117 S5277 IS: Fair Elections Now Act of 2022
U.S. Senate
2022-12-15
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
1.Short title; table of contents(a)This Act may be cited as the Fair Elections Now Act of 2022
.(b)The table of contents of this Act is as follows:Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.TITLE I—Small Donor Incentive ProgramsSec. 101. Sense of the Senate regarding small donor incentive programs.TITLE II—Small Dollar Financing of Senate Election CampaignsSec. 201. Eligibility requirements and benefits of fair elections financing of Senate election campaigns.Sec. 202. Prohibition on joint fundraising committees.Sec. 203. Exception to limitation on coordinated expenditures by political party committees with participating candidates.TITLE III—Responsibilities of the Federal Election CommissionSec. 301. Petition for certiorari.Sec. 302. Electronic filing of FEC reports.TITLE IV—Revenue ProvisionsSec. 401. Freedom From Influence Fund revenue.TITLE V—Miscellaneous ProvisionsSec. 501. Severability.Sec. 502. Effective date.<enum>I</enum><header>Small Donor Incentive Programs</header><section id="idb42e8be17296455c9b58d737fb7e98c1"><enum>101.</enum><header>Sense of the Senate regarding small donor incentive programs</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">It is the sense of the Senate that Congress should take steps to allow more Americans to fully participate in our democracy through authorizing publicly financed small donor incentive programs, including small-dollar voucher programs that broaden and diversify the number of Americans who are able to have their voice heard in the marketplace of ideas.</text></section><enum>II</enum><header>Small Dollar Financing of Senate Election Campaigns</header><section id="idfe149aaed3124ac6a51a2d951374d1ad"><enum>201.</enum><header>Eligibility requirements and benefits of fair elections financing of Senate election campaigns</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/52/30101">52 U.S.C. 30101 et seq.</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idfe846fd81ae14c58b2571a40b4aecdb5" style="OLC"><title id="id36d56827ea1d4f8ab1548f5d7c5a05f0"><enum>V</enum><header>Fair Elections Financing of Senate Election Campaigns</header><subtitle id="idafe65f4fa1384d32bc8e9544723422cf"><enum>A</enum><header>General provisions</header><section id="id874ccc08c09f4ef4ab513e5db05962f2"><enum>501.</enum><header>Definitions</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">In this title:</text><paragraph id="idb6154f1cfc834a69a4baf70b87af4dba"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Allocation from the fund</header><text>The term <term>allocation from the Fund</term> means an allocation of money from the Freedom From Influence Fund to a participating candidate pursuant to section 522.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id4465d0f9e03947f48939d125f082b5db"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Commission</header><text>The term <term>Commission</term> means the Federal Election Commission.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id50d0bcfbe24441eba2ddbdc26d7ca6c2"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Enhanced matching contribution</header><text>The term <term>enhanced matching contribution</term> means an enhanced matching payment provided to a participating candidate for qualified small dollar contributions, as provided under section 524.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idefa3e47a5d23478cbc86e7fba3f9067e"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Enhanced support qualifying period</header><text>The term <term>enhanced support qualifying period</term> means, with respect to a general election, the period which begins 60 days before the date of the election and ends 14 days before the date of the election.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id27947beae40f44e080eaf0fc2bfde4f9"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Fair elections qualifying period</header><text>The term <term>Fair Elections qualifying period</term> means, with respect to any candidate for Senator, the period—</text><subparagraph id="idf213cadc732d4c6296bc0d9212920828"><enum>(A)</enum><text>beginning on the date on which the candidate files a statement of intent under section 511(a)(1); and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id191eafac8ed842d8ab4d626e3a1a48bd"><enum>(B)</enum><text>ending on the date that is 30 days before—</text><clause id="id313e7799af724c4999cf8d10f4e03e40"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the date of the primary election; or</text></clause><clause id="id2c998eef7a4c4ab58b20bd14afbb9541"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>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.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id814978cfc864402cab9d3fe84657caf0"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Fair elections start date</header><text>The term <term>Fair Elections start date</term> means, with respect to any candidate, the date that is 180 days before—</text><subparagraph id="id1599fa40405646faa5cc3665140d1fdf"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the date of the primary election; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id7f83beb171af41df9081a99f3d042243"><enum>(B)</enum><text>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.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idc71404de899f4dae9e831bedeb6caba0" commented="no"><enum>(7)</enum><header>Fund</header><text>The term <term>Fund</term> means the Freedom From Influence Fund established by section 502.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id7ace7036538c449b8af78169777dcf57"><enum>(8)</enum><header>Immediate family</header><text>The term <term>immediate family</term> means, with respect to any candidate—</text><subparagraph id="idc92817152cc44142bdd1fa9dc7877830"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the candidate’s spouse;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id13c054267d944e17ad53b5aab7339ce3"><enum>(B)</enum><text>a child, stepchild, parent, grandparent, brother, half-brother, sister, or half-sister of the candidate or the candidate’s spouse; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id65c6c736efc24fe699c90e514e18e403"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the spouse of any person described in subparagraph (B).</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id05fab96607a84c03bc190eafc1781708"><enum>(9)</enum><header>Matching contribution</header><text>The term <term>matching contribution</term> means a matching payment provided to a participating candidate for qualified small dollar contributions, as provided under section 523.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="ide6e25b166b1b4b21b2b27e6fb2b5befb"><enum>(10)</enum><header>Nonparticipating candidate</header><text>The term <term>nonparticipating candidate</term> means a candidate for Senator who is not a participating candidate.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id0e53a5b72c894d159e4a5789274a32cf"><enum>(11)</enum><header>Participating candidate</header><text>The term <term>participating candidate</term> means a candidate for Senator who is certified under section 514 as being eligible to receive an allocation from the Fund.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id8b5d0be5379448048c01533420994957"><enum>(12)</enum><header>Qualifying contribution</header><text>The term <term>qualifying contribution</term> means, with respect to a candidate, a contribution that—</text><subparagraph id="id33e3424d8ae44d7782740fc9bacc40f9"><enum>(A)</enum><text>is in an amount that is—</text><clause id="id72d7c1c8aba64ab88cccc7b4a9953581"><enum>(i)</enum><text>not less than $5; and</text></clause><clause id="idcd58c84dbb3c493dafd0229ac62eb68e"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>not more than $200;</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id982941ff8dd045e892b2b5f13da0dc7c"><enum>(B)</enum><text>is made by an individual who is not otherwise prohibited from making a contribution under this Act;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idb81967ce5908447aaa35699e8523272d"><enum>(C)</enum><text>is made during the Fair Elections qualifying period; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id00b505e8943340d09e1cfc86dd636c6a"><enum>(D)</enum><text>meets the requirements of section 512(b).</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id0df0eba58e61468382faa209a41d3eaf"><enum>(13)</enum><header>Qualified small dollar contribution</header><text>The term <term>qualified small dollar contribution</term> means, with respect to a candidate, any contribution (or series of contributions)—</text><subparagraph id="id22faaeab0231469b93cdd765f3eafa68"><enum>(A)</enum><text>which is not a qualifying contribution (or does not include a qualifying contribution);</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idde90049cedac41a1b7f9e8a844f54e34"><enum>(B)</enum><text>which is made by an individual who is not prohibited from making a contribution under this Act; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id069b4125ab1749fba284eb9711ed1920"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the aggregate amount of which does not exceed $200 per election.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idc64f8ab8909c426e8acc0116e70c1a72"><enum>(14)</enum><header>Qualifying multicandidate political committee contribution</header><subparagraph id="id65c0c336c8604d1aa4b3a836f524dc67"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The term <term>qualifying multicandidate political committee contribution</term> means any contribution to a candidate that is made from a qualified account of a multicandidate political committee (within the meaning of section 315(a)(2)).</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id1f2a434cf2834a29abc0cb6e17c79c12"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Qualified account</header><text>For purposes of subparagraph (A), the term <term>qualified account</term> means, with respect to a multicandidate political committee, a separate, segregated account of the committee that consists solely of contributions which meet the following requirements:</text><clause id="idbc39a90988c34a95bc26491175195305"><enum>(i)</enum><text>All contributions to such account are made by individuals who are not prohibited from making contributions under this Act.