[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 20 (Tuesday, February 2, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7867-7869]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-02173]


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FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION

[Notice 2021-03]


Price Index Adjustments for Contribution and Expenditure 
Limitations and Lobbyist Bundling Disclosure Threshold

AGENCY: Federal Election Commission.

ACTION: Notice of adjustments to contribution and expenditure 
limitations and lobbyist bundling disclosure threshold.

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SUMMARY: As mandated by provisions of the Federal Election Campaign Act 
(``the Act''), the Federal Election Commission (``the Commission'') is 
adjusting certain contribution and expenditure limitations and the 
lobbyist bundling disclosure threshold set forth in the Act, to index 
the amounts for inflation. Additional details appear in the 
supplemental information that follows.

DATES: The new limitation at 52 U.S.C. 30116(a)(1)(A) applies beginning 
on November 4, 2020. The new limitations at 52 U.S.C. 30104(i)(3)(A), 
30116(a)(1)(B), 30116(d) and 30116(h) apply beginning on January 1, 
2021.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Elizabeth S. Kurland, Information 
Division, 1050 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20463; (202) 694-1100 or 
(800) 424-9530.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the Federal Election Campaign Act, 52 
U.S.C. 30101-45, coordinated party expenditure limits (52 U.S.C. 
30116(d)(2)-(3)), certain contribution limits (52 U.S.C. 30116(a)(1)(A) 
and (B), and (h)), and the disclosure threshold for contributions 
bundled by lobbyists (52 U.S.C. 30104(i)(3)(A)) are adjusted 
periodically to reflect changes in the consumer price index. See 52 
U.S.C. 30104(i)(3)(B), 30116(c); 11 CFR 109.32(a)(2), (b)(3), 
110.17(a), (f). The Commission is publishing this notice to announce 
the adjusted limits and disclosure threshold.

Coordinated Party Expenditure Limits for 2021

    Under 52 U.S.C. 30116(c), the Commission must adjust the 
expenditure limitations established by 52 U.S.C. 30116(d) (the limits 
on expenditures by national party committees, state party committees, 
or their subordinate committees in connection with the general election 
campaign of candidates for Federal office) annually to account for 
inflation. This expenditure limitation is increased by the percent 
difference between the price index, as certified to the Commission by 
the Secretary of Labor,

[[Page 7868]]

for the 12 months preceding the beginning of the calendar year and the 
price index for the base period (calendar year 1974). 52 U.S.C. 
30116(c)(1)(B)(i), (2)(B)(i).

1. Expenditure Limitation for House of Representatives in States With 
More Than One Congressional District

    Both the national and state party committees have an expenditure 
limitation for each general election held to fill a seat in the House 
of Representatives in states with more than one congressional district. 
See 52 U.S.C. 30116(d)(3)(B). This limitation also applies to the 
District of Columbia and territories that elect individuals to the 
office of Delegate or Resident Commissioner.\1\ Id. The formula used to 
calculate the expenditure limitation in such states and territories 
multiplies the base figure of $10,000 by the difference in the price 
index (5.24905), rounding to the nearest $100. See 52 U.S.C. 
30116(c)(1)(B), (d)(3)(B); 11 CFR 109.32(b), 110.17. Based upon this 
formula, the expenditure limitation for 2021 general elections for 
House candidates in these states, districts, and territories is 
$52,500.
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    \1\ Currently, these are Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the 
United States Virgin Islands and the Northern Mariana Islands. See 
http://www.house.gov/representatives.
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2. Expenditure Limitation for Senate and for House of Representatives 
in States With Only One Congressional District

