[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 124 (Wednesday, September 17, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9521-S9524]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. ALLARD:
  S. 1190. A bill to reform the financing of Federal elections; to the 
Committee on Rules and Administration.


               the campaign finance integrity act of 1997

  Mr. ALLARD. Mr. President, campaign finance reform is the catch 
phrase of the year in politics. The problem is that every Senator has a 
different definition of reform, including myself. That is why today I 
am introducing the Campaign Finance Integrity Act. I want to ensure 
that we change the campaign finance system without being 
unconstitutional and that flies in the face of the first amendment, 
especially in light of the fact that today is the 210th anniversary of 
the signing of the Constitution.
  Some in Congress have stated that freedom of speech and the desire 
for healthy campaigns in a healthy democracy are in direct conflict and 
that you can't have both. But fortunately for those of us who believe 
in the first amendment rights of all American citizens, the Founding 
Fathers and the Supreme Court are on our side.
  Thomas Jefferson repeatedly stated the importance of the first 
amendment and how it allows the people and the press the right to speak 
their minds freely. Jefferson clearly stated its importance back in 
1798 with, ``One of the amendments to the Constitution * * * expressly 
declares that `Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment 
of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, or abridging the 
freedom of speech or of the press,' thereby guarding in the same 
sentence and under the same words, the freedom of religion, speech, and 
of the press; insomuch that whatever violates either throws down the 
sanctuary which covers the others.'' Again in 1808, he stated that 
``The liberty of speaking and writing guards our other liberties.'' And 
in 1823, Jefferson stated, ``The force of public opinion cannot be 
resisted when permitted freely to be expressed. The agitation it 
produces must be submitted to.'' Jefferson knew and believed that if we 
begin restricting what people say, how they say it, and how much they 
can say, then we deny the first and fundamental freedom given to all 
citizens.
  The Supreme Court has also been very clear in its rulings concerning 
campaign finance and the first amendment. Since the post-Watergate 
changes to the campaign finance system, 24 congressional actions have 
been declared unconstitutional, with 9 rejections based on the first 
amendment. Out of those nine four dealt directly with campaign finance 
reform laws. In each case, the Supreme Court has ruled that political 
spending is equal to political speech.
  In the now famous decision, or infamous to some, Buckley versus 
Valeo, the Court states that,

       The First Amendment denies government the power to 
     determine that spending to promote one's political views is 
     wasteful, excessive, or unwise. In the free society ordained 
     by our Constitution it is not the government but the people--
     individually as citizens and candidates and collectively as 
     associations and political committees--who must retain 
     control over the quantity and range of debate on public 
     issues in a political campaign.

  Simply stated, the government cannot ration or regulate political 
speech of an American through campaign spending limits any more than it 
can tell the local newspaper how many papers it can print or what it 
can print. This reinforces Jefferson's statement that to impede one of 
these rights is to impede all first amendment rights.
  Also, supporters of some of the campaign finance reform bills, 
believe that if we stop the growth of campaign spending and force 
giveaways of public and private resources then all will be fine with 
the campaign finance system. It seems to me that if you look at 
history, price controls didn't work in the 1970's and they won't work 
in the 1990's. The Supreme Court agrees and is again very clear in its 
intent on price controls in campaigns. The Buckley decision says, ``* * 
* the mere growth in the cost of federal election campaigns in and of 
itself provides no basis for governmental restrictions on the quality 
of campaign spending.* * *''
  Campaigns are about ideas and expressing those ideas, no matter how 
great or small the means. The ``distribution of the humblest handbill'' 
to

[[Page S9522]]