</text></clause><clause id="id7fb5da55268c467294ff57d43ad811e8"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>The aggregate amount of contributions from each individual to such account and all other accounts of the political committee do not exceed the amount described in paragraph (13)(C).</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph></section><section id="idEF43F65FD1074F1686380CDF3BBECC94"><enum>502.</enum><header>Freedom from Influence Fund</header><subsection id="idF8EFD9ABE7154D26B80F69CCB58BF4A3"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Establishment</header><text>There is established in the Treasury a fund to be known as the <quote>Freedom from Influence Fund</quote>.</text></subsection><subsection id="id5FF7B7423C534A8A88F6D4BE678A13B0"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Amounts held by Fund</header><text>The Fund shall consist of the following amounts:</text><paragraph commented="no" id="id29A67A56926948E8B058050ACCFCD232"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Appropriated amounts</header><subparagraph commented="no" id="idD8525048F65B418D99FE3083BD292B7F"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Amounts appropriated to the Fund.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="id0F8EFA97D90C410BB33555A67ACBE1F6"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Sense of the Senate regarding appropriations</header><text>It is the sense of the Senate that—</text><clause commented="no" id="id14D2586CFC974916BFD0B7A263BFA073"><enum>(i)</enum><text>there should be imposed on any payment made to any person (other than a State or local government or a foreign nation) who has a contract with the Government of the United States in excess of $10,000,000 a tax equal to 0.50 percent of amount paid pursuant to each contract, except that the aggregate tax on each contract for any taxable year shall not exceed $500,000; and</text></clause><clause id="id4742E9EC93BD44A18ACAD9DE3EE8E972"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the revenue from such tax should be appropriated to the Fund.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idCFC90B616E7A40958D2A72523B2582A0"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Voluntary contributions</header><text>Voluntary contributions to the Fund.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idF0606B9AEE2948BD9978C3787200EC7F"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Other deposits</header><text>Amounts deposited into the Fund under—</text><subparagraph id="id76A2653DC12C4E5D9D1A62D6D622FB0C"><enum>(A)</enum><text>section 513(c) (relating to exceptions to contribution requirements);</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idC096E3E7767A413D9DE7C0394CC58052"><enum>(B)</enum><text>section 521(c) (relating to remittance of allocations from the Fund);</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id65236A8A60F5460F9EF6575AE0A09721"><enum>(C)</enum><text>section 532 (relating to violations); and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id8CFF0197E70C44B984351047855D0470"><enum>(D)</enum><text>any other section of this Act.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id72F4980BF3734ECA921250FF4C5EB7BF"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Investment returns</header><text>Interest on, and the proceeds from, the sale or redemption of, any obligations held by the Fund under subsection (c).</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idBE390B699E6A484487B1DB59CA167858"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Investment</header><text>The Commission shall invest portions of the Fund in obligations of the United States in the same manner as provided under <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/26/9602">section 9602(b)</external-xref> of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.</text></subsection><subsection id="idBA4D08FB9E6747F7BEA6B44F03D087B4"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Use of Fund</header><paragraph id="idD06F2CE88DF940899DBF17A32E9EC224"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The sums in the Fund shall be used to provide benefits to participating candidates as provided in subtitle C.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id1ED363D105AD4E4881B918F5674FC9EC"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Insufficient amounts</header><text>Under regulations established by the Commission, rules similar to the rules of section 9006(c) of the Internal Revenue Code shall apply.</text></paragraph></subsection></section></subtitle><subtitle id="id528dddcaecc541bd9b626be9004dbfde"><enum>B</enum><header>Eligibility and certification</header><section id="iddf945f74f3e24a9186aee2e930431dce"><enum>511.</enum><header>Eligibility</header><subsection id="ida80ee9c1ec6f4e59b810dabbf9edc07f"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>A candidate for Senator is eligible to receive an allocation from the Fund for any election if the candidate meets the following requirements:</text><paragraph id="id9823eb49acc04457971ebfdd0581e829"><enum>(1)</enum><text>The candidate files with the Commission a statement of intent to seek certification as a participating candidate under this title during the period beginning on the Fair Elections start date and ending on the last day of the Fair Elections qualifying period.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id54832b244637405991c10efc33e17aa3"><enum>(2)</enum><text>The candidate meets the qualifying contribution requirements of section 512.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id466326D0CB2443599C2B485147818978"><enum>(3)</enum><text>The candidate files with the Commission a statement certifying that the authorized committees of the candidate meet the requirements of section 513(d)(2).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="ida03001cf69644c6d9dbb91a3082408b4"><enum>(4)</enum><text>Not later than the last day of the Fair Elections 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—</text><subparagraph id="id405f7d181b6849639cea3b18d42794f1"><enum>(A)</enum><text>has complied and, if certified, will comply with the contribution and expenditure requirements of section 513;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idd4a56f4f52044173a1d5968eeffa5fa9"><enum>(B)</enum><text>if certified, will not run as a nonparticipating candidate during such year in any election for the office that such candidate is seeking; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id99b5ce41bded4cacb92db7833c1e9431"><enum>(C)</enum><text>has either qualified or will take steps to qualify under State law to be on the ballot.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id759a54c3d2fa439eaaa5c6a33a9e7865"><enum>(b)</enum><header>General election</header><text>Notwithstanding subsection (a), a candidate shall not be eligible to receive an allocation from the Fund 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 otherwise qualified to be on the ballot under State law.</text></subsection></section><section id="id45a2bb595b2b466dabbd549b064dd7e4"><enum>512.</enum><header>Qualifying contribution requirement</header><subsection id="id21d3e6baad21483297f27a9b18e3115d"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>A candidate for Senator meets the requirement of this section if, during the Fair Elections qualifying period, the candidate obtains—</text><paragraph id="id65ec7f18a190496380c372e259e4fcfb"><enum>(1)</enum><text>a number of qualifying contributions equal to the sum of—</text><subparagraph id="id53333fe3d71f411c8ba9fb00fd2257ee"><enum>(A)</enum><text>2,000; plus</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id5ff93529f12344e1a8ba405e96e77757"><enum>(B)</enum><text>500 for each congressional district in the State with respect to which the candidate is seeking election; and</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id44072975a2c64c97a39da9011d312cf6"><enum>(2)</enum><text>a total dollar amount of qualifying contributions equal to 10 percent of the amount of the allocation such candidate would be entitled to receive for the primary election under section 522(c)(1) (determined without regard to paragraph (5) thereof) if such candidate were a participating candidate.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ida114a5b2a27f41d79b8b38f914089870"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Requirements relating to receipt of qualifying contribution</header><text>Each qualifying contribution—</text><paragraph id="ida7344bd0b34244359ac115a356cbb05d"><enum>(1)</enum><text>may be made by means of a personal check, money order, debit card, credit card, or electronic payment account;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="iddeb445b6a03a46f09c0aa5cf2fceba17"><enum>(2)</enum><text>shall be accompanied by a signed statement containing the contributor’s name and the contributor’s address in the State in which the contributor is registered to vote; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id8fbcb501f8cc41b3986b96d52806a81d"><enum>(3)</enum><text>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.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id80cd473fd6194229b8d33a8f8afb1a8d"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Verification of qualifying contributions</header><text>The Commission shall establish procedures for the auditing and verification of qualifying contributions to ensure that such contributions meet the requirements of this section.</text></subsection></section><section id="idfbd61675f00a4c08a975e816549544a1"><enum>513.