        more but less than 25 percent of the total 
                        number of popular votes received by all 
                        candidates for such office, such candidate and 
                        his running mate for the office of Vice 
                        President, upon compliance with the provisions 
                        of section 9003(a) and (c), shall be treated as 
                        eligible candidates entitled to payments under 
                        section 9006 in an amount computed as provided 
                        in subparagraph (A), determined by substituting 
                        `the popular vote ratio with respect to such 
                        candidate' for `the popular vote ratio with 
                        respect to such minor party' each place it 
                        appears.
                            ``(ii) Popular vote ratio with respect to a 
                        candidate.--For purposes of this subparagraph, 
                        the popular vote ratio with respect to a 
                        candidate is the ratio of the number of popular 
                        votes received by such candidate for the office 
                        of President in the preceding presidential 
                        election to the average number of popular votes 
                        received by the candidates for President of the 
                        major parties in the preceding presidential 
                        election.
                            ``(iii) Coordination rule.--If eligible 
                        candidates of a minor party are entitled to 
                        payments under this subparagraph, such 
                        entitlement shall be reduced by the amount of 
                        the entitlement allowed under subparagraph (A).
            ``(3) Post-election payments for minor and new parties.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The eligible candidates of a 
                minor party or a new party in a presidential election 
                whose candidate for President in such election 
                receives, as such candidate, 5 percent or more of the 
                total number of popular votes cast for the office of 
                President in such election shall be entitled to 
                payments under section 9006 equal to the sum of--
                            ``(i) the product of the popular vote ratio 
                        with respect to such candidate and the amount 
                        in effect under paragraph (1)(A), plus
                            ``(ii) an amount equal to the applicable 
                        percentage of the amount of each matchable 
                        contribution received by such candidate on or 
                        after June 1 of the year of the presidential 
                        election, or by his authorized committees.
                The total amount of payments to which such a candidate 
                is entitled under clause (ii) shall not exceed the 
                product of the amount in effect under the last sentence 
                of paragraph (1)(A) and the popular vote ratio with 
                respect to such candidate.
                    ``(B) Popular vote ratio with respect to a 
                candidate.--For purposes of this paragraph, the popular 
                vote ratio with respect to a candidate in a 
                presidential election is the ratio of the number of 
                popular votes received by such candidate for the office 
                of President in such election to the average number of 
                popular votes received by the candidates for President 
                of the major parties in such election.
                    ``(C) Applicable percentage.--For purposes of 
                subparagraph (A), the applicable percentage is the 
                product of 500 percent and the popular vote ratio with 
                respect to such candidate.
                    ``(D) Coordination rule.--In the case of eligible 
                candidates entitled to payments under paragraph (2), 
                the amount allowable under this paragraph shall be 
                limited to the amount, if any, by which the entitlement 
                under the preceding sentence exceeds the amount of the 
                entitlement under paragraph (2).''.
            (2) Conforming amendment.--Section 9005(a) is amended by 
        adding at the end the following new sentence: ``The Commission 
        shall make such additional certifications as may be necessary 
        to receive payments under section 9004.''.
    (b) Matchable Contribution.--Section 9002 of such Code, as amended 
by section 112, is amended by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph:
            ``(14) Matchable contribution.--The term `matchable 
        contribution' means, with respect to the election to the office 
        of President of the United States, a contribution by an 
        individual to a candidate or an authorized committee of a 
        candidate with respect to which the candidate has certified in 
        writing that--
                    ``(A) the individual making such contribution has 
                not made aggregate contributions (including such 
                matchable contribution) to such candidate and the 
                authorized committees of such candidate in excess of 
                50% of the limit applicable under paragraph (1)(A) or 
                paragraph (2)(A) of section 315(a) of the Federal 
                Election Campaign Act of 1971 to the amount of a 
                contribution which may be made to a candidate who is 
                not eligible to receive payments under section 9006 
                with respect to such election;
                    ``(B) such candidate and the authorized committees 
                of such candidate will not accept contributions from 
                such individual (including such matchable contribution) 
                aggregating more than the amount described in 
                subparagraph (A) with respect to such election; and
                    ``(C) such contribution was not--
                            ``(i) forwarded from the contributor from 
                        any person other than an individual, or
                            ``(ii) received by the candidate or 
                        committee from a contributor or contributors, 
                        but credited by the committee or candidate to 
                        another person who is not an individual through 
                        records, designations, or other means of 
                        recognizing that a certain amount of money has 
                        been raised by such person.''.

SEC. 114. INFLATION ADJUSTMENT FOR PAYMENT AMOUNTS.

    Section 9004 of such Code is amended by adding at the end the 
following new subsection:
    ``(f) Inflation Adjustments.--
            ``(1) In general.--In the case of any applicable period 
        beginning after 2016, each of the dollar amounts in subsection 
        (a)(1) shall be increased by an amount equal to--
                    ``(A) such dollar amount, multiplied by
                    ``(B) the cost-of-living adjustment determined 
                under section 1(f)(3) for the calendar year following 
                the year which such applicable period begins, 
                determined by substituting `calendar year 2016' for 
                `calendar year 1992' in subparagraph (B) thereof.
            ``(2) Applicable period.--For purposes of this subsection, 
        the term `applicable period' means the 4-year period beginning 
        with the first day following the date of the last general 
        election for the office of President and ending on the date of 
        the next such general election.
            ``(3) Rounding.--If any amount as adjusted under paragraph 
        (1) is not a multiple of $100, such amount shall be rounded to 
        the nearest multiple of $100.''.

SEC. 115. INCREASE IN LIMIT ON COORDINATED PARTY EXPENDITURES.

    (a) In General.--Section 315(d)(2) of the Federal Election Campaign 
Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 441a(d)(2)) is amended to read as follows:
    ``(2)(A) The national committee of a political party may not make 
any expenditure in connection with the general election campaign of any 
candidate for President of the United States who is affiliated with 
such party which exceeds $50,000,000.
    ``(B) For purposes of this paragraph--
            ``(i) any expenditure made by or on behalf of a national 
        committee of a political party and in connection with a 
        presidential election shall be considered to be made in 
        connection with the general election campaign of a candidate 
        for President of the United States who is affiliated with such 
        party; and
            ``(ii) any communication made by or on behalf of such party 
        shall be considered to be made in connection with the general 
        election campaign of a candidate for President of the United 
        States who is affiliated with such party if any portion of the 
        communication is in connection with such election.
    ``(C) Any expenditure under this paragraph shall be in addition to 
any expenditure by a national committee of a political party serving as 
the principal campaign committee of a candidate for the office of 
President of the United States.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendments Relating to Timing of Cost-of-Living 
Adjustment.--
            (1) In general.--Section 315(c)(1) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 
        441a(c)(1)), as amended by section 112(d)(1)(B), is amended--
                    (A) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``(d)'' and 
                inserting ``(d)(3)''; and
                    (B) by inserting at the end the following new 
                subparagraph:
    ``(D) In any calendar year after 2016--
            ``(i) the dollar amount in subsection (d)(2) shall be 
        increased by the percent difference determined under 
        subparagraph (A);
            ``(ii) the amount so increased shall remain in effect for 
        the calendar year; and
            ``(iii) if the amount after adjustment under clause (i) is 
        not a multiple of $100, such amount shall be rounded to the 
        nearest multiple of $100.''.
            (2) Base year.--Section 315(c)(2)(B) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 
        441a(c)(2)(B)), as amended by section 112(d)(1)(B), is 
        amended--
                    (A) in clause (i)--
                            (i) by striking ``(d)'' and inserting 
                        ``(d)(3)''; and
                            (ii) by striking ``and'' at the end;
                    (B) in clause (ii), by striking the period at the 
                end and inserting ``; and''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following new clause:
                    ``(iii) for purposes of subsection (d)(2), calendar 
                year 2015.''.

