S 3295 IS

To amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to prohibit foreign influence in Federal elections, to prohibit government contractors from making expenditures with respect to such elections, and to establish additional disclosure requirements with respect to spending in such elections, and for other purposes.

Mr. SCHUMER (for himself, Mr. FEINGOLD, Mr. WYDEN, Mr. BAYH, Mr. FRANKEN, Mr. DURBIN, