[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 20 (Thursday, February 1, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Page S1529]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. McCAIN (for himself and Mr. Feingold):
  S. 478. A bill to amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to 
replace the Federal Election Commission with Federal Election 
Administration, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Rules and 
Administration.
  Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, I am pleased to be joined by my good 
friend and colleague from Wisconsin, Senator Feingold in once again 
introducing legislation to replace the Federal Election Commission 
(FEC) with the Federal Election Administration (FEA). The FEA would 
serve as an independent body to enforce Federal campaign laws--
something the FEC has been unable, and often unwilling, to do.
  This legislation would terminate the FEC and establish a new 
regulatory entity. Using a new organizational structure and 
administrative law judges, we hope to avoid the routine partisan 
deadlocks that are now so prevalent at the FEC.
  This bill would authorize the new FEA to impose civil penalties, 
issue cease and desist orders, report apparent criminal violations to 
the appropriate law enforcement authorities, and conduct audits and 
field examinations of campaign committees. Finally, this bill would 
direct the Comptroller General to examine and report to Congress on the 
enforcement of the criminal provisions of the Federal campaign finance 
laws.
  I urge my colleagues to support this common sense reform proposal.
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