SEC. 116. ESTABLISHMENT OF UNIFORM DATE FOR RELEASE OF PAYMENTS.

    (a) Date for Payments.--
            (1) In general.--Section 9006(b) of the Internal Revenue 
        Code of 1986 is amended to read as follows:
    ``(b) Payments From the Fund.--If the Secretary of the Treasury 
receives a certification from the Commission under section 9005 for 
payment to the eligible candidates of a political party, the Secretary 
shall pay to such candidates out of the fund the amount certified by 
the Commission on the later of--
            ``(1) the last Friday occurring before the first Monday in 
        September, or
            ``(2) 24 hours after receiving the certifications for the 
        eligible candidates of all major political parties.
Amounts paid to any such candidates shall be under the control of such 
candidates.''.
            (2) Conforming amendment.--The first sentence of section 
        9006(c) of such Code is amended by striking ``the time of a 
        certification by the Commission under section 9005 for 
        payment'' and inserting ``the time of making a payment under 
        subsection (b)''.
    (b) Time for Certification.--Section 9005(a) of the Internal 
Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking ``10 days'' and inserting 
``24 hours''.

SEC. 117. AMOUNTS IN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN FUND.

    (a) Determination of Amounts in Fund.--Section 9006(c) of the 
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the 
following new sentence: ``In making a determination of whether there 
are insufficient moneys in the fund for purposes of the previous 
sentence, the Secretary shall take into account in determining the 
balance of the fund for a Presidential election year the Secretary's 
best estimate of the amount of moneys which will be deposited into the 
fund during the year, except that the amount of the estimate may not 
exceed the average of the annual amounts deposited in the fund during 
the previous 3 years.''.
    (b) Special Rule for First Campaign Cycle Under This Act.--
            (1) In general.--Section 9006 of the Internal Revenue Code 
        of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new 
        subsection:
    ``(d) Special Authority To Borrow.--
            ``(1) In general.--Notwithstanding subsection (c), there 
        are authorized to be appropriated to the fund, as repayable 
        advances, such sums as are necessary to carry out the purposes 
        of the fund during the period ending on the first presidential 
        election occurring after the date of the enactment of this 
        subsection.
            ``(2) Repayment of advances.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Advances made to the fund shall 
                be repaid, and interest on such advances shall be paid, 
                to the general fund of the Treasury when the Secretary 
                determines that moneys are available for such purposes 
                in the fund.
                    ``(B) Rate of interest.--Interest on advances made 
                to the fund shall be at a rate determined by the 
                Secretary of the Treasury (as of the close of the 
                calendar month preceding the month in which the advance 
                is made) to be equal to the current average market 
                yield on outstanding marketable obligations of the 
                United States with remaining periods to maturity 
                comparable to the anticipated period during which the 
                advance will be outstanding and shall be compounded 
                annually.''.
            (2) Effective date.--The amendment made by this subsection 
        shall take effect January 1, 2013.

SEC. 118. USE OF GENERAL ELECTION PAYMENTS FOR GENERAL ELECTION LEGAL 
              AND ACCOUNTING COMPLIANCE.

    Section 9002(11) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by 
adding at the end the following new sentence: ``For purposes of 
subparagraph (A), an expense incurred by a candidate or authorized 
committee for general election legal and accounting compliance purposes 
shall be considered to be an expense to further the election of such 
candidate.''.

                   Subtitle C--Political Conventions

SEC. 121. REPEAL OF PUBLIC FINANCING OF PARTY CONVENTIONS.

    (a) Repeal.--
            (1) In general.--Chapter 95 of the Internal Revenue Code of 
        1986 is amended by striking section 9008.
            (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections of chapter 
        95 of such Code is amended by striking the item relating to 
        section 9008.
    (b) Conforming Amendments.--
            (1) Availability of payments to candidates.--Section 
        9006(c) of such Code is amended by striking ``section 
        9008(b)(3)''.
            (2) Reports by federal election commission.--Section 9009 
        of such Code is amended--
                    (A) by adding ``and'' at the end of paragraph (2);
                    (B) by striking the semicolon at the end of 
                paragraph (3) and inserting a period; and
                    (C) by striking paragraphs (4), (5), and (6).
            (3) Penalties.--Section 9012 of such Code, as amended by 
        section 112(d)(4), is amended--
                    (A) by striking subsection (a) and redesignating 
                subsections (b) through (g) as subsections (a) through 
                (f), respectively;
                    (B) in subsection (b), as redesignated by 
                subparagraph (A), by striking paragraph (2) and 
                redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (2);
                    (C) in subsection (d)(1), as redesignated by 
                subparagraph (A), by striking the second sentence; and
                    (D) in subsection (d)(3), as redesignated by 
                subparagraph (A), by striking ``, or in connection with 
                any expense incurred by the national committee of a 
                major party or minor party with respect to a 
                presidential nominating convention''.
            (4) Availability of payments from presidential primary 
        matching account.--The second sentence of section 9037(a) of 
        such Code is amended by striking ``and for payments under 
        section 9008(b)(3)''.

SEC. 122. CONTRIBUTIONS FOR POLITICAL CONVENTIONS.

    (a) Separate Contribution Limitation.--
            (1) Individuals.--
                    (A) In general.--Subsection (a)(1) of section 315 
                of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 
                441a) is amended by striking ``or'' at the end of 
                subparagraph (C), by striking the period at the end of 
                subparagraph (D) and inserting ``; or'', and by adding 
                at the end the following new subparagraph:
                    ``(E) to the national nominating convention account 
                of political committees established and maintained by a 
                national political party, in any 4-year period ending 
                on the last day of the calendar year beginning on the 
                day after a general election for the office of 
                President which, in the aggregate, exceed the dollar 
                amount in effect under subparagraph (B);''.
                    (B) Conforming amendment.--Subparagraph (B) of 
                section 315(a)(1) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 441a(a)(1)) is 
                amended by inserting ``(other than to the national 
                nominating convention accounts of such political 
                committees which are described in subparagraph (E))'' 
                after ``national political party''.
            (2) Aggregate contribution limitation.--Paragraph (3) of 
        section 315(a) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 441a(a)) is amended by 
        adding at the end the following new flush sentence:
``The dollar amount in subparagraph (B) shall be increased by the 
amount of contributions (not in excess of the dollar amount in effect 
under subparagraph (E)) made to the national nominating convention 
account of a political committee established and maintained by a 
national political party during the period described in the preceding 
sentence.''.
    (b) National Nominating Convention Account.--Subsection (a) of 
section 315 of such Act (2 U.S.C. 441a) is amended by adding at the end 
the following new paragraph:
            ``(9) For purposes of this subsection, the national 
        nomination convention account of any political committees 
        established and maintained by a national political party is a 
        separate account the funds of which may only be used to defray 
        the costs of the national nominating convention of such 
        party.''.