</enum><header>Contribution and expenditure requirements</header><subsection id="id5e16abf8f2c044718e41d425fae000c3"><enum>(a)</enum><header>General rule</header><text>A candidate for Senator meets the requirements of this section if, during the election cycle of the candidate, the candidate—</text><paragraph id="id260c97518a7645c896d0f10f789730ea"><enum>(1)</enum><text>except as provided in subsection (b), accepts no contributions other than—</text><subparagraph id="id54a713e696074c26a647b6a19a8098e5"><enum>(A)</enum><text>qualifying contributions;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idbd8a641af8584cb298daf22a14f44cac"><enum>(B)</enum><text>qualified small dollar contributions;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id1f2cb523afe74ffebdc00aedf57b172f"><enum>(C)</enum><text>qualifying multicandidate political committee contributions;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="iddbc0d717bc694a1aa7ea429d0149ecad"><enum>(D)</enum><text>allocations from the Fund under section 522;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id1d069e1fde9344b183fdecf088cd1856"><enum>(E)</enum><text>matching contributions under section 523;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id234E59635D764D3DB18C74D20124C94A"><enum>(F)</enum><text>enhanced matching contributions under section 524;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id48FCD01801874F70861B0E19A887F440"><enum>(G)</enum><text>vouchers provided to the candidate under section 525;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id99ffaa13b46549b2b9d508f7c2d55685"><enum>(H)</enum><text>subject to subsection (c), personal funds of the candidate or of any immediate family member of the candidate (other than funds received through qualified small dollar contributions); and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idD9CEE267D85842388DFA2D96041791BE"><enum>(I)</enum><text>subject to subsection (d), contributions from individuals who are otherwise permitted to make contributions under this Act, subject to the applicable limitations of section 315, except that the aggregate amount of contributions a participating candidate may accept from any individual with respect to any election during the election cycle may not exceed $1,000; and</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idbb571c6820b14186aec24124fdd05daf"><enum>(2)</enum><text>makes no expenditures from any amounts other than from—</text><subparagraph id="ideceb1329e7db44488261b4025afce153"><enum>(A)</enum><text>qualifying contributions;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id08a47137fdaf4f15ae30a90e03207ace"><enum>(B)</enum><text>qualified small dollar contributions;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idefcbf10c99ad4a568820c9df4d6f07ee"><enum>(C)</enum><text>qualifying multicandidate political committee contributions;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id756cde804c424b63a4d4058aa9183c19"><enum>(D)</enum><text>allocations from the Fund under section 522;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id6db8831d1b504181af9e1a4083c39b78"><enum>(E)</enum><text>matching contributions under section 523;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id1176b2ce1399498b8b1d48f4fd5c8929"><enum>(F)</enum><text>enhanced matching contributions under section 524;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idE352C7517E32493AA513F723418A0EA1"><enum>(G)</enum><text>vouchers provided to the candidate under section 525;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id024D5AE0646D4A6F9890325F68FFB685"><enum>(H)</enum><text>subject to subsection (c), personal funds of the candidate or of any immediate family member of the candidate (other than funds received through qualified small dollar contributions); and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idE66600CA287244A89D0E1E8487A78E81"><enum>(I)</enum><text>subject to subsection (d), contributions from individuals who are otherwise permitted to make contributions under this Act, subject to the applicable limitations of section 315, except that the aggregate amount of contributions a participating candidate may accept from any individual with respect to any election during the election cycle may not exceed $1,000.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><continuation-text continuation-text-level="subsection">For purposes of this subsection, a payment made by a political party in coordination with a participating candidate shall not be treated as a contribution to or as an expenditure made by the participating candidate. </continuation-text></subsection><subsection id="idda6da19427c84d65a7e47cef4d5dd9c4"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Contributions for leadership PACs, etc</header><text>A political committee of a participating candidate which is not an authorized committee of such candidate may accept contributions other than contributions described in subsection (a)(1) from any person if—</text><paragraph id="id8fdc698c22f24c7197b95ae2113c2557"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the aggregate contributions from such person for any calendar year do not exceed $200; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id119ec6a97d614bb09bad5f36cf00d1d6"><enum>(2)</enum><text>no portion of such contributions is disbursed in connection with the campaign of the participating candidate.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id38c230752ddc4a8f84f1cb4bf4424383"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Special rules for personal funds</header><text>A candidate who is certified as a participating candidate may use personal funds (including personal funds of any immediate family member of the candidate) so long as—</text><paragraph id="id9705346c87d941bd843c71fc5304fb44"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the aggregate amount used with respect to the election cycle (including any period of the cycle occurring prior to the candidate’s certification as a participating candidate) does not exceed $50,000; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id679bac72905f4c45bd6a21546817c723"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the funds are used only for making direct payments for the receipt of goods and services which constitute authorized expenditures in connection with the election cycle involved. </text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H384C3B6DA16B4C6E8BBBC9A50FB3D29F"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Requirements relating to subsequent contributions and notification requirements</header><paragraph id="idAE597E550207401898F237E97609E0C7"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Restriction on subsequent contributions</header><subparagraph id="H480E266F1DA34181898E4BAF9C33A1DB"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Prohibiting donor from making subsequent nonqualified contributions during election cycle</header><text>An individual who makes a qualified small dollar contribution to a candidate with respect to an election may not make any subsequent contribution to such candidate with respect to the election cycle which is not a qualified small dollar contribution.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HEFC3238FEA274BAF8BA45CD6E0AA2613"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Treatment of subsequent nonqualified contributions</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">If, notwithstanding the prohibition described in subparagraph (A), an individual who makes a qualified small dollar contribution to a candidate with respect to an election makes a subsequent contribution to such candidate with respect to the election which is prohibited under subparagraph (A) because it is not a qualified small dollar contribution, the candidate may take one of the following actions:</text><clause id="HE7A5BC2BB2414164BD871192679ACC4A"><enum>(i)</enum><text>Not later than 2 weeks after receiving the contribution, the candidate may return the subsequent contribution to the individual. In the case of a subsequent contribution which is not a qualified small dollar contribution because the contribution fails to meet the requirements of paragraph (13)(C) of section 501 (relating to the aggregate amount of qualified small dollar contributions that may be made by an individual to a candidate), the candidate may return an amount equal to the difference between the amount of the subsequent contribution and the amount described in such paragraph.</text></clause><clause id="H77D17DB9E8184DDDACEB53C9FA34C506"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The candidate may retain the subsequent contribution, so long as not later than 2 weeks after receiving the subsequent contribution, the candidate remits to the Commission for deposit in the Freedom from Influence Fund established by section 502 an amount equal to any payments received by the candidate under this title which are attributable to the qualified small dollar contribution made by the individual involved.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HFDA3DF9400144CCBB342E65437D451B9"><enum>(C)</enum><header>No effect on ability to make multiple contributions</header><text>Nothing in this subsection may be construed to prohibit an individual from making multiple qualified small dollar contributions to any candidate or any number of candidates, so long as each contribution meets the definition of a qualified small dollar contribution under section 501(13).</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H2488128031754E259F16E481A25B2587"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Notification requirements for candidates</header><subparagraph id="HD679B4482CEA43828B0060158111D82A"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Notification</header><text>Each authorized committee of a candidate who seeks to be a participating candidate under this title shall provide the following information in any materials for the solicitation of contributions, including any internet site through which individuals may make contributions to the committee:</text><clause id="H28CBE25148CF4D7698F198036AE9BB85"><enum>(i)</enum><text>A statement that if the candidate is certified as a participating candidate under this title, the candidate will receive matching payments in an amount which is based on the total amount of qualified small dollar contributions received.</text></clause><clause id="H51134A51D0CC421481CBD0CABDD22D9A"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>A statement that a contribution which meets the definition of a qualified small dollar contribution under section 501(13) shall be treated as a qualified small dollar contribution under this title.</text></clause><clause id="HF04C914204FD4D769541C2DFD9D04225"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>A statement that if a contribution is treated as qualified small dollar contribution under this title, the individual who makes the contribution may not make any contribution to the candidate or the authorized committees of the candidate during the election cycle which is not a qualified small dollar contribution.