the ``expensive modes of communication'' are both indispensable 
instruments of effective political speech. We should not force one 
sector to freely distribute our political ideas just because it is more 
expensive than all the other sectors. So no matter how objectionable 
the cost of campaigns are, the Supreme Court has stated that this is 
not reason enough to restrict the speech of candidates or any other 
groups involved in political speech.
  We need a campaign finance bill that does not violate the first 
amendment, while providing important provisions to open the campaign 
finance of candidates up to the scrutiny of the American people and I 
believe the Campaign Finance Integrity Act does that.
  My bill would: Require candidates to raise at least 50 percent of 
their contributions from individuals in the State or district in which 
they are running; equalize contributions from individuals and political 
action committees, PAC's, by raising the individual limits from $1,000 
to $2,500 and reducing the PAC limit from $5,000 to $2,500; index 
individual and PAC contribution limits for inflation; reduce the 
influence of a candidate's personal wealth by allowing political party 
committees to match dollar for dollar the personal contribution of a 
candidate above $5,000; require organizations, groups, and political 
party committees to disclose within 24 hours the amount and type of 
independent expenditures over $1,000 in support of or in opposition to 
a candidate; require corporations and labor organizations to seek 
separate, voluntary authorization of the use of any dues, initiative 
fees or payment as a condition of employment for political activity, 
and require annual full disclosure of those activities to members and 
shareholders; prohibit depositing of an individual contribution by a 
campaign unless the individual's profession and employer are reported; 
encourage the Federal Elections Commission to allow filing of reports 
by computers and other emerging technologies and to make that 
information accessible to the public on the Internet less than 24 hours 
of receipt; ban the use of taxpayer financed mass mailings, and create 
a tax deduction for political contributions up to $100 for individuals 
and $200 for a joint return.
  This is commonsense campaign finance reform. It drives the candidate 
back into this district or State to raise money from individual 
contributions. It has some of the most open, full, and timeliest 
disclosure requirements of any other campaign finance bill in either 
the Senate or the House of Representatives. I strongly believe that 
sunshine is the best disinfectant.
  The right of political parties, groups, and individuals to say what 
they want in a political campaign is preserved but the right of the 
public to know how much they are spending and what they are saying is 
also recognized. I have great faith that the public can make its own 
decisions about campaign discourse if it is given full and timely 
information.
  Many of the proponents of the more popular campaign finance bills try 
to reduce the influence of interests by suppressing their speech. I 
believe the best ways to reduce the special interests influence is to 
suppress and reduce the size of government. If the government rids 
itself of special interest funding and corporate welfare, then there 
would be little influence left for these large donors. Campaign 
contributions would no longer be based on special interests but on 
ideas. Let's stop corporate welfare, especially the Overseas Private 
Investment Corporation, OPIC, where companies get a subsidized ride on 
the backs of taxpayers in order to invest without risk or without the 
market controlling the outcome. The best way to eliminate corporate 
subsidies is to eliminate the Department of Commerce, where a majority 
of corporate welfare programs are funded. To break special interest 
money, we must break the so-called iron triangle of big business, big 
labor, and big government.
  Ojbecting to the popular catch phrase of the moment is very difficult 
for any politician, but turning your back on the first amendment is 
more difficult for me. I want campaign finance reform but not at the 
expense of the first amendment and that is what my legislation does. 
Not everyone will agree with the Campaign Finance Integrity Act and 
many of us will disagree on this issue but the first amendment is the 
reason we can disagree.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 1190

       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 ``Campaign 
     Finance Integrity Act of 1997''.
       (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act 
     is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.

                         TITLE I--CONTRIBUTIONS

Sec. 101. Requirement for in-state and in-district contributions to 
              congressional candidates.
Sec. 102. Use of contributions to pay campaign debt.
Sec. 103. Modification of political party contribution limits to 
              candidates when candidates make expenditures from 
              personal funds.
Sec. 104. Modification of contribution limits.

                   TITLE II--DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS

Sec. 201. Disclosure of certain expenditures for issue advocacy.
Sec. 202. Disclosure of certain non-Federal financial activities of 
              national political parties.
Sec. 203. Political activities of corporations and labor organizations.

                   TITLE III--REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

Sec. 301. Time for candidates to file reports.
Sec. 302. Contributor information required for contributions in any 
              amount.
Sec. 303. Prohibition of depositing contributions with incomplete 
              contributor information.
Sec. 304. Filing of reports using computers and facsimile machines; 
              required electronic disclosure by commission.

                        TITLE IV--MISCELLANEOUS

Sec. 401. Ban on mass mailings.
Sec. 402. Tax deduction for political contributions.
Sec. 403. Effective date.
                         TITLE I--CONTRIBUTIONS

     SEC. 101. REQUIREMENT FOR IN-STATE AND IN-DISTRICT 
                   CONTRIBUTIONS TO CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATES.