SEC. 123. PROHIBITION ON USE OF SOFT MONEY.

    Section 323 of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 
441i) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(g) National Conventions.--Any person described in subsection (a) 
or (e) shall not solicit, receive, direct, transfer, or spend any funds 
in connection with a presidential nominating convention of any 
political party, including funds from or for a host committee, civic 
committee, municipality, or any other person or entity spending funds 
in connection with such a convention, unless such funds--
            ``(1) are not in excess of the amounts permitted with 
        respect to contributions to the political committee established 
        and maintained by a national political party committee under 
        section 315; and
            ``(2) are not from sources prohibited by this Act from 
        making contributions in connection with an election for Federal 
        office.''.

    TITLE II--PUBLIC FINANCING FOR CONGRESSIONAL ELECTION CAMPAIGNS

SEC. 201. BENEFITS AND ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR CONGRESSIONAL 
              CANDIDATES.

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

    ``TITLE V--PUBLIC FINANCING OF CONGRESSIONAL ELECTION CAMPAIGNS

                         ``Subtitle A--Benefits

``SEC. 501. BENEFITS FOR PARTICIPATING CANDIDATES.

    ``(a) In General.--If a candidate for election to the office of 
Senator or Representative in, or Delegate or Resident Commissioner to, 
the Congress is a participating candidate under this title with respect 
to an election for such office, the candidate shall be entitled to 
payments under this title, to be used only for authorized expenditures 
in connection with the election.
    ``(b) Amount of Payment.--
            ``(1) Match of qualified contributions.--Subject to 
        paragraph (2), the amount of a payment made to a participating 
        candidate under this title shall be equal to 500 percent of the 
        amount of qualified contributions received by the candidate 
        since the most recent payment made to the candidate under this 
        title with respect to the election, as set forth--
                    ``(A) in the case of the first payment made to the 
                candidate with respect to the election, in the report 
                filed under section 511(a)(2); and
                    ``(B) in the case of any subsequent payment made to 
                the candidate with respect to the election, in the 
                report of qualified contributions filed under 
                subsection (c).
            ``(2) Limitation.--In determining the amount of qualified 
        contributions received by a candidate for purposes of making a 
        payment under this section, there shall be disregarded any 
        amount of contributions from any person to the extent that the 
        total of the amounts contributed by such person for the 
        election exceeds $250.
    ``(c) Reports.--
            ``(1) In general.--Each participating candidate shall file 
        reports of receipts of qualified contributions at such times 
        and in such manner as the Commission may by regulations 
        prescribe.
            ``(2) Contents of reports.--Each report under this 
        subsection shall disclose each qualified contribution received 
        by the candidate since the most recent report filed under this 
        section, and shall state the aggregate amount of all such 
        qualified contributions received since the most recent report 
        filed under this section.
            ``(3) Frequency of reports.--Reports under this subsection 
        shall be made no more frequently than--
                    ``(A) once every month until the date that is 90 
                days before the date of the election;
                    ``(B) once every week after the period described in 
                subparagraph (A) and until the date that is 21 days 
                before the election; and
                    ``(C) once every day after the period described in 
                subparagraph (B).
            ``(4) Limitation on regulations.--The Commission may not 
        prescribe any regulations with respect to reporting under this 
        subsection with respect to any election after the date that is 
        180 days before the date of such election.
    ``(d) Limit on Aggregate Amount of Payments.--The aggregate amount 
of payments that may be made under this title to a participating 
candidate during an election cycle may not exceed--
            ``(1) $2,000,000, in the case of a candidate for the office 
        of Representative in, or Delegate or Resident Commissioner to, 
        the Congress; or
            ``(2) $10,000,000, in the case of a candidate for the 
        office of Senator.

``SEC. 502. ADMINISTRATION OF PAYMENTS.

    ``(a) Timing.--The Commission shall make payments under this title 
to a participating candidate--
            ``(1) in the case of the first payment made to the 
        candidate with respect to the election, not later than 48 hours 
        after the date on which such candidate is certified as a 
        participating candidate under section 513; and
            ``(2) in the case of any subsequent payment made to the 
        candidate with respect to the election, not later than 2 
        business days after the receipt of a report made under section 
        501(c).
    ``(b) Method of Payment.--The Commission shall distribute funds 
available to participating candidates under this title through the use 
of an electronic funds exchange or a debit card.
    ``(c) Appeals.--The Commission shall provide a written explanation 
with respect to any denial of any payment under this title and shall 
provide for the opportunity for review and reconsideration within 5 
business days of such denial.

``SEC. 503. QUALIFIED CONTRIBUTION DEFINED.

    ``In this title, the term `qualified contribution' means, with 
respect to a candidate, a contribution that meets each of the following 
requirements:
            ``(1) The contribution is in an amount that is not greater 
        than the limit on the amount of a contribution that may be 
        accepted by a participating candidate from an individual under 
        section 521(a).
            ``(2) The contribution is made by an individual who is not 
        otherwise prohibited from making a contribution under this Act.
            ``(3) The contribution is not--
                    ``(A) forwarded from the contributor by any person 
                other than an individual; or
                    ``(B) received by the candidate or an authorized 
                committee of the candidate from a contributor or 
                contributors, but credited by the committee or 
                candidate to another person who is not an individual 
                through records, designations, or other means of 
                recognizing that a certain amount of money has been 
                raised by such person.
            ``(4) The contribution meets the requirements of section 
        512(b).

              ``Subtitle B--Eligibility and Certification

``SEC. 511. ELIGIBILITY.

    ``(a) In General.--A candidate for the office of Senator or 
Representative in, or Delegate or Resident Commissioner to, the 
Congress is eligible to be certified as a participating candidate under 
this title with respect to an election if the candidate meets the 
following requirements:
            ``(1) During the election cycle for the office involved, 
        the candidate files with the Commission a statement of intent 
        to seek certification as a participating candidate.
            ``(2) The candidate meets the qualified contribution 
        requirements of section 512 and submits to the Commission a 
        report disclosing each qualified contribution received by the 
        candidate and stating the aggregate amount of all such 
        qualified contributions received.
            ``(3) Not later than the last day of the qualifying period, 
        the candidate files with the Commission an affidavit signed by 
        the candidate and the treasurer of the candidate's principal 
        campaign committee declaring that the candidate--
                    ``(A) has complied and, if certified, will comply 
                with the contribution and expenditure requirements of 
                section 521;
                    ``(B) if certified, will run only as a 
                participating candidate for all elections for the 
                office that such candidate is seeking during the 
                election cycle; and
                    ``(C) has either qualified or will take steps to 
                qualify under State law to be on the ballot.
    ``(b) General Election.--Notwithstanding subsection (a), a 
candidate shall not be eligible to receive a payment under this title 
for a general election or a general runoff election unless the 
candidate's party nominated the candidate to be placed on the ballot 
for the general election or the candidate is otherwise qualified to be 
on the ballot under State law.
    ``(c) Qualifying Period Defined.--The term `qualifying period' 
means, with respect to any candidate for the office of Senator or 
Representative in, or Delegate or Resident Commissioner to, the 
Congress, the 120-day period (during the election cycle for such 
office) which begins on the date on which the candidate files a 
statement of intent under section 511(a)(1), except that such period 
may not continue after the date that is 60 days before--
            ``(1) the date of the primary election; or
            ``(2) in the case of a State that does not hold a primary 
        election, the date prescribed by State law as the last day to 
        qualify for a position on the general election ballot.