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H4A7A6C7D4CF84E84BB66B4966844B5F5"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Alternative methods of meeting requirements</header><text>An authorized committee may meet the requirements of subparagraph (A)—</text><clause id="H6A3B832F24F84E5FBBF57CE3B00CB8C1"><enum>(i)</enum><text>by including the information described in paragraph (1) in the receipt provided under section 512(b)(3) to a person making a qualified small dollar contribution; or</text></clause><clause id="H3E779524E1EA4DE68DFC0AE9034DC6CD"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>by modifying the information it provides to persons making contributions which is otherwise required under title III (including information it provides through the internet). </text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id4e68e804a2cd4c2f8ea4353d895b48d2"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Exception</header><text>Notwithstanding subsection (a), a candidate shall not be treated as having failed to meet the requirements of this section if any contributions that are not qualified small dollar contributions, qualifying contributions, qualifying multicandidate political committee contributions, or contributions that meet the requirements of subsection (b) and that are accepted before the date the candidate files a statement of intent under section 511(a)(1) are—</text><paragraph id="idd832d05db97d4497b6df0a915cbc228f"><enum>(1)</enum><text>returned to the contributor; or</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id74d55538ac53471c81c64009a9d78720"><enum>(2)</enum><text>submitted to the Commission for deposit in the Fund.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id08963e4b1058426eb9a0d41cd4dcab1a"><enum>514.</enum><header>Certification</header><subsection id="id09d5960c477842798c0ba76005f7145a"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than 5 days after a candidate for Senator files an affidavit under section 511(a)(4), the Commission shall—</text><paragraph id="id5b7a0a25c41345dcb802ad8ac242e4b5"><enum>(1)</enum><text>certify whether or not the candidate is a participating candidate; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id57d212d705914c7a8adfa05481d400e5"><enum>(2)</enum><text>notify the candidate of the Commission’s determination.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idc449ff9f3ee14f56b6ca0702b2f3c5a5"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Revocation of certification</header><paragraph id="id1e3757f806824bff8ce6a50f6ed40e9b"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Commission may revoke a certification under subsection (a) if—</text><subparagraph id="id37133e3f8e4c4587bad91819bf64e20a"><enum>(A)</enum><text>a candidate fails to qualify to appear on the ballot at any time after the date of certification; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id7b9241e6ea844d0c8119a2b0acc7c10c"><enum>(B)</enum><text>a candidate otherwise fails to comply with the requirements of this title, including any regulatory requirements prescribed by the Commission.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idcc4e8aebff3d4eedaca589234d294f80"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Repayment of benefits</header><text>If certification is revoked under paragraph (1), the candidate shall repay to the Fund an amount equal to the value of benefits received under this title plus interest (at a rate determined by the Commission) on any such amount received.</text></paragraph></subsection></section></subtitle><subtitle id="idb47c812064d048e489aca8ac8c315e1a"><enum>C</enum><header>Benefits</header><section id="id51be476f6c0b429d9f52512ed6084c1a"><enum>521.</enum><header>Benefits for participating candidates</header><subsection id="id335798d3d366461e9f51e1c1821ebee0"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>For each election with respect to which a candidate is certified as a participating candidate under section 514, such candidate shall be entitled to—</text><paragraph id="ida54bc0fef8d148c287953f7b3b444325"><enum>(1)</enum><text>an allocation from the Fund to make or obligate to make expenditures with respect to such election, as provided in section 522;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="iddd45dce351704c4b80f289d7a98c2c7f"><enum>(2)</enum><text>matching contributions, as provided in section 523;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id9d5984a9edc04d3e9dd5fdaea78c219e"><enum>(3)</enum><text>enhanced matching contributions, as provided in section 524; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idC513A0A553614845B508BA616D8A876F"><enum>(4)</enum><text>for the general election, vouchers for broadcasts of political advertisements, as provided in section 525.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ide04f755c151143c0b9bd28e6ddc8f262"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Restriction on uses of allocations from the fund</header><text>Allocations from the Fund received by a participating candidate under section 522, matching contributions under section 523, and enhanced matching contributions under section 524 may only be used for campaign-related costs.</text></subsection><subsection id="id760f4935aba44da598f53e33ef93d086"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Remitting allocations from the fund</header><paragraph id="ida560299209cc4790a3ac9e02ee04b3e3"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than the date that is 180 days after an election in which the participating candidate appeared on the ballot, such participating candidate shall remit to the Commission for deposit in the Fund an amount equal to the lesser of—</text><subparagraph id="ida4b8d710606349119c04b62544e90063"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the amount of money in the candidate’s campaign account; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id4ab23872e8ad4c3c9cd4e24df18ba8df"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the sum of the allocations from the Fund received by the candidate under section 522, the matching contributions received by the candidate under section 523, and the enhanced matching contributions under section 524.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idfdb0a5f3cda94807b7240c7c1267ea13"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Exceptions</header><subparagraph id="id53720606F26A4C52B704CE73D55CC241"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Subsequent election</header><text>In the case of a candidate who qualifies to be on the ballot for a primary runoff election, a general election, or a general runoff election, the amounts described in paragraph (1) may be retained by the candidate and used in such subsequent election.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idAF4315BE9F614FD78CEE21E47576E6F1"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Candidate seeking certification for next election cycle</header><text>Notwithstanding paragraph (1), a participating candidate may withhold not more than $100,000 from the amount required to be remitted under paragraph (1) if the candidate files a signed affidavit with the Commission that the candidate will seek certification as a participating candidate with respect to the next election cycle, except that the candidate may not use any portion of the amount withheld until the candidate is certified as a participating candidate with respect to that next election cycle. If the candidate fails to seek certification as a participating candidate prior to the last day of the qualifying period for the next election cycle (as described in section 511), or if the Commission notifies the candidate of the Commission’s determination that the candidate does not meet the requirements for certification as a participating candidate with respect to such cycle, the candidate shall immediately remit to the Commission the amount withheld.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="idadfb4ef35a534b33b45a1b6da745267d"><enum>522.</enum><header>Allocations from the fund</header><subsection id="idebf20f07f80c436ba30ea3607e98db5b"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Commission shall make allocations from the Fund under section 521(a)(1) to a participating candidate—</text><paragraph id="iddd31930032064d8eb46316c9b30d3a21"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in the case of amounts provided under subsection (d)(1), after the date on which such candidate is certified as a participating candidate under section 514;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id2604c27b500543f4a140998d3bdf054c"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in the case of a general election after—</text><subparagraph id="id4be3fb6e46d94cafa6b96825647c1049"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the date of the certification of the results of the primary election or the primary runoff election; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ida402a71bc208419fbd07569be73cf373"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in any case in which there is no primary election, the date the candidate qualifies to be placed on the ballot; and</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id4febc3f342e74f8da41ee62bca930022"><enum>(3)</enum><text>in the case of a primary runoff election or a general runoff election, after the certification of the results of the primary election or the general election, as the case may be.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idaebb126fcba04d44881753f1b46e082f"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Method of payment</header><text>The Commission shall distribute funds available to participating candidates under this section through the use of an electronic funds exchange or a debit card.