[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 13 (Wednesday, February 5, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E161-E162]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           INTRODUCTION OF THE AMERICAN POLITICAL REFORM ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. SAM FARR

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 5, 1997

  Mr. FARR of California. Mr. Speaker, today I introduce the American 
Political Reform Act and am joined in that introduction by nearly 50 of 
our colleagues from around the nation.
  Last night the President challenged Congress to pass campaign finance 
legislation and we are here to tell you today that we are committed to 
doing so.
  This bill meets the basic principles of true reform:
  First, fairness. This bill does not favor one party over the other or 
one candidate over another.
  Second, reduce the influence of special interests. This bill includes 
PAC limits, limits on large donors and eliminates soft money.
  Third, level playing field. This bill makes campaigns competitive by 
enacting spending limits, giving all candidates a similar footing for 
financing their races.
  Fourth, access to the system by nontraditional candidates. This bill 
makes it possible for minorities and women to run.

[[Page E162]]

  We meet these principles through reasonable and fair changes in the 
law.
  First and foremost, we cap spending.
  There will be no sanity in politics until we bring spending under 
control and a spending cap is the first weapon in the arsenal of 
campaign finance reform.
  Second, we reform the role of PAC money in the system. We reduce the 
individual PAC contribution and cap aggregate contribution levels.
  Third, we reform the role of wealthy donors, including the ability 
for candidates to use their own money in their campaigns.
  Fourth, we reform the role of soft money, essentially eliminating it, 
but allowing for grassroots operations at the State level among 
candidates of the same party.
  Finally, we try to put the brakes on the massive expenditures of 
money in the political realm that are now unregulated, undisclosed and 
outside the law--independent expenditures.
  We do this by requiring new levels of disclosure and by expanding the 
definition of express advocacy.
  The legislation we introduce today is reasonable, achievable, and 
supported by the White House and the Democratic leadership.
  It is the only legislation in the last Congress to get bipartisan 
votes.
  If it could last year, it can again this year. My colleagues and I 
look forward to moving this legislation forward and meeting the 
President's challenge of presenting him with campaign finance reform by 
July 4.

                          ____________________