``SEC. 512. QUALIFIED CONTRIBUTION REQUIREMENTS.

    ``(a) Receipt of Qualified Contributions.--
            ``(1) In general.--A candidate meets the requirements of 
        this section if, during the qualifying period described in 
        section 511(c), the candidate obtains--
                    ``(A) a single qualified contribution from a number 
                of individuals equal to or greater than--
                            ``(i) in the case of a candidate for 
                        election the office of Representative in, or 
                        Delegate or Resident Commissioner to, the 
                        Congress, 400, or
                            ``(ii) in the case of a candidate for the 
                        office of Senator, the product of 400 and the 
                        number of Congressional districts in the State 
                        involved as of the date of the election; and
                    ``(B) a total dollar amount of qualified 
                contributions equal to or greater than--
                            ``(i) in the case of a candidate for 
                        election the office of Representative in, or 
                        Delegate or Resident Commissioner to, the 
                        Congress, $40,000, disregarding any amount of 
                        contributions from any person to the extent 
                        that the total of the amounts contributed by 
                        such person for the election exceeds $250, or
                            ``(ii) in the case of a candidate for the 
                        office of Senator, the product of $40,000 and 
                        the number of Congressional districts in the 
                        State involved as of the date of the election, 
                        disregarding any amount of contributions from 
                        any person to the extent that the total of the 
                        amounts contributed by such person for the 
                        election exceeds $250.
            ``(2) Exclusion of contributions from out-of-state 
        residents.--In determining the number of qualified 
        contributions obtained by a candidate under paragraph (1)(A) 
        and the dollar amount of qualified contributions obtained by a 
        candidate under paragraph (1)(B), there shall be excluded any 
        contributions made by an individual who does not have a primary 
        residence in the State in which such candidate is seeking 
        election.
    ``(b) Requirements Relating to Receipt of Qualified Contribution.--
Each qualified contribution--
            ``(1) may be made by means of a personal check, money 
        order, debit card, credit card, or electronic payment account;
            ``(2) shall be accompanied by a signed statement containing 
        the contributor's name and the contributor's address in the 
        State in which the primary residence of the contributor is 
        located; and
            ``(3) shall be acknowledged by a receipt that is sent to 
        the contributor with a copy kept by the candidate for the 
        Commission and a copy kept by the candidate for the election 
        authorities in the State with respect to which the candidate is 
        seeking election.
    ``(c) Verification of Qualified Contributions.--The Commission 
shall establish procedures for the auditing and verification of 
qualified contributions to ensure that such contributions meet the 
requirements of this section.
    ``(d) Prohibiting Payment on Commission Basis of Individuals 
Collecting Qualified Contributions.--No person may be paid a commission 
on a per qualified contribution basis for collecting qualified 
contributions.

``SEC. 513. CERTIFICATION.

    ``(a) Deadline and Notification.--
            ``(1) In general.--Not later than 10 days after a candidate 
        files an affidavit under section 511(a)(3), the Commission 
        shall--
                    ``(A) determine whether or not the candidate meets 
                the requirements for certification as a participating 
                candidate;
                    ``(B) if the Commission determines that the 
                candidate meets such requirements, certify the 
                candidate as a participating candidate; and
                    ``(C) notify the candidate of the Commission's 
                determination.
            ``(2) Deemed certification for all elections in election 
        cycle.--If the Commission certifies a candidate as a 
        participating candidate with respect to the first election of 
        the election cycle involved, the Commissioner shall be deemed 
        to have certified the candidate as a participating candidate 
        with respect to all subsequent elections of the election cycle.
    ``(b) Revocation of Certification.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Commission may revoke a 
        certification under subsection (a) if--
                    ``(A) a candidate fails to qualify to appear on the 
                ballot at any time after the date of certification 
                (other than a candidate certified as a participating 
                candidate with respect to a primary election who fails 
                to qualify to appear on the ballot for a subsequent 
                election in that election cycle); or
                    ``(B) a candidate otherwise fails to comply with 
                the requirements of this title, including any 
                regulatory requirements prescribed by the Commission.
            ``(2) Repayment of benefits.--If certification is revoked 
        under paragraph (1), the candidate shall repay to the 
        Empowering Citizens Payment Account of the Presidential 
        Election Campaign Fund (established under section 9051 of the 
        Internal Revenue Code of 1986) an amount equal to the value of 
        benefits received under this title with respect to the election 
        cycle involved plus interest (at a rate determined by the 
        Commission) on any such amount received.
    ``(c) Participating Candidate Defined.--In this title, a 
`participating candidate' means a candidate for the office of Senator 
or Representative in, or Delegate or Resident Commissioner to, the 
Congress who is certified under this section as eligible to receive 
benefits under this title.

 ``Subtitle C--Requirements for Candidates Certified as Participating 
                               Candidates

``SEC. 521. RESTRICTIONS ON CERTAIN CONTRIBUTIONS AND EXPENDITURES.

    ``(a) 50 Percent Reduction in Otherwise Applicable Contribution 
Limits.--In the case of a candidate who is certified as a participating 
candidate under this title with respect to an election, the limit 
applicable under paragraph (1)(A) or paragraph (2)(A) of section 315(a) 
to the amount of a contribution which may be made to the candidate and 
any authorized committee of the candidate with respect to the election 
shall be equal to 50% of the amount applicable under such paragraph to 
a contribution made to a candidate with respect to the election who is 
not certified as a participating candidate under this title.
    ``(b) Prohibiting Acceptance of Contributions From Registered 
Lobbyists or Contributions Bundled by Registered Lobbyists.--A 
candidate who is certified as a participating candidate under this 
title with respect to an election, and any authorized committee of such 
a candidate, may not accept any of the following contributions with 
respect to the election:
            ``(1) Any contribution from--
                    ``(A) an individual who is a current registrant 
                under section 4(a)(1) of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 
                1995; or
                    ``(B) an individual who is listed on a current 
                registration filed under section 4(b)(6) of such Act or 
                a current report under section 5(b)(2)(C) of such Act.
            ``(2) Any bundled contribution (as defined in section 
        304(i)(8)) forwarded by or credited to a person described in 
        section 304(i)(7).
    ``(c) Limit on Expenditures From Personal Funds.--A candidate who 
is certified as a participating candidate under this title may not make 
expenditures from personal funds (as defined in section 304(a)(6)(B)) 
in an aggregate amount exceeding $50,000 with respect to any election 
in the election cycle involved.
    ``(d) Prohibiting Solicitation of Funds for Political Party 
Committees.--A candidate who is certified as a participating candidate 
under this title may not solicit funds for any political committee of a 
political party, except that the candidate may solicit funds for a 
separate account of the committee which is established under section 
315(d)(5).

``SEC. 522. REMITTING UNSPENT FUNDS AFTER ELECTION.