</text></subsection><subsection id="idac359cedadf74c8997525f933c462d55"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Timing of payment</header><text>The Commission shall, in coordination with the Secretary of the Treasury, take such steps as may be necessary to ensure that the Secretary is able to make payments under this section from the Treasury not later than 2 business days after date of the applicable certification as described in subsection (a). </text></subsection><subsection id="id0ed2e4bae19b40349780802828a5d0fa"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Amounts</header><paragraph id="id14c5900d52d74d33904d81ac2bc40535"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Primary election allocation; initial allocation</header><text>Except as provided in paragraph (5), the Commission shall make an allocation from the Fund for a primary election to a participating candidate in an amount equal to 67 percent of the base amount with respect to such participating candidate.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id3f833b9c0d6f47efad816f967090b313"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Primary runoff election allocation</header><text>The Commission shall make an allocation from the Fund for a primary runoff election to a participating candidate in an amount equal to 25 percent of the amount the participating candidate was eligible to receive under this section for the primary election.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id3f15662f38f8484692e5b9da238c5ff7"><enum>(3)</enum><header>General election allocation</header><text>Except as provided in paragraph (5), the Commission shall make an allocation from the Fund for a general election to a participating candidate in an amount equal to the base amount with respect to such candidate.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id6606cf3a9f1a49d699c0d1d876898069"><enum>(4)</enum><header>General runoff election allocation</header><text>The Commission shall make an allocation from the Fund for a general runoff election to a participating candidate in an amount equal to 25 percent of the base amount with respect to such candidate.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idc6edc48d48d84e54bd3b109ce72027f2"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Uncontested elections</header><subparagraph id="id4bdc197921a04737917bbc0ce11f5fd3"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>In the case of a primary or general election that is an uncontested election, the Commission shall make an allocation from the Fund to a participating candidate for such election in an amount equal to 25 percent of the allocation which such candidate would be entitled to under this section for such election if this paragraph did not apply.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id81a15e3996d3409aab1f7fc06a3f646b"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Uncontested election defined</header><text>For purposes of this subparagraph, an election is uncontested if not more than 1 candidate has campaign funds (including payments from the Fund) in an amount equal to or greater than 10 percent of the allocation a participating candidate would be entitled to receive under this section for such election if this paragraph did not apply.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idb8bbcb8b634a41e1809fa9c4d0fd11a3"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Base amount</header><paragraph id="idde4f83f847d34dd9b9fe07eeef1ac576"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, the base amount for any candidate is an amount equal to the sum of—</text><subparagraph id="id7be2faebe78046c28006ce2ae5119ed3"><enum>(A)</enum><text>$750,000; plus</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ide49717a887af47d7bcf3bd4e7dd257b3"><enum>(B)</enum><text>$150,000 for each congressional district in the State with respect to which the candidate is seeking election.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idbf4b5b7dc9ff42f881c96152f3a63349"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Indexing</header><text>In each even-numbered year after 2027—</text><subparagraph id="id910bde12597c453aad266d07991362a3"><enum>(A)</enum><text>each dollar amount under paragraph (1) shall be increased by the percent difference between the price index (as defined in section 315(c)(2)(A)) for the 12 months preceding the beginning of such calendar year and the price index for calendar year 2022;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id1789a506431c48fb8d45ed83ef28b7bf"><enum>(B)</enum><text>each dollar amount so increased shall remain in effect for the 2-year period beginning on the first day following the date of the last general election in the year preceding the year in which the amount is increased and ending on the date of the next general election; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idb19338f84d864609a3aad70048a1e7d6"><enum>(C)</enum><text>if any amount after adjustment under subparagraph (A) is not a multiple of $100, such amount shall be rounded to the nearest multiple of $100.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id9cc6e7c6f9b64a258f6ab5cc9bef01ae"><enum>523.</enum><header>Matching payments for qualified small dollar contributions</header><subsection id="id8ed50daf41c34b2f97d418d62285d0ef"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Commission shall pay to each participating candidate an amount equal to 600 percent of the amount of qualified small dollar contributions received by the candidate from individuals after the date on which such candidate is certified under section 514.</text></subsection><subsection id="idab47ab34ed4040e6b1bd1257d41da945"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Limitation</header><text>The aggregate payments under subsection (a) with respect to any candidate shall not exceed 400 percent of the allocation such candidate is entitled to receive for such election under section 522 (determined without regard to subsection (d)(5) thereof).</text></subsection><subsection id="idc2045ef01138473c8ae6a29c181a441e"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Time of payment</header><text>The Commission shall make payments under this section not later than 2 business days after the receipt of a report made under subsection (d).</text></subsection><subsection id="idfcc2b85d0dce4d3dba73883f1cb2ea24"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Reports</header><paragraph id="id2d13db3f29014d6abb501944ee960475"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Each participating candidate shall file reports of receipts of qualified small dollar contributions at such times and in such manner as the Commission may by regulations prescribe.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="ida9dde01ef42842e6b40ede676fded9ca"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Contents of reports</header><text>Each report under this subsection shall disclose—</text><subparagraph id="id1bc6af54926e44659310c9d48a759834"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the amount of each qualified small dollar contribution received by the candidate; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idf3da1cef8f944b56a2a6033431cebcf8"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the name, address, and occupation of each individual who made a qualified small dollar contribution to the candidate.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id6211d4e2e65c4d13ba419b0f7576a452"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Frequency of reports</header><text>Reports under this subsection shall be made no more frequently than—</text><subparagraph id="id4a4baa76fc09438da722cdd20195f7c1"><enum>(A)</enum><text>once every month until the date that is 90 days before the date of the election; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id3d2f89c3243a4569823387a6b44ac706"><enum>(B)</enum><text>once every week after the period described in subparagraph (A) and until the date of the election.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id008fe3925a1e44ec985a316a7b5f852e"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Limitation on regulations</header><text>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.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ida01477d6b1d54ffdbbd009387fa989ef"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Appeals</header><text>The Commission shall provide a written explanation with respect to any denial of any payment under this section and shall provide the opportunity for review and reconsideration within 5 business days of such denial.</text></subsection></section><section id="idfa4761f2f46c4cdc92182f5079e4df34"><enum>524.</enum><header>Enhanced matching support</header><subsection id="id927936b220b941d494a3dbdc34df07c8"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>In addition to the payments made under section 523, the Commission shall make an additional payment to an eligible candidate under this section.</text></subsection><subsection id="ida5aef42fe52f41558ff361334ae5001f"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Eligibility</header><text>A candidate is eligible to receive an additional payment under this section if the candidate meets each of the following requirements:</text><paragraph id="id1e27604da2ed4fa686fd389baa7cb5af"><enum>(1)</enum><text>The candidate is on the ballot for the general election for the office the candidate seeks.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idca13242f8dcc421393b5c87605f44195"><enum>(2)</enum><text>The candidate is certified as a participating candidate under this title with respect to the election.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id5af42c33302f428d9d879bd12aef7b0a"><enum>(3)</enum><text>During the enhanced support qualifying period, the candidate receives qualified small dollar contributions in a total amount of not less than the sum of $15,000 for each congressional district in the State with respect to which the candidate is seeking election.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id9d511d3582614638acdaaa0660b8fd06"><enum>(4)</enum><text>During the enhanced support qualifying period, the candidate submits to the Commission a request for the payment which includes—</text><subparagraph id="ide92ac0f4e6094a88868a4d3859ede204"><enum>(A)</enum><text>a statement of the number and amount of qualified small dollar contributions received by the candidate during the enhanced support qualifying period;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idaec707b76b9f4094b8e263998a6feb8b"><enum>(B)</enum><text>a statement of the amount of the payment the candidate anticipates receiving with respect to the request; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id36bad60ff371468d89ca83ba9bb22eb3"><enum>(C)</enum><text>such other information and assurances as the Commission may require.