       (a) In General.--Section 315 of the Federal Election 
     Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 441a) is amended--
       (1) by redesignating subsections (e), (f), (g), and (h) as 
     subsections (f), (g), (h), and (i), respectively;
       (2) by inserting after subsection (d) the following:
       ``(e) Requirement for In-State and In-District 
     Contributions to Congressional Candidates.--
       ``(1) Definitions.--
       ``(A) In-State contribution.--In this subsection, the term 
     `in-State contribution' means a contribution from an 
     individual that is a legal resident of the candidate's State.
       ``(B) In-district contribution.--In this subsection, the 
     term `in-district contribution' means a contribution from an 
     individual that is a legal resident of the candidate's 
     district.
       ``(2) Limit.--A candidate for nomination to, or election 
     to, the Senate or House of Representatives and the 
     candidate's authorized committees shall not accept an 
     aggregate amount of contributions of which the aggregate 
     amount of in-State contributions and in-district 
     contributions is less than 50 percent of the total amount of 
     contributions accepted by the candidate and the candidate's 
     authorized committees.
       ``(3) Time for meeting requirement.--A candidate shall meet 
     the requirement of paragraph (2) at the end of each reporting 
     period under section 304.
       ``(4) Personal funds.--For purposes of this subsection, a 
     contribution that is attributable to the personal funds of 
     the candidate or proceeds of indebtedness incurred by the 
     candidate or the candidate's authorized committees shall not 
     be considered to be an in-State contribution or in-district 
     contribution.''.
       (b) Conforming Amendments.--Section 315 of the Federal 
     Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 441a) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (b)(1)(A), by striking ``(e)'' and 
     inserting ``(f)'';
       (2) in subsection (d)(2), by striking ``(e)'' and inserting 
     ``(f)''; and
       (3) in subsection (d)(3)(A)(i), by striking ``(e)'' and 
     inserting ``(f)''.

     SEC. 102. USE OF CONTRIBUTIONS TO PAY CAMPAIGN DEBT.

       Section 315 of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 
     U.S.C. 441a) (as amended by section 101) is amended by adding 
     at the end the following:
       ``(j) Limit on Use of Contributions to Pay Campaign Debt.--
       ``(1) Time to accept contributions.--Beginning on the date 
     that is 90 days after the date of a general or special 
     election, a candidate for election to the Senate or House of 
     Representatives and the candidate's authorized committees 
     shall not accept a contribution that is to be used to pay a 
     debt, loan, or

[[Page S9523]]

     other cost associated with the election cycle of such 
     election.
       ``(2) Personal obligation.--A debt, loan, or other cost 
     associated with an election cycle that is not paid in full on 
     the date that is 90 days after the date of the general or 
     special election shall be assumed as a personal obligation by 
     the candidate.''.

     SEC. 103. MODIFICATION OF POLITICAL PARTY CONTRIBUTION LIMITS 
                   TO CANDIDATES WHEN CANDIDATES MAKE EXPENDITURES 
                   FROM PERSONAL FUNDS.

       (a) In General.--Section 315 of the Federal Election 
     Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 441a) (as amended by section 
     102) is amended by adding at the end the following:
       ``(k) Contribution Limits for Political Party Committees in 
     Response to Candidate Expenditures of Personal Funds.--
       ``(1) In general.--In the case of a general election for 
     the Senate or House of Representatives, a political party 
     committee may make contributions to a candidate without 
     regard to any limitation under subsections (a) and (d) until 
     such time as the aggregate amount of contributions is equal 
     to or greater than the applicable limit.
       ``(2) Applicable Limit.--The applicable limit under 
     paragraph (1), with respect to a candidate, shall be the 
     greatest aggregate amount of expenditures that an opponent of 
     the candidate in the same election and the opponent's 
     authorized committee make using the personal funds of the 
     opponent or proceeds of indebtedness incurred by the opponent 
     (including contributions by the opponent to the opponent's 
     authorized committee) in excess of 2 times the limit under 
     subsection (a)(1)(A) with respect to a general election.
       ``(3) Definition of Political Party Committee.--For 
     purposes of this subsection, the term `political party 
     committee' means a political committee that is a national, 
     State, district, or local committee of a political party 
     (including any subordinate committee).''.
       (b) Notification of Expenditures from Personal Funds.--
     Section 304(a)(6) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 
     1971 (2 U.S.C. 434(a)(6)) is amended--
       (1) by redesignating subparagraph (B) as subparagraph (C); 
     and
       (2) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following:
       ``(B)(i) The principal campaign committee of a candidate 
     for nomination to, or election to, the Senate or House of 
     Representatives shall notify the Commission of the aggregate 
     amount expenditures made using personal funds of the 
     candidate or proceeds of indebtedness incurred by the 
     candidate (including contributions by the candidate to the 
     candidate's authorized committee) in excess of an amount 
     equal to 2 times the limit under section 301(a)(1)(A).
       ``(ii) The notification under clause (i) shall--
       ``(I) be submitted to the Commission not later than 24 
     hours after the expenditure that is the subject of the 
     notification is made;
       ``(II) include the name of the candidate, the office sought 
     by the candidate, and the date and amount of the expenditure; 
     and
       ``(III) include the aggregate amount of expenditures from 
     personal funds that have been made with respect to that 
     election as of the date of the expenditure that is the 
     subject of the notification.''.