    ``(a) In General.--Not later than the date that is 60 days after 
the last election for which a candidate certified as a participating 
candidate qualifies to be on the ballot during the election cycle 
involved, such participating candidate shall remit to the Commission 
for deposit in the Empowering Citizens Payment Account of the 
Presidential Election Campaign Fund (established under section 9051 of 
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986) an amount equal to the lesser of--
            ``(1) the amount of money in the candidate's campaign 
        account; or
            ``(2) the amount of the payments received by the candidate 
        under this title.
    ``(b) Exception for Expenditures Incurred but Not Paid as of Date 
of Remittance.--
            ``(1) In general.--Subject to subsection (a), a candidate 
        may withhold from the amount required to be remitted under 
        paragraph (1) of such subsection the amount of any authorized 
        expenditures which were incurred in connection with the 
        candidate's campaign but which remain unpaid as of the deadline 
        applicable to the candidate under such subsection, except that 
        any amount withheld pursuant to this paragraph shall be 
        remitted to the Commission not later than 120 days after the 
        date of the election to which such subsection applies.
            ``(2) Documentation required.--A candidate may withhold an 
        amount of an expenditure pursuant to paragraph (1) only if the 
        candidate submits documentation of the expenditure and the 
        amount to the Commission not later than the deadline applicable 
        to the candidate under subsection (a).

                ``Subtitle D--Administrative Provisions

``SEC. 531. ADMINISTRATION BY COMMISSION.

    ``The Commission shall prescribe regulations to carry out the 
purposes of this title, including regulations to establish procedures 
for--
            ``(1) verifying the amount of qualified contributions with 
        respect to a candidate;
            ``(2) effectively and efficiently monitoring and enforcing 
        the limits on the raising of qualified contributions;
            ``(3) effectively and efficiently monitoring and enforcing 
        the limits on the use of personal funds by participating 
        candidates; and
            ``(4) monitoring the use of payments under this title 
        through audits of not fewer than \1/3\ of all participating 
        candidates or other mechanisms.

``SEC. 532. VIOLATIONS AND PENALTIES.

    ``(a) Civil Penalty for Violation of Contribution and Expenditure 
Requirements.--If a candidate who has been certified as a participating 
candidate accepts a contribution or makes an expenditure that is 
prohibited under section 521, the Commission shall assess a civil 
penalty against the candidate in an amount that is not more than 3 
times the amount of the contribution or expenditure. Any amounts 
collected under this subsection shall be deposited into the Empowering 
Citizens Payment Account of the Presidential Election Campaign Fund 
(established under section 9051 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986).
    ``(b) Repayment for Improper Use of Empowering Citizens Payment 
Account.--
            ``(1) In general.--If the Commission determines that any 
        benefit made available to a participating candidate was not 
        used as provided for in this title or that a participating 
        candidate has violated any of the dates for remission of funds 
        contained in this title, the Commission shall so notify the 
        candidate and the candidate shall pay to the Empowering 
        Citizens Payment Account of the Presidential Election Campaign 
        Fund an amount equal to--
                    ``(A) the amount of benefits so used or not 
                remitted, as appropriate; and
                    ``(B) interest on any such amounts (at a rate 
                determined by the Commission).
            ``(2) Other action not precluded.--Any action by the 
        Commission in accordance with this subsection shall not 
        preclude enforcement proceedings by the Commission in 
        accordance with section 309(a), including a referral by the 
        Commission to the Attorney General in the case of an apparent 
        knowing and willful violation of this title.

``SEC. 533. ELECTION CYCLE DEFINED.

    ``In this title, the term `election cycle' means, with respect to 
an election for the office of Senator or Representative in, or Delegate 
or Resident Commissioner to, the Congress, the period beginning on the 
day after the date of the most recent general election for that office 
(or, if the general election resulted in a runoff election, the date of 
the runoff election) and ending on the date of the next general 
election for that office (or, if the general election resulted in a 
runoff election, the date of the runoff election).''.

SEC. 202. PERMITTING UNLIMITED COORDINATED EXPENDITURES BY POLITICAL 
              PARTY COMMITTEES ON BEHALF OF PARTICIPATING CANDIDATES IF 
              EXPENDITURES ARE DERIVED FROM SMALL DOLLAR CONTRIBUTIONS.

    Section 315(d) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 
U.S.C. 441a(d)) is amended by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph:
    ``(5) In determining the amount of expenditures made by a committee 
under paragraph (3) in connection with the campaign of a candidate who 
is certified as a participating candidate under title V, there shall be 
excluded any expenditures which are derived from a separate account 
established by the committee for which the only sources of funds are 
contributions made during the election cycle in an amount which does 
not exceed 50% of the amount applicable under subsection (a)(1)(A) to a 
contribution made during the cycle to a candidate who is not certified 
as a participating candidate under title V.''.

SEC. 203. PROHIBITING USE OF CONTRIBUTIONS BY PARTICIPATING CANDIDATES 
              FOR PURPOSES OTHER THAN CAMPAIGN FOR ELECTION.

    Section 313 of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 
439a) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(d) Restrictions on Permitted Uses of Funds by Candidates 
Receiving Fair Elections Financing.--Notwithstanding paragraphs (2), 
(3), or (4) of subsection (a), if a candidate for election for the 
office of Senator or Representative in, or Delegate or Resident 
Commissioner to, the Congress is certified as a participating candidate 
under title V with respect to the election, any contribution which the 
candidate is permitted to accept under such title may be used only for 
authorized expenditures in connection with the candidate's campaign for 
such office.''.

                TITLE III--COORDINATED CAMPAIGN ACTIVITY

SEC. 301. CLARIFICATION OF TREATMENT OF COORDINATED EXPENDITURES AS 
              CONTRIBUTIONS TO CANDIDATES.

    (a) Treatment as Contribution to Candidate.--Section 301(8)(A) of 
the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 431(8)(A)) is 
amended--
            (1) by striking ``or'' at the end of clause (i);
            (2) by striking the period at the end of clause (ii) and 
        inserting ``; or''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following new clause:
                    ``(iii) any payment made by any person (other than 
                a candidate, an authorized committee of a candidate, or 
                a political committee of a political party) for a 
                coordinated expenditure (as such term is defined in 
                section 324) which is not otherwise treated as a 
                contribution under clause (i) or clause (ii).''.
    (b) Definitions.--Section 324 of such Act (2 U.S.C. 441k) is 
amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 324. PAYMENTS FOR COORDINATED EXPENDITURES.