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idf3aaa6223ad4483380137107da751220"><enum>(5)</enum><text>After submitting a request for the additional payment under paragraph (4), the candidate does not submit any other application for an additional payment under this title.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ide8e990288364472d9b7418bb44d04c41"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Amount</header><paragraph id="id1807256fe4d24cbfac5361aaa7c71503"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Subject to paragraph (2), the amount of the additional payment made to an eligible candidate under this subtitle shall be an amount equal to 50 percent of—</text><subparagraph id="id4dd5130d60684cc6b083f46c66d716ff"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the amount of the payment made to the candidate under section 523 with respect to the qualified small dollar contributions which are received by the candidate during the enhanced support qualifying period (as included in the request submitted by the candidate under (b)(4)(A)); or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idac0593fc488f49f79793a0e2a8e938a8"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in the case of a candidate who is not eligible to receive a payment under section 523 with respect to such qualified small dollar contributions because the candidate has reached the limit on the aggregate amount of payments under section 523, the amount of the payment which would have been made to the candidate under section 523 with respect to such qualified small dollar contributions if the candidate had not reached such limit.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id7eee9cd454b445288b23082a08c061d5"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Limit</header><text>The amount of the additional payment determined under paragraph (1) with respect to a candidate may not exceed the sum of $150,000 for each congressional district in the State with respect to which the candidate is seeking election.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id428985ec388143f399085008de7347b6"><enum>(3)</enum><header>No effect on aggregate limit</header><text>The amount of the additional payment made to a candidate under this section shall not be included in determining the aggregate amount of payments made to a participating candidate with respect to an election cycle under section 523.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id14b56c6519db4956b5aec96e511168e1"><enum>525.</enum><header>Political advertising vouchers</header><subsection id="idcede57881156454a93e0caa7889b995b"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Commission shall establish and administer a voucher program for the purchase of airtime on broadcasting stations for political advertisements in accordance with the provisions of this section.</text></subsection><subsection id="id7ce5ea31155846c19044684f485647f3"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Candidates</header><text>The Commission shall only disburse vouchers under the program established under subsection (a) to participants certified pursuant to section 514 who have agreed in writing to keep and furnish to the Commission such records, books, and other information as it may require.</text></subsection><subsection id="id96d54fe07068412797368044727f8ba8"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Amounts</header><text>The Commission shall disburse vouchers to each candidate certified under subsection (b) in an aggregate amount equal to $100,000 multiplied by the number of congressional districts in the State with respect to which such candidate is running for office.</text></subsection><subsection id="id9e065bb8aaa64389aa6bff2bb3b8eba1"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Use</header><paragraph id="id13bba7b1c40e4e59a42e2ad53624aa58"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Exclusive use</header><text>Vouchers disbursed by the Commission under this section may be used only for the purchase of broadcast airtime for political advertisements relating to a general election for the office of Senate by the participating candidate to which the vouchers were disbursed, except that—</text><subparagraph id="idb33905b1cf284f56b2cb4fb5f9d57667"><enum>(A)</enum><text>a candidate may exchange vouchers with a political party under paragraph (2); and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id6c03049059a6444fb480322eff65c7a2"><enum>(B)</enum><text>a political party may use vouchers only to purchase broadcast airtime for political advertisements for generic party advertising (as defined by the Commission in regulations), to support candidates for State or local office in a general election, or to support participating candidates of the party in a general election for Federal office, but only if it discloses the value of the voucher used as an expenditure under section 315(d).</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idd329467280c44cd0ab02955b2a6376ed"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Exchange with political party committee</header><subparagraph id="iddc21d842f6394fd5825c2f6dcaf167f0"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>A participating candidate who receives a voucher under this section may transfer the right to use all or a portion of the value of the voucher to a committee of the political party of which the individual is a candidate (or, in the case of a participating candidate who is not a member of any political party, to a committee of the political party of that candidate’s choice) in exchange for money in an amount equal to the cash value of the voucher or portion exchanged.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id2b2cbe3100874ed48a8f3f48cc4366fe"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Continuation of candidate obligations</header><text>The transfer of a voucher, in whole or in part, to a political party committee under this paragraph does not release the candidate from any obligation under the agreement made under subsection (b) or otherwise modify that agreement or its application to that candidate.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id2894f6fbaf524ca3b80405153f5399a8"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Party committee obligations</header><text>Any political party committee to which a voucher or portion thereof is transferred under subparagraph (A)—</text><clause id="idaff38a63aced430e8250cdcac6c15557"><enum>(i)</enum><text>shall account fully, in accordance with such requirements as the Commission may establish, for the receipt of the voucher; and</text></clause><clause id="id5674505879234e0a9cdf639bc78f2a14"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>may not use the transferred voucher or portion thereof for any purpose other than a purpose described in paragraph (1)(B).</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idd5d36d85e8c2471f93df5187f4f69d8d"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Voucher as a contribution under FECA</header><text>If a candidate transfers a voucher or any portion thereof to a political party committee under subparagraph (A)—</text><clause id="id2de4015d22a24d44bceb060ae68e149e"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the value of the voucher or portion thereof transferred shall be treated as a contribution from the candidate to the committee, and from the committee to the candidate, for purposes of sections 302 and 304;</text></clause><clause id="idcdb60436b2584b149cdc8eb796559e88"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the committee may, in exchange, provide to the candidate only funds subject to the prohibitions, limitations, and reporting requirements of title III of this Act; and</text></clause><clause id="idc198ec0141d6479c872ab1a0f4830505"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>the amount, if identified as a <term>voucher exchange</term>, shall not be considered a contribution for the purposes of sections 315 and 513.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id28ded47587804aae9d621059196f0f15"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Value; acceptance; redemption</header><paragraph id="idf740ea87a5dd40a0a70c5c0d3c55b1c1"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Voucher</header><text>Each voucher disbursed by the Commission under this section shall have a value in dollars, redeemable upon presentation to the Commission, together with such documentation and other information as the Commission may require, for the purchase of broadcast airtime for political advertisements in accordance with this section.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id4e8036c918f34923aa591c18ec14b217"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Acceptance</header><text>A broadcasting station shall accept vouchers in payment for the purchase of broadcast airtime for political advertisements in accordance with this section.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idd9279680c55c4dc691777f8d0ae21b1d"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Redemption</header><text>The Commission shall redeem vouchers accepted by broadcasting stations under paragraph (2) upon presentation, subject to such documentation, verification, accounting, and application requirements as the Commission may impose to ensure the accuracy and integrity of the voucher redemption system.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id973ec3fb4b3a4926bcf505e312a18133"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Expiration</header><subparagraph id="id346a9c8bd8e244299f4c930b7816c5ce"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Candidates</header><text>A voucher may only be used to pay for broadcast airtime for political advertisements to be broadcast before midnight on the day before the date of the Federal election in connection with which it was issued and shall be null and void for any other use or purpose.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id5541afc3c86c4ff2a6f87b99fd88205e"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Exception for political party committees</header><text>A voucher held by a political party committee may be used to pay for broadcast airtime for political advertisements to be broadcast before midnight on December 31st of the odd-numbered year following the year in which the voucher was issued by the Commission.