[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 142 (Tuesday, October 19, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Page S12835]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. BENNETT (for himself, Mr. Burns, and Mr. McConnell):
  S. 1747. A bill to amend the Federal Election Campaign Act 0f 1971 to 
exclude certain Internet communications from the definition of 
expenditure; to the Committee on Rules and Administration.


                    internet freedom protection act

  Mr. BENNETT. 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. 1747

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1 SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Internet Freedom Protection 
     Act''.

     SEC. 2. EXCLUSION OF CERTAIN INTERNET COMMUNICATIONS FROM 
                   DEFINITION OF EXPENDITURE.

       Section 301(9)(B) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 
     1971 (2 U.S.C. 431(9)(B)) is amended--
       (1) in clause (ix), by striking ``and'' at the end;
       (2) in clause (x), by striking the period at the end and 
     inserting ``; and''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(xi) any communication or dissemination of material 
     through the Internet (including electronic mail, chat rooms, 
     and message boards) by any individual, if such material--
       ``(I) is not a paid advertisement;
       ``(II) does not solicit funds for, or on behalf of, a 
     candidate or political committee;
       ``(III) is disseminated for the purpose of communicating or 
     disseminating the opinion of such individual (including an 
     endorsement) regarding a political issue or candidate; and
       ``(IV) is not communicated or disseminated by any 
     individual that receives payment or any other form of 
     compensation for such communication or dissemination.''.
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