[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 4 (Tuesday, January 15, 2013)]
[House]
[Page H171]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

           By Mr. PRICE of North Carolina:
       H.R. 270.
       Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Congressional power to provide for public financing of 
     campaigns arises under the General Welfare Clause, Art. I, 
     Sec. 8, of the Constitution.
       In Buckley v. Valeo, 424 U.S. 1, 91 (1976), the Supreme 
     Court upheld the congressional power to enact public 
     financing of presidential elections under this Clause. The 
     Supreme Court stated with regard to the provisions in the 
     Federal Election Campaign Act Amendments of 1974 establishing 
     a presidential public financing system, ``In this case, 
     Congress was legislating for the `general welfare'--to reduce 
     the deleterious influence of large contributions on our 
     political process, to facilitate communication by candidates 
     with the electorate, and to free candidates from the rigors 
     of fundraising.''