    ``(a) Coordinated Expenditures.--
            ``(1) In general.--For purposes of section 301(8)(A)(iii), 
        the term `coordinated expenditure' means--
                    ``(A) any expenditure, including a payment for a 
                covered communication described in subsection (c), 
                which is made in cooperation, consultation, or concert 
                with, or at the request or suggestion of, a candidate, 
                an authorized committee of a candidate, a political 
                committee of a political party, or agents of the 
                candidate or committee, as provided in subsection (b); 
                or
                    ``(B) any payment for any communication which 
                republishes, disseminates, or distributes, in whole or 
                in part, any broadcast or any written, graphic, or 
                other form of campaign material prepared by the 
                candidate or committee or by agents of the candidate or 
                committee.
            ``(2) Exception for payments for certain communications.--A 
        payment for a communication (including a covered communication 
        described in subsection (c)) shall not be treated as a 
        coordinated expenditure under this subsection if--
                    ``(A) the communication appears in a news story, 
                commentary, or editorial distributed through the 
                facilities of any broadcasting station, newspaper, 
                magazine, or other periodical publication, unless such 
                facilities are owned or controlled by any political 
                party, political committee, or candidate; or
                    ``(B) the communication constitutes a candidate 
                debate or forum conducted pursuant to regulations 
                adopted by the Commission pursuant to section 
                304(f)(3)(B)(iii), or which solely promotes such a 
                debate or forum and is made by or on behalf of the 
                person sponsoring the debate or forum.
    ``(b) Coordination Described.--
            ``(1) In general.--For purposes of this section, a payment 
        is made `in cooperation, consultation, or concert with, or at 
        the request or suggestion of,' a candidate, an authorized 
        committee of a candidate, a political committee of a political 
        party, or agents of the candidate or committee, if the payment 
        is not made entirely independently of the candidate, committee, 
        or agents, including a payment which is made pursuant to any 
        general or particular understanding, or more than incidental 
        communication with, the candidate, committee, or agents about 
        the payment.
            ``(2) No finding of coordination based solely on sharing of 
        information regarding legislative or policy position.--For 
        purposes of this section, a payment shall not be considered to 
        be made by a person in cooperation, consultation, or concert 
        with, or at the request or suggestion of, a candidate or 
        committee, solely on the grounds that the person or the 
        person's agent engaged in discussions with the candidate or 
        committee, or with agents of the candidate or committee, 
        regarding that person's position on a legislative or policy 
        matter (including urging the candidate or committee to adopt 
        that person's position), so long as there is no discussion 
        between the person and the candidate or committee, or agents of 
        the candidate or committee, regarding the candidate's or 
        committee's campaign advertising, message, strategy, policy, 
        polling, allocation of resources, fundraising, or campaign 
        operations.
            ``(3) No effect on party coordination standard.--Nothing in 
        this section shall be construed to affect the determination of 
        coordination between a candidate and a political committee of a 
        political party for purposes of section 315(d).
    ``(c) Special Rule for Payments by Coordinated Spenders for Covered 
Communications.--
            ``(1) Payments deemed to be made in cooperation, 
        consultation, or concert with, candidates.--For purposes of 
        this section, if the person who makes a payment for a covered 
        communication is a coordinated spender with respect to the 
        candidate involved, the person shall be deemed to have made the 
        payment in cooperation, consultation, or concert with the 
        candidate.
            ``(2) Coordinated spender defined.--For purposes of this 
        subsection, the term `coordinated spender' means, with respect 
        to a candidate or an authorized committee of a candidate, a 
        person (other than a political committee of a political party) 
        for which any of the following applies:
                    ``(A) The person is directly or indirectly formed 
                or established by or at the request or suggestion of, 
                or with the encouragement of, the candidate or 
                committee or agents of the candidate or committee, 
                including with the express or tacit approval of the 
                candidate or committee or agents of the candidate or 
                committee.
                    ``(B) The candidate or committee or agents of the 
                candidate or committee solicit funds or engage in other 
                fundraising activity on the person's behalf during the 
                election cycle involved, including by providing the 
                person with names of potential donors or other lists to 
                be used by the person in engaging in fundraising 
                activity.
                    ``(C) The person is established, directed, or 
                managed by any person who, during the election cycle 
                involved or during the 4-year period ending on the 
                first day of the election cycle involved, has been 
                employed or retained as a political, media, or 
                fundraising adviser or consultant for the candidate or 
                committee or for any other entity directly or 
                indirectly controlled by the candidate or committee, or 
                has held a position with a title for the candidate or 
                committee.
                    ``(D) During the election cycle involved, the 
                person has had more than incidental communications with 
                the candidate or committee or agents of the candidate 
                or committee about the candidate's campaign needs or 
                activities, or about the person's possible or actual 
                campaign activities with respect to the candidate or 
                committee.
                    ``(E) The person has retained the professional 
                services of any person who, during the same election 
                cycle, has provided or is providing professional 
                services relating to the campaign to the candidate or 
                committee. For purposes of this subparagraph, the term 
                `professional services' includes any services in 
                support of the candidate's or committee's campaign 
                activities, including advertising, message, strategy, 
                policy, polling, allocation of resources, fundraising, 
                and campaign operations, but does not include 
                accounting or legal services.
    ``(d) Covered Communication Defined.--
            ``(1) In general.--For purposes of this section, the term 
        `covered communication' means, with respect to a candidate or 
        an authorized committee of a candidate, a public communication 
        (as defined in section 301(22)) which--
                    ``(A) promotes or supports the candidate, or 
                attacks or opposes an opponent of the candidate 
                (regardless of whether the communication expressly 
                advocates the election or defeat of a candidate or 
                contains the functional equivalent of express 
                advocacy); or
                    ``(B) refers to the candidate or an opponent of the 
                candidate but is not described in subparagraph (A), but 
                only if the communication is disseminated during the 
                applicable election period.
            ``(2) Applicable election period.--In paragraph (1)(B), the 
        `applicable election period' with respect to a communication 
        means--
                    ``(A) in the case of a communication which refers 
                to a candidate for the office of President or Vice 
                President, the period which begins on the date that is 
                120 days before the date of the first primary election, 
                preference election, or nominating convention for 
                nomination for the office of President which is held in 
                any State and ends with the date of the general 
                election for such office; or
                    ``(B) in the case of a communication which refers 
                to a candidate for any other office, which begins on 
                the date that is 90 days before the primary or 
                preference election, or convention or caucus of a 
                political party that has authority to nominate a 
                candidate, for the office sought by the candidate and 
                ends on the date of the general election for such 
                office.
            ``(3) Special rules for communications involving 
        congressional candidates.--For purposes of this subsection, a 
        public communication shall not be considered to be a covered 
        communication with respect to a candidate for election for an 
        office other than the office of President or Vice President 
        unless it is publicly disseminated or distributed in the 
        jurisdiction of the office the candidate is seeking.
    ``(e) Election Cycle Defined.--In this section, the term `election 
cycle' means, with respect to an election for Federal office, the 
period beginning on the day after the date of the most recent general 
election for that office (or, if the general election resulted in a 
runoff election, the date of the runoff election) and ending on the 
date of the next general election for that office (or, if the general 
election resulted in a runoff election, the date of the runoff 
election).''.
    (c) Effective Date.--
            (1) Repeal of existing regulations on coordination.--
        Effective upon the expiration of the 90-day period which begins 
        on the date of the enactment of this Act--
                    (A) the regulations on coordinated communications 
                adopted by the Federal Election Commission which are in 
                effect on the date of the enactment of this Act (as set 
                forth in 11 CFR Part 109, Subpart C, under the heading 
                ``Coordination'') are repealed; and
                    (B) the Federal Election Commission shall 
                promulgate new regulations on coordinated 
                communications which reflect the amendments made by 
                this Act.
            (2) Effective date.--The amendments made by this section 
        shall apply with respect to payments made on or after the 
        expiration of the 120-day period which begins on the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, without regard to whether or not the 
        Federal Election Commission has promulgated regulations in 
        accordance with paragraph (1)(B) as of the expiration of such 
        period.

SEC. 302. CLARIFICATION OF BAN ON FUNDRAISING FOR SUPER PACS BY FEDERAL 
              CANDIDATES AND OFFICEHOLDERS.