     SEC. 104. MODIFICATION OF CONTRIBUTION LIMITS.

       Section 315 of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 
     U.S.C. 441a) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a)--
       (A) in paragraph (1)(A), by striking ``$1,000'' and 
     inserting ``$2,500''; and
       (B) in paragraph (2)(A), by striking ``$5,000'' and 
     inserting ``$2,500''; and
       (2) in subsection (c)--
       (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``subsection (b) and 
     subsection (d)'' and inserting ``paragraphs (1)(A) and (2)(A) 
     of subsection (a) and subsections (b) and (d)''; and
       (B) in paragraph (2)(A), by striking ``means the calendar 
     year 1974.'' and inserting ``means--
       ``(i) for purposes of subsections (b) and (d), calendar 
     year 1974; and
       ``(ii) for purposes of paragraphs (1)(A) and (2)(A) of 
     subsection (a), calendar year 1997.''.
                   TITLE II--DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS

     SEC. 201. DISCLOSURE OF CERTAIN EXPENDITURES FOR ISSUE 
                   ADVOCACY.

       (a) Issue Advocacy.--Section 304 of the Federal Election 
     Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 434) is amended by adding at 
     the end the following:
       ``(d) Issue Advocacy.--
       ``(1) Required report.--A person (other than a candidate or 
     a candidate's authorized committee) who makes a payment in an 
     aggregate amount equal to or greater than $1,000 for a 
     communication containing issue advocacy shall submit a 
     statement to the Commission (not later than 24 hours after 
     making the payment) describing the amount spent, the type of 
     communication involved, and the market or area in which the 
     communication was disseminated.
       ``(2) Definition.--
       ``(A) In general.--In this subsection, the term `a 
     communication containing issue advocacy' means a 
     communication that--
       ``(i) uses the name or likeness of an individual holding 
     Federal office or a candidate for election to a Federal 
     office;
       ``(ii) mentions a national political party; or
       ``(iii) uses the terms `the President', `Congress', 
     `Senate', or `House of Representatives' in reference to an 
     individual holding Federal office.
       ``(B) Exception.--The term shall not include a payment 
     which would be--
       ``(i) described in clause (i), (iii), or (v) of section 
     301(9)(B) if the payment were an expenditure under such 
     section; or
       ``(ii) an independent expenditure.''.
       (b) Increased Reporting for Independent Expenditures.--
     Section 304(c) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 
     (2 U.S.C. 434(c)) is amended in the matter following 
     paragraph (2)(C), by striking ``after the 20th day, but more 
     than 24 hours, before any election'' and inserting ``during a 
     calendar year''.

     SEC. 202. DISCLOSURE OF CERTAIN NON-FEDERAL FINANCIAL 
                   ACTIVITIES OF NATIONAL POLITICAL PARTIES.

       Section 304(b)(4) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 
     1971 (2 U.S.C. 434(b)(4)) is amended--
       (1) in subparagraph (H)(v), by striking ``and'' at the end;
       (2) in subparagraph (I), by inserting ``and'' after the 
     semicolon; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(J) for a national political committee of a political 
     party, disbursements made by the committee in an aggregate 
     amount greater than $1,000, during a calendar year, in 
     connection with a political activity (as defined in section 
     316(c)(3));''.