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id5f25127752b946c68d6f5bd7ccd1984d"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Voucher as expenditure under feca</header><text>The use of a voucher to purchase broadcast airtime constitutes an expenditure as defined in section 301(9)(A).</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id589c457ca0db46e393d3a87ef227d08a"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In this section:</text><paragraph id="id381a243c9523426e85c49b45276da427"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Broadcasting station</header><text>The term <term>broadcasting station</term> has the meaning given that term by section 315(f)(1) of the Communications Act of 1934.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id61e37a4ea75549d4ad8ad59522df45e7"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Political party</header><text>The term <term>political party</term> means a major party or a minor party as defined in section 9002 (3) or (4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. 9002 (3) or (4)). </text></paragraph></subsection></section></subtitle><subtitle id="idbba801e881e34e9da31d5c6def016c6b"><enum>D</enum><header>Administrative provisions</header><section id="idcb45cc2dfea44ef9978ceef33e13ce25"><enum>531.</enum><header>Duties of the Federal Election Commission</header><subsection id="id86df8a36927d489c946ab0c602efaa36"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Duties and powers</header><paragraph id="id41d10f24b913445f9c08e0dfa3813685"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Administration</header><text>The Commission shall have the power to administer the provisions of this title and shall prescribe regulations to carry out the purposes of this title, including regulations—</text><subparagraph id="ide955f5a921de4301a37d940e893daeee"><enum>(A)</enum><text>to establish procedures for—</text><clause id="id8ec395ea19dd4f719711b4b76b0aae04"><enum>(i)</enum><text>verifying the amount of valid qualifying contributions with respect to a candidate;</text></clause><clause id="id1597f85613cc4bd4ae5d3dbd0f7fdeba"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>effectively and efficiently monitoring and enforcing the limits on the raising of qualified small dollar contributions;</text></clause><clause id="idc6436182120f48e086bb5900dd20400b"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>monitoring the raising of qualifying multicandidate political committee contributions through effectively and efficiently monitoring and enforcing the limits on individual contributions to qualified accounts of multicandidate political committees;</text></clause><clause id="id68f2b276720e44cabae2e47c560dd857"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>effectively and efficiently monitoring and enforcing the limits on the use of personal funds by participating candidates;</text></clause><clause id="idB9C2B2B87CF84390AB0E0E0CAC841703"><enum>(v)</enum><text>monitoring the use of allocations from the Fund and matching contributions under this title through audits or other mechanisms; and</text></clause><clause id="idF8B2CD4D28664F419E1BFA3C5D7FD7BE"><enum>(vi)</enum><text>the administration of the voucher program under section 525; and</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id59aafbac30a0407a872e1afd35fec341"><enum>(B)</enum><text>regarding the conduct of debates in a manner consistent with the best practices of States that provide public financing for elections.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idaddb27f1e69d42d5aca77f11fe863a59"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Review of Fair Elections financing</header><subparagraph id="idea2adf7c00744f14aa7b1f20bf4ec43c"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>After each general election for Federal office, the Commission shall conduct a comprehensive review of the Fair Elections financing program under this title, including—</text><clause id="id18ad2f16b5d1491f8a39b543fa862168"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the maximum dollar amount of qualified small dollar contributions under section 501(13);</text></clause><clause id="id165078853f5046f88bd79a712a9f6f34"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the maximum and minimum dollar amounts for qualifying contributions under section 501(12);</text></clause><clause id="idc33259ae1e954c239f99326d458c9eb5"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>the number and value of qualifying contributions a candidate is required to obtain under section 512 to qualify for allocations from the Fund;</text></clause><clause id="id2a004725bdb24953a3dae54ff0338cdb"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>the amount of allocations from the Fund that candidates may receive under section 522;</text></clause><clause id="idd008379a22074fbd93a6a35de63052b9"><enum>(v)</enum><text>the maximum amount of matching contributions a candidate may receive under section 523;</text></clause><clause id="idc381a24959a5410da9874671a033217e"><enum>(vi)</enum><text>the maximum amount of enhanced matching contributions a candidate may receive under section 524;</text></clause><clause id="idA8A0ABD3E8A54CC3947F60DEBF652DDA"><enum>(vii)</enum><text>the amount and usage of vouchers under section 525;</text></clause><clause id="id788119a0256447309fbec7df5da9e84d"><enum>(viii)</enum><text>the overall satisfaction of participating candidates and the American public with the program; and</text></clause><clause id="idaca7e4cc06e44d37aedc58f41dc83b96"><enum>(ix)</enum><text>such other matters relating to financing of Senate campaigns as the Commission determines are appropriate.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id2f5ef5ac12324acc80fa8677d9292444"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Criteria for review</header><text>In conducting the review under subparagraph (A), the Commission shall consider the following:</text><clause id="id9e81cfd174884452ae64271321e978b0"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Qualifying contributions and qualified small dollar contributions</header><text>The Commission shall consider whether the number and dollar amount of qualifying contributions required and maximum dollar amount for such qualifying contributions and qualified small dollar contributions strikes a balance regarding the importance of voter involvement, the need to assure adequate incentives for participating, and fiscal responsibility, taking into consideration the number of primary and general election participating candidates, the electoral performance of those candidates, program cost, and any other information the Commission determines is appropriate.</text></clause><clause id="idf5624fa8a6dc4c5d8a018a98e205e5ec"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Review of program benefits</header><text>The Commission shall consider whether the totality of the amount of funds allowed to be raised by participating candidates (including through qualifying contributions and small dollar contributions), allocations from the Fund under section 522, matching contributions under section 523, enhanced matching contributions under section 524, and vouchers under section 525 are sufficient for voters in each State to learn about the candidates to cast an informed vote, taking into account the historic amount of spending by winning candidates, media costs, primary election dates, and any other information the Commission determines is appropriate.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ida0199bed201149abb724e80e2b3a0a42"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Recommendations for adjustment of amounts</header><text>Based on the review conducted under subparagraph (A), the Commission shall make recommendations to Congress for any adjustment of the following amounts:</text><clause id="idad0e6dfc975148a5ae5b2b1016047a15"><enum>(i)</enum><text>The maximum dollar amount of qualified small dollar contributions under section 501(13)(C).</text></clause><clause id="id8a1a184ca8b54c1da9b9723e3bc524bf"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>The maximum and minimum dollar amounts for qualifying contributions under section 501(12)(A).</text></clause><clause id="id292701d9b76f4d30a1609a77b8b3a05c"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>The number and value of qualifying contributions a candidate is required to obtain under section 512(a)(1).</text></clause><clause id="id4bc871eda0f042dc86c146953e3db1ba"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>The base amount for candidates under section 522(d).</text></clause><clause id="idc9c9166ebd5949a0a30e1899015cbb05"><enum>(v)</enum><text>The maximum amount of matching contributions a candidate may receive under section 523(b).</text></clause><clause id="id42db1d4aa30f47c9a057a56943c52239"><enum>(vi)</enum><text>The maximum amount of enhanced matching contributions a candidate may receive under section 524(c).</text></clause><clause id="idFA0AFEEBD68F4D84BF1D166F0C2EAB32"><enum>(vii)</enum><text>The dollar amount for vouchers under section 525(c).</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id856397db4de84498a41ae6d8dd12c69a"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Report</header><text>Not later than March 30 following any general election for Federal office, the Commission shall submit a report to Congress on the review conducted under subparagraph (A) and any recommendations developed under subparagraph (C). Such report shall contain a detailed statement of the findings, conclusions, and recommendations of the Commission based on such review.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ide7332c48e87d4e21999b2346809e6498"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Reports</header><text>Not later than March 30, 2026, and every 2 years thereafter, the Commission shall submit to the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration a report documenting, evaluating, and making recommendations relating to the administrative implementation and enforcement of the provisions of this title.