    Both the national and state party committees have an expenditure 
limitation for a general election held to fill a seat in the Senate or 
in the House of Representatives in states with only one congressional 
district. See 52 U.S.C. 30116(d)(3)(A). The formula used to calculate 
this expenditure limitation considers not only the price index but also 
the voting age population (``VAP'') of the state. Id. The VAP figures 
used to calculate the expenditure limitations were certified by the 
U.S. Census Bureau. The VAP of each state is also published annually in 
the Federal Register by the U.S. Department of Commerce. 11 CFR 110.18. 
The general election expenditure limitation is the greater of: The base 
figure ($20,000) multiplied by the difference in the price index, 
5.24905 (which totals $105,000); or $0.02 multiplied by the VAP of the 
state, multiplied by 5.24905. See 52 U.S.C. 30116(c)(1)(B), (d)(3)(A); 
11 CFR 109.32(b), 110.17. Amounts are rounded to the nearest $100. 52 
U.S.C. 30116(c)(1)(B)(iii); 11 CFR 109.32(b)(3), 110.17(c). The chart 
below provides the state-by-state breakdown of the 2021 general 
election expenditure limitations for Senate elections. The expenditure 
limitation for 2021 House elections in states with only one 
congressional district \2\ is $105,000.
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    \2\ Currently, these states are: Alaska, Delaware, Montana, 
North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont and Wyoming. See http://www.house.gov/representatives/.
    \3\ This expenditure limit does not apply to the District of 
Columbia, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the United States 
Virgin Islands, and the Northern Mariana Islands because those 
jurisdictions do not elect Senators. See 52 U.S.C. 30116(d)(3)(A); 
11 CFR 109.32(b)(2)(i).

                   Senate General Election Coordinated Expenditure Limits--2021 Elections \3\
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                                                                         VAP x .02 x    Senate expenditure limit
                                                         Voting age       the price       (the greater of the
                        State                            population         index        amount in column 3 or
                                                            (VAP)         (5.24905)            $105,000)
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Alabama..............................................       3,834,249        $402,500                   $402,500
Alaska...............................................         552,427          58,000                    105,000
Arizona..............................................       5,774,978         606,300                    606,300
Arkansas.............................................       2,330,808         244,700                    244,700
California...........................................      30,576,844       3,210,000                  3,210,000
Colorado.............................................       4,557,684         478,500                    478,500
Connecticut..........................................       2,838,054         297,900                    297,900
Delaware.............................................         782,153          82,100                    105,000
Florida..............................................      17,482,580       1,835,300                  1,835,300
Georgia..............................................       8,210,067         861,900                    861,900
Hawaii...............................................       1,111,188         116,700                    116,700
Idaho................................................       1,375,870         144,400                    144,400
Illinois.............................................       9,809,562       1,029,800                  1,029,800
Indiana..............................................       5,188,514         544,700                    544,700
Iowa.................................................       2,438,002         255,900                    255,900
Kansas...............................................       2,217,059         232,700                    232,700
Kentucky.............................................       3,475,334         364,800                    364,800
Louisiana............................................       3,564,038         374,200                    374,200
Maine................................................       1,101,973         115,700                    115,700
Maryland.............................................       4,721,883         495,700                    495,700
Massachusetts........................................       5,552,051         582,900                    582,900
Michigan.............................................       7,839,742         823,000                    823,000
Minnesota............................................       4,356,123         457,300                    457,300
Mississippi..........................................       2,273,653         238,700                    238,700
Missouri.............................................       4,780,119         501,800                    501,800
Montana..............................................         850,894          89,300                    105,000
Nebraska.............................................       1,462,537         153,500                    153,500
Nevada...............................................       2,440,679         256,200                    256,200
New Hampshire........................................       1,113,141         116,900                    116,900
New Jersey...........................................       6,947,836         729,400                    729,400
New Mexico...........................................       1,633,828         171,500                    171,500
New York.............................................      15,348,422       1,611,300                  1,611,300
North Carolina.......................................       8,294,423         870,800                    870,800
North Dakota.........................................         583,680          61,300                    105,000
Ohio.................................................       9,124,576         957,900                    957,900
Oklahoma.............................................       3,027,263         317,800                    317,800

[[Page 7869]]