     SEC. 203. POLITICAL ACTIVITIES OF CORPORATIONS AND LABOR 
                   ORGANIZATIONS.

       (a) Disclosure to Employees and Shareholders Regarding 
     Political Activities.--Section 316 of the Federal Election 
     Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 441b) is amended by adding at 
     the end the following:
       ``(c) Authorization Required for Political Activity.--
       ``(1) In general.--Except with the separate, written, 
     voluntary authorization of each individual, a national bank, 
     corporation or labor organization shall not--
       ``(A) in the case of a national bank or corporation 
     described in this section, collect from or assess its 
     stockholders or employees any dues, initiation fee, or other 
     payment as a condition of employment or membership if any 
     part of the dues, fee, or payment will be used for a 
     political activity in which the national bank or corporation 
     is engaged; and
       ``(B) in the case of a labor organization described in this 
     section, collect from or assess its members or nonmembers any 
     dues, initiation fee, or other payment if any part of the 
     dues, fee, or payment will be used for a political activity.
       ``(2) Effect of authorization.--An authorization described 
     in paragraph (1) shall remain in effect until revoked and may 
     be revoked at any time.
       ``(3) Definition of political activity.--For purposes of 
     this subsection, the term `political activity' includes a 
     communication or other activity that involves carrying on 
     propaganda, attempting to influence legislation, or 
     participating or intervening in a political party or 
     political campaign for a Federal office.
       ``(d) Disclosure of Disbursements for Political 
     Activities.--
       ``(1) Corporations and national banks.--A corporation or 
     national bank shall submit an annual written report to 
     shareholders stating the amount of each disbursement made for 
     political activities or that otherwise influences Federal 
     elections.
       ``(2) Labor organizations.--A labor organization shall 
     submit an annual written report to dues paying members and 
     nonmembers stating the amount of each disbursement made for 
     political activities or that otherwise influences Federal 
     elections, including contributions and expenditures.''.
       (b) Disclosure to the Commission of Certain Permissible 
     Activities by Labor Organizations and Corporations.--Section 
     304 of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 
     434) (as amended in section 201) is amended by adding at the 
     end the following:
       ``(e) Required Statement of Corporations and Labor 
     Organizations.--Each corporation, national bank, or labor 
     organization who makes an aggregate amount of disbursements 
     during a year in an amount equal to or greater than $1,000 
     for any activity described in subparagraph (A), (B), or (C) 
     of section 316(a)(2) shall submit a statement to the 
     Commission (not later than 24 hours after making the 
     payments) describing the amount spent and the activity 
     involved.''.
                   TITLE III--REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

     SEC. 301. TIME FOR CANDIDATES TO FILE REPORTS.

       Section 304(a)(2)(A) of the Federal Election Campaign Act 
     of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 434(a)(2)(A)) is amended--
       (1) in clause (ii), by striking ``and'' following the 
     semicolon;
       (2) in clause (iii), by striking ``; and''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(v) monthly reports during the months of July, August, 
     September, and October, that shall be filed no later than the 
     final day of the reporting month; and
       ``(vi) 24-hour reports, beginning on the day that is 15 
     days preceding an election, that shall be filed no later than 
     the end of each 24-hour period; and''.

     SEC. 302. CONTRIBUTOR INFORMATION REQUIRED FOR CONTRIBUTIONS 
                   IN ANY AMOUNT.

       (a) Section 302.--Section 302 of the Federal Election 
     Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 432) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (b)--
       (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``, and if the amount'' 
     and all that follows through