    Section 323(e)(1) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 
U.S.C. 441i(e)(1)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``or'' at the end of subparagraph (A);
            (2) by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (B) 
        and inserting ``; or''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
                    ``(C) solicit, receive, direct, or transfer funds 
                to or on behalf of any political committee which 
                accepts donations or contributions that do not comply 
                with the limitations, prohibitions, and reporting 
                requirements of this Act (or to or on behalf of any 
                account of a political committee which is established 
                for the purpose of accepting such donations or 
                contributions), or to or on behalf of any political 
                organization under section 527 of the Internal Revenue 
                Code of 1986 which accepts such donations or 
                contributions (other than a committee of a State or 
                local political party or a candidate for election for 
                State or local office).''.

    TITLE IV--USE OF PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN FUND FOR PUBLIC 
                     FINANCING OF FEDERAL ELECTIONS

SEC. 401. USE OF PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN FUND FOR CONGRESSIONAL 
              CANDIDATES.

    Subtitle H of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by 
adding at the end the following new chapter:

           ``CHAPTER 97--EMPOWERING CITIZENS PAYMENT ACCOUNT

``Sec. 9051. Payments to Congressional candidates.

``SEC. 9051. PAYMENTS TO CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATES.

    ``(a) Establishment of Account.--The Secretary shall maintain in 
the Presidential Election Campaign Fund established by section 9006(a), 
in addition to any account which he maintains under such section, a 
separate account to be known as the Empowering Citizens Payment 
Account. The Secretary shall deposit into such Account the amount 
available after the Secretary determines that amounts for payments 
under section 9006(c) and for payments under section 9037(b) are 
available for such payments.
    ``(b) Use of Fund for Payments to Congressional Candidates 
Participating in Public Financing Program.--The Secretary shall 
transfer amounts in the Fund to the Federal Election Commission, at 
such times and in such amounts as the Federal Election Commission may 
certify, for payments to candidates for election to the office of 
Senator or Representative in, or Delegate or Resident Commissioner to, 
the Congress who are participating candidates under title V of the 
Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971.''.

SEC. 402. REVISIONS TO DESIGNATION OF INCOME TAX PAYMENTS BY INDIVIDUAL 
              TAXPAYERS.

    (a) Increase in Amount Designated.--Section 6096(a) of the Internal 
Revenue Code of 1986 is amended--
            (1) in the first sentence, by striking ``$3'' each place it 
        appears and inserting ``$20''; and
            (2) in the second sentence--
                    (A) by striking ``$6'' and inserting ``$40''; and
                    (B) by striking ``$3'' and inserting ``$20''.
    (b) Indexing.--Section 6096 of such Code is amended by adding at 
the end the following new subsection:
    ``(d) Indexing of Amount Designated.--
            ``(1) In general.--With respect to each taxable year after 
        2012, each amount referred to in subsection (a) shall be 
        increased by the percent difference described in paragraph (2), 
        except that if any such amount after such an increase is not a 
        multiple of $1, such amount shall be rounded to the nearest 
        multiple of $1.
            ``(2) Percent difference described.--The percent difference 
        described in this paragraph with respect to a taxable year is 
        the percent difference determined under section 315(c)(1)(A) of 
        the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 with respect to the 
        calendar year during which the taxable year begins, except that 
        the base year involved shall be 2011.''.
    (c) Ensuring Tax Preparation Software Does Not Provide Automatic 
Response to Designation Question.--Section 6096 of such Code, as 
amended by subsection (b), is amended by adding at the end the 
following new subsection:
    ``(e) Ensuring Tax Preparation Software Does Not Provide Automatic 
Response to Designation Question.--The Secretary shall promulgate 
regulations to ensure that electronic software used in the preparation 
or filing of individual income tax returns does not automatically 
accept or decline a designation of a payment under this section.''.
    (d) Public Information Program on Designation.--Section 6096 of 
such Code, as amended by subsections (b) and (c), is amended by adding 
at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(f) Public Information Program.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Federal Election Commission shall 
        conduct a program to inform and educate the public regarding 
        the purposes of the Presidential Election Campaign Fund, the 
        procedures for the designation of payments under this section, 
        and the effect of such a designation on the income tax 
        liability of taxpayers.
            ``(2) Use of funds for program.--Amounts in the 
        Presidential Election Campaign Fund shall be made available to 
        the Federal Election Commission to carry out the program under 
        this subsection.''.
    (e) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall take 
effect January 1, 2013.

SEC. 403. DONATION TO PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN FUND.

    (a) General Rule.--Every taxpayer who makes a return of the tax 
imposed by subtitle A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 for any 
taxable year ending after December 31, 2011, may donate an amount (not 
less than $1), in addition to any designation of income tax liability 
under section 6096 of such Code for such taxable year, which shall be 
deposited in the general fund of the Treasury.
    (b) Manner and Time of Designation.--Any donation under subsection 
(a) for any taxable year--
            (1) shall be made at the time of filing the return of the 
        tax imposed by subtitle A of such Code for such taxable year 
        and in such manner as the Secretary may by regulation 
        prescribe, except that--
                    (A) the designation for such donation shall be 
                either on the first page of the return or on the page 
                bearing the taxpayer's signature, and
                    (B) the designation shall be by a box added to the 
                return, and the text beside the box shall provide:
                            ``By checking here, I signify that in 
                        addition to my tax liability (if any), I would 
                        like to donate the included payment to be used 
                        exclusively as a contribution to the 
                        Presidential Election Campaign Fund.'',
        and
            (2) shall be accompanied by a payment of the amount so 
        designated.
    (c) Treatment of Amounts Donated.--For purposes of this title, the 
amount donated by any taxpayer under subsection (a) shall be treated as 
a contribution made by such taxpayer to the United States on the last 
date prescribed for filing the return of tax imposed by subtitle A of 
such Code (determined without regard to extensions) or, if later, the 
date the return is filed.
    (d) Transfers to Presidential Election Campaign Fund.--The 
Secretary shall, from time to time, transfer to the Presidential 
Election Campaign Fund established under section 9006(a) of such Code 
amounts equal to the amounts donated under this section.

                TITLE V--OTHER CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORMS

SEC. 501. REGULATIONS WITH RESPECT TO BEST EFFORTS FOR IDENTIFYING 
              PERSONS MAKING CONTRIBUTIONS.

    Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act, 
the Federal Election Commission shall promulgate regulations with 
respect to what constitutes best efforts under section 302(i) of the 
Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 432(i)) for determining 
the identification of persons making contributions to political 
committees, including the identifications of persons making 
contributions over the Internet or by credit card. Such regulations 
shall include a requirement that in the case of contributions made by a 
credit card, the political committee shall ensure that the name on the 
credit card used to make the contribution matches the name of the 
person making the contribution.

SEC. 502. PROHIBITION ON JOINT FUNDRAISING COMMITTEES.

    (a) In General.--Section 302(e) of the Federal Election Campaign 
Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 432(e)) is amended by adding at the end the 
following new paragraph:
            ``(6) No authorized committee of a candidate may establish 
        a joint fundraising committee with a political committee other 
        than an authorized committee of a candidate.''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall take 
effect on January 1, 2013.

SEC. 503. DISCLOSURE OF BUNDLED CONTRIBUTIONS TO PRESIDENTIAL 
              CAMPAIGNS.