</text></subsection><subsection id="ide2cb0c410d87400088bcd352f8403567"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Authorization of appropriations</header><text>There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out the purposes of this subtitle.</text></subsection></section><section id="id984e71e38dbd40399e902c64c4fe01cd"><enum>532.</enum><header>Violations and penalties</header><subsection id="id7b9742cb5ae34ab49d7058ebe0a71d27"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Civil penalty for violation of contribution and expenditure requirements</header><text>If a candidate who has been certified as a participating candidate under section 514 accepts a contribution or makes an expenditure that is prohibited under section 513, 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 Fund.</text></subsection><subsection id="id56957c8109204a8d806569ac3c600bc6"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Repayment for improper use of freedom from influence fund</header><paragraph id="id10f4fd9f25d94308a5c3a673f7216b1f"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>If the Commission determines that any benefit made available to a participating candidate under this title 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 Fund an amount equal to—</text><subparagraph id="idb46cf878215f402faa2e1c2dfe7c4094"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the amount of benefits so used or not remitted, as appropriate; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id421965cb93a441eebb520f65a90336fa"><enum>(B)</enum><text>interest on any such amounts (at a rate determined by the Commission).</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idf48849e56c8a4e869c046840fd9e183d"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Other action not precluded</header><text>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.</text></paragraph></subsection></section></subtitle>.202.Prohibition on joint fundraising committeesSection 302(e) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (52 U.S.C. 30102(e)) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:(6)No authorized committee of a participating candidate (as defined in section 501) may establish a joint fundraising committee with a political committee other than an authorized committee of a candidate..203.Exception to limitation on coordinated expenditures by political party committees with participating candidatesSection 315(d) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (52 U.S.C. 30116(d)) is amended—(1)in paragraph (3)(A), by striking in the case of
and inserting except as provided in paragraph (6), in the case of
; and(2)by adding at the end the following new paragraph:(6)(A)The limitation under paragraph (3)(A) shall not apply with respect to any expenditure from a qualified political party-participating candidate coordinated expenditure fund.(B)In this paragraph, the term qualified political party-participating candidate coordinated expenditure fund means a fund established by the national committee of a political party, or a State committee of a political party, including any subordinate committee of a State committee, for purposes of making expenditures in connection with the general election campaign of a candidate for election to the office of Senator who is a participating candidate (as defined in section 501), that only accepts qualified coordinated expenditure contributions.(C)In this paragraph, the term qualified coordinated expenditure contribution means, with respect to the general election campaign of a candidate for election to the office of Senator who is a participating candidate (as defined in section 501), any contribution (or series of contributions)—(i)which is made by an individual who is not prohibited from making a contribution under this Act; and(ii)the aggregate amount of which does not exceed $500 per election..<enum>III</enum><header>Responsibilities of the Federal Election Commission</header><section id="idf49be5ccb881428cbe9eed5b8ac863ef"><enum>301.</enum><header>Petition for certiorari</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 307(a)(6) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/52/30107">52 U.S.C. 30107(a)(6)</external-xref>) is amended by inserting <quote>(including a proceeding before the Supreme Court on certiorari)</quote> after <quote>appeal</quote>.</text></section><section id="idb7f62e4db7c548f7aa02f505264965fe"><enum>302.</enum><header>Electronic filing of FEC reports</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 304(a)(11) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/52/30104">52 U.S.C. 30104(a)(11)</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph id="id2d8d25259a60488e8c0eeba226981bf5"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subparagraph (A), by striking <quote>under this Act—</quote> and all that follows and inserting <quote>under this Act shall be required to maintain and file such designation, statement, or report in electronic form accessible by computers.</quote>;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idabc5ce1c48564cdb99dd3f49961653da"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in subparagraph (B), by striking <quote>48 hours</quote> and all that follows through <quote>filed electronically)</quote> and inserting <quote>24 hours</quote>; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idd40a64979d974bedbae014b6608c160e"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by striking subparagraph (D).</text></paragraph></section><enum>IV</enum><header>Revenue Provisions</header><section id="idA4091E32E78642B185DDF50C288B8DE8"><enum>401.</enum><header>Freedom From Influence Fund revenue</header><subsection id="idE61529B1AA1F4B328E86D07BA814C436"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by inserting after chapter 36 the following new chapter:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id5671FED6D9A645718BBAA2422704CAB7"><chapter id="idA304DB02BF824B83B2A112F735502286"><enum>37</enum><header>Tax on Payments Pursuant to Certain Government Contracts</header><toc><toc-entry idref="idFC221CC5DD124232B5B89A76E308C207" level="section">Sec. 4501. Imposition of tax.</toc-entry></toc><section id="idFC221CC5DD124232B5B89A76E308C207"><enum>4501.</enum><header>Imposition of tax</header><subsection id="idDE1BD568C6D5406197CC17BA337EEA0A"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Tax imposed</header><text>There is hereby imposed on any payment made to a qualified person pursuant to a contract with the Government of the United States a tax equal to 0.50 percent of the amount paid.</text></subsection><subsection id="id1C966BEDFEFE4F219621CA49538E510B"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Limitation</header><text>The aggregate amount of tax imposed per contract under subsection (a) for any calendar year shall not exceed $500,000.</text></subsection><subsection id="id7295904FE97F438998EFBEC07D41B335"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Qualified person</header><text>For purposes of this section, the term <term>qualified person</term> means any person which—</text><paragraph id="idB9E1A771231B4B2E88CC514A9A35F1AD"><enum>(1)</enum><text>is not a State or local government, a foreign nation, or an organization described in section 501(c)(3) which is exempt from taxation under section 501(a), and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id7BCF7F37F8D848BB8740C6F3729FDCE6"><enum>(2)</enum><text>has a contract with the Government of the United States with a value in excess of $10,000,000.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id1C2405EBBC2B4A1AB6416887BC43C6AB"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Payment of tax</header><text>The tax imposed by this section shall be paid by the person receiving such payment.</text></subsection><subsection id="id6E06A9593E6142CC922DA4AA9D780861"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Use of revenue generated by tax</header><text>It is the sense of the Senate that amounts equivalent to the revenue generated by the tax imposed under this chapter should be appropriated for the financing of a Freedom From Influence Fund and used for the public financing of Senate elections.</text></subsection></section></chapter><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection><subsection id="id2D4A4895E1CB46C99CFD4CA50DC47954"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Conforming amendment</header><text>The table of chapters of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by inserting after the item relating to chapter 36 the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" id="idfed019de-ab01-45fe-8006-aedb75b61826"><toc><toc-entry level="chapter" idref="idA304DB02BF824B83B2A112F735502286">Chapter 37—Tax on Payments Pursuant to Certain Government Contracts</toc-entry></toc><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection><subsection id="id5EBDE32B317A4278BF9C87795D11A3FE" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Effective date</header><text>The amendments made by this section shall apply to contracts entered into after the date of the enactment of this Act. </text></subsection></section><enum>V</enum><header>Miscellaneous Provisions</header><section id="ida458653ccee041ed8d364796689056ad"><enum>501.</enum><header>Severability</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">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.</text></section><section id="id9be66302d31e44debec6b8f56fca8d95"><enum>502.</enum><header>Effective date</header><subsection id="id052e3fc149284074954cd7d8214295a0"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Except as may otherwise be provided in this Act and in the amendments made by this Act, this Act and the amendments made by this Act shall apply with respect to elections occurring during 2028 or any succeeding year, without regard to whether or not the Federal Election Commission has promulgated the final regulations necessary to carry out this Act and the amendments made by this Act by the deadline set forth in subsection (b).</text></subsection><subsection id="idafc43a6ea2764919a235df6752dda86f" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Deadline for regulations</header><text>Not later than June 30, 2026, the Federal Election Commission shall promulgate such regulations as may be necessary to carry out this Act and the amendments made by this Act. </text></subsection></section>