[[Page S9524]]

     the period and inserting: ``and the following information:
       ``(A) The identification of the contributor.
       ``(B) The date of the receipt of the contribution.''; and
       (B) in paragraph (2)--
       (i) in subsection (A), by striking ``such contribution'' 
     and inserting ``the contribution and the identification of 
     the contributor''; and
       (ii) in subsection (B), by striking ``such contribution'' 
     and all that follows through the period and inserting ``, no 
     later than 10 days after receiving the contribution, the 
     contribution and the following information:
       ``(i) The identification of the contributor.
       ``(ii) The date of the receipt of the contribution.'';
       (2) in subsection (c)--
       (A) by striking paragraph (2);
       (B) in paragraph (3), by striking ``or contributions 
     aggregating more than $200 during any calendar year''; and
       (C) by redesignating paragraphs (3), (4), and (5) as 
     paragraphs (2), (3), and (4), respectively; and
       (3) in subsection (h)(2), by striking ``(c)(5)'' and 
     inserting ``(c)(4)''.
       (b) Section 304.--Section 304(b)(3)(A) of the Federal 
     Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 434(b)(3)(A)) is 
     amended by striking ``whose contributions'' and all that 
     follows through ''so elect,''.

     SEC. 303. PROHIBITION OF DEPOSITING CONTRIBUTIONS WITH 
                   INCOMPLETE CONTRIBUTOR INFORMATION.

       Section 302 of Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 
     U.S.C. 432) is amended by adding at the end the following:
       ``(j) Deposit of Contributions.--The treasurer of a 
     candidate's authorized committee shall not deposit or 
     otherwise negotiate a contribution unless the information 
     required by this section is complete.''.

     SEC. 304. FILING OF REPORTS USING COMPUTERS AND FACSIMILE 
                   MACHINES; REQUIRED ELECTRONIC DISCLOSURE BY 
                   COMMISSION.

       Section 304(a) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 
     (2 U.S.C. 434(a)) is amended by striking paragraph (11) and 
     inserting the following:
       ``(11) Electronic filing.--
       ``(A) In general.--The Commission shall issue a regulation 
     to permit a report, designation, or statement required to be 
     filed with the Commission under this Act to be filed in 
     electronic form accessible by computer or through the use of 
     a facsimile machine or other method of transmission that 
     corresponds with the method of record-keeping or transmission 
     used by persons required to file under this Act.
       ``(B) Internet access to campaign finance information.--The 
     Commission shall make the information contained in a 
     designation, statement, report, or notification filed with 
     the Commission under this section accessible to the public on 
     the Internet and publicly available at the offices of the 
     Commission not later than 24 hours after the designation, 
     statement, report, or notification is received by the 
     Commission.''.
                        TITLE IV--MISCELLANEOUS

     SEC. 401. BAN ON MASS MAILINGS.

       (a) In General.--Section 3210(a)(6) of title 39, United 
     States Code, is amended by striking subparagraph (A) and 
     inserting the following:
       ``(A) A Member of, or Member-elect to, Congress may not 
     mail any mass mailing as franked mail.''.
       (b) Technical and Conforming Amendments.--
       (1) Section 3210 of title 39, United States Code, is 
     amended--
       (A) in subsection (a)--
       (i) in paragraph (3)--

       (I) in subparagraph (G), by striking ``, including general 
     mass mailings,'';
       (II) in subparagraph (I), by striking ``or other general 
     mass mailing''; and
       (III) in subparagraph (J), by striking ``or other general 
     mass mailing'';

       (ii) in paragraph (6)--

       (I) by striking subparagraphs (B), (C), and (F);
       (II) by striking the second sentence of subparagraph (D); 
     and
       (III) by redesignating subparagraphs (D) and (E) as 
     subparagraphs (B) and (C), respectively; and

       (iii) by striking paragraph (7);
       (B) in subsection (c), by striking ``subsection (a) (4) and 
     (5)'' and inserting ``paragraphs (4), (5), and (6) of 
     subsection (a)'';
       (C) by striking subsection (f); and
       (D) by redesignating subsection (g) as subsection (f).
       (2) Section 316 of the Legislative Branch Appropriations 
     Act, 1990 (39 U.S.C. 3210 note) is amended by striking 
     subsection (a).
       (3) Section 311 of the Legislative Branch Appropriations 
     Act, 1991 (2 U.S.C. 59e) is amended by striking subsection 
     (f) and inserting the following:
       ``(f) [Reserved].''.
       (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section 
     shall take effect at the beginning of the first Congress that 
     begins after December 31, 1998.

     SEC. 403. EFFECTIVE DATE.

       Except as otherwise provided in this Act, this Act and the 
     amendments made by this Act shall apply with respect to 
     elections occurring, payments made, and filing periods 
     beginning after December 31, 1998.

                          ____________________