    (a) In General.--Paragraphs (1) through (3) of section 304(i) of 
the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 434(i)) are amended 
to read as follows:
            ``(1) In general.--
                    ``(A) Disclosure of bundled contributions by 
                lobbyists.--Each committee described in paragraph (6) 
                shall include in the first report required to be filed 
                under this section after each covered period (as 
                defined in paragraph (2)) a separate schedule setting 
                forth the name, address, and employer of each person 
                reasonably known by the committee to be a person 
                described in paragraph (7) who provided 2 or more 
                bundled contributions to the committee in an aggregate 
                amount greater than the applicable threshold (as 
                defined in paragraph (3)) during the covered period, 
                and the aggregate amount of the bundled contributions 
                provided by each such person during the covered period.
                    ``(B) Disclosure of bundled contributions to 
                presidential campaigns.--Each committee which is an 
                authorized committee of a candidate for the office of 
                President or for nomination to such office shall 
                include in the first report required to be filed under 
                this section after each covered period (as defined in 
                paragraph (2)) a separate schedule setting forth the 
                name, address, and employer of each person who provided 
                2 or more bundled contributions to the committee in an 
                aggregate amount greater than the applicable threshold 
                (as defined in paragraph (3)) during the election 
                cycle, and the aggregate amount of the bundled 
                contributions provided by each such person during the 
                covered period and such election cycle. Such schedule 
                shall include a separate listing of the name, address, 
                and employer of each person included on such schedule 
                who is reasonably known by the committee to be a person 
                described in paragraph (7), together with the aggregate 
                amount of bundled contributions provided by such person 
                during such period and such cycle.
            ``(2) Covered period.--In this subsection, a `covered 
        period' means--
                    ``(A) with respect to a committee which is an 
                authorized committee of a candidate for the office of 
                President or for nomination to such office--
                            ``(i) the 4-year election cycle ending with 
                        the date of the election for the office of the 
                        President; and
                            ``(ii) any reporting period applicable to 
                        the committee under this section during which 
                        any person provided 2 or more bundled 
                        contributions to the committee; and
                    ``(B) with respect to any other committee--
                            ``(i) the period beginning January 1 and 
                        ending June 30 of each year;
                            ``(ii) the period beginning July 1 and 
                        ending December 31 of each year; and
                            ``(iii) any reporting period applicable to 
                        the committee under this section during which 
                        any person described in paragraph (7) provided 
                        2 or more bundled contributions to the 
                        committee in an aggregate amount greater than 
                        the applicable threshold.
            ``(3) Applicable threshold.--
                    ``(A) In general.--In this subsection, the 
                `applicable threshold' is--
                            ``(i) $50,000 in the case of a committee 
                        which is an authorized committee of a candidate 
                        for the office of President or for nomination 
                        to such office; and
                            ``(ii) $15,000 in the case of any other 
                        committee.
                In determining whether the amount of bundled 
                contributions provided to a committee by a person 
                exceeds the applicable threshold, there shall be 
                excluded any contribution made to the committee by the 
                person or the person's spouse.
                    ``(B) Indexing.--In any calendar year after 2016, 
                section 315(c)(1)(B) shall apply to each amount 
                applicable under subparagraph (A) in the same manner as 
                such section applies to the limitations established 
                under subsections (a)(1)(A), (a)(1)(B), (a)(3), and (h) 
                of such section, except that for purposes of applying 
                such section to the amount applicable under 
                subparagraph (A), the `base period' shall be 2015.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendments.--Subsection (i) of section 304 of such 
Act (2 U.S.C. 434) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (5), by striking ``described in paragraph 
        (7)'' each place it appears in subparagraphs (C) and (D);
            (2) in paragraph (6), by inserting ``(other than a 
        candidate for the office of President or for nomination to such 
        office)'' after ``candidate''; and
            (3) in paragraph (8)(A)--
                    (A) by striking ``, with respect to a committee 
                described in paragraph (6) and a person described in 
                paragraph (7),'' and inserting ``, with respect to a 
                committee described in paragraph (6) or an authorized 
                committee of a candidate for the office of President or 
                for nomination to such office,'';
                    (B) by striking ``by the person'' in clause (i) 
                thereof and inserting ``by any person''; and
                    (C) by striking ``the person'' each place it 
                appears in clause (ii) and inserting ``such person''.
    (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall 
apply with respect to reports filed under section 304 of the Federal 
Election Campaign Act of 1971 after January 1, 2013.

SEC. 504. JUDICIAL REVIEW OF ACTIONS RELATED TO CAMPAIGN FINANCE LAWS.

    (a) In General.--Title IV of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 
1971 (2 U.S.C. 451 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 406 
the following new section:

``SEC. 407. JUDICIAL REVIEW.

    ``(a) In General.--If any action is brought for declaratory or 
injunctive relief to challenge the constitutionality of any provision 
of this Act or of chapter 95 or 96 of the Internal Revenue Code of 
1986, or is brought to with respect to any action of the Commission 
under chapter 95 or 96 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, the 
following rules shall apply:
            ``(1) The action shall be filed in the United States 
        District Court for the District of Columbia and an appeal from 
        the decision of the district court may be taken to the Court of 
        Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.
            ``(2) In the case of an action relating to declaratory or 
        injunctive relief to challenge the constitutionality of a 
        provision--
                    ``(A) a copy of the complaint shall be delivered 
                promptly to the Clerk of the House of Representatives 
                and the Secretary of the Senate; and
                    ``(B) it shall be the duty of the United States 
                District Court for the District of Columbia, the Court 
                of Appeals for the District of Columbia, and the 
                Supreme Court of the United States to advance on the 
                docket and to expedite to the greatest possible extent 
                the disposition of the action and appeal.
    ``(b) Intervention by Members of Congress.--In any action in which 
the constitutionality of any provision of this Act or chapter 95 or 96 
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is raised, any member of the House 
of Representatives (including a Delegate or Resident Commissioner to 
the Congress) or Senate shall have the right to intervene either in 
support of or opposition to the position of a party to the case 
regarding the constitutionality of the provision. To avoid duplication 
of efforts and reduce the burdens placed on the parties to the action, 
the court in any such action may make such orders as it considers 
necessary, including orders to require interveners taking similar 
positions to file joint papers or to be represented by a single 
attorney at oral argument.
    ``(c) Challenge by Members of Congress.--Any Member of Congress may 
bring an action, subject to the special rules described in subsection 
(a), for declaratory or injunctive relief to challenge the 
constitutionality of any provision of this Act or chapter 95 or 96 of 
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendments.--
            (1) In general.--
                    (A) Section 310 of the Federal Election Campaign 
                Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 437h) is repealed.
                    (B) Section 9011 of the Internal Revenue Code of 
                1986 is amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 9011. JUDICIAL REVIEW.

    ``For provisions relating to judicial review of certifications, 
determinations, and actions by the Commission under this chapter, see 
section 407 of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971.''.
                    (C) Section 9041 of the Internal Revenue Code of 
                1986 is amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 9041. JUDICIAL REVIEW.

    ``For provisions relating to judicial review of actions by the 
Commission under this chapter, see section 407 of the Federal Election 
Campaign Act of 1971.''.
                    (D) Section 403 of the Bipartisan Campaign Finance 
                Reform Act of 2002 (2 U.S.C. 437h note) is repealed.
    (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall 
apply to actions brought on or after January 1, 2013.

                 TITLE VI--SEVERABILITY; EFFECTIVE DATE

SEC. 601. SEVERABILITY.

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

SEC. 602. EFFECTIVE DATE.

    Except as otherwise provided in this Act, the amendments made by 
this Act shall apply with respect to elections occurring after January 
1, 2013.
                                 <all>