 
Oregon...............................................       3,380,729         354,900                    354,900
Pennsylvania.........................................      10,162,497       1,066,900                  1,066,900
Rhode Island.........................................         855,276          89,800                    105,000
South Carolina.......................................       4,100,115         430,400                    430,400
South Dakota.........................................         674,238          70,800                    105,000
Tennessee............................................       5,373,433         564,100                    564,100
Texas................................................      21,925,627       2,301,800                  2,301,800
Utah.................................................       2,320,603         243,600                    243,600
Vermont..............................................         510,181          53,600                    105,000
Virginia.............................................       6,724,143         705,900                    705,900
Washington...........................................       6,027,818         632,800                    632,800
West Virginia........................................       1,428,520         150,000                    150,000
Wisconsin............................................       4,574,131         480,200                    480,200
Wyoming..............................................         449,237          47,200                    105,000
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Limitations on Contributions by Individuals, Non-Multicandidate 
Committees and Certain Political Party Committees Giving to U.S. Senate 
Candidates for the 2021-2022 Election Cycle

    The Act requires inflation indexing of: (1) The limitations on 
contributions made by persons under 52 U.S.C. 30116(a)(1)(A) 
(contributions to candidates) and 30116(a)(1)(B) (contributions to 
national party committees); and (2) the limitation on contributions 
made to U.S. Senate candidates by certain political party committees at 
52 U.S.C. 30116(h). See 52 U.S.C. 30116(c). These contribution 
limitations are increased by multiplying the respective statutory 
contribution amount by 1.46170, the percent difference between the 
price index, as certified to the Commission by the Secretary of Labor, 
for the 12 months preceding the beginning of the calendar year and the 
price index for the base period (calendar year 2001). 52 U.S.C. 
30116(c)(1)(B)(i), (2)(B)(ii). The resulting amount is rounded to the 
nearest multiple of $100. See 52 U.S.C. 30116(c); 11 CFR 110.17(b). 
Contribution limitations shall be adjusted accordingly:

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                                             Statutory
           Statutory provision                amount         2021-2022
---------------------------------------------------------------limit----
52 U.S.C. 30116(a)(1)(A)................          $2,000          $2,900
52 U.S.C. 30116(a)(1)(B)................          25,000          36,500
52 U.S.C. 30116(h)......................          35,000          51,200
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    The limitation at 52 U.S.C. 30116(a)(1)(A) is to be in effect for 
the two-year period beginning on the first day following the date of 
the general election in the preceding year and ending on the date of 
the next regularly scheduled election. 52 U.S.C. 30116(c)(1)(C); 11 CFR 
110.1(b)(1)(ii). Thus the $2,900 figure above is in effect from 
November 4, 2020, to November 8, 2022. The limitations under 52 U.S.C. 
30116(a)(1)(B) and 30116(h) shall be in effect beginning January 1st of 
the odd-numbered year and ending on December 31st of the next even-
numbered year. 11 CFR 110.1(c)(1)(ii). Thus the new contribution 
limitations under 52 U.S.C. 30116(a)(1)(B) and 30116(h) are in effect 
from January 1, 2021, to December 31, 2022. See 11 CFR 110.17(b)(1).

Lobbyist Bundling Disclosure Threshold for 2021

    The Act requires certain political committees to disclose 
contributions bundled by lobbyists/registrants and lobbyist/registrant 
political action committees once the contributions exceed a specified 
threshold amount. 52 U.S.C. 30104(i)(1), (i)(3)(A). The Commission must 
adjust this threshold amount annually to account for inflation. 52 
U.S.C. 30104(i)(3)(B). The disclosure threshold is increased by 
multiplying the $15,000 statutory disclosure threshold by 1.28380, the 
difference between the price index, as certified to the Commission by 
the Secretary of Labor, for the 12 months preceding the beginning of 
the calendar year and the price index for the base period (calendar 
year 2006). See 52 U.S.C. 30104(i)(3), 30116(c)(1)(B); 11 CFR 
104.22(g). The resulting amount is rounded to the nearest multiple of 
$100. 52 U.S.C. 30104(i)(3)(B), 30116(c)(1)(B)(iii); 11 CFR 
104.22(g)(4). Based upon this formula ($15,000 x 1.28380), the lobbyist 
bundling disclosure threshold for calendar year 2021 is $19,300.

    Dated: January 28, 2021.

    On behalf of the Commission,

Shana M. Broussard,
Chair, Federal Election Commission.
[FR Doc. 2021-02173 Filed 2-1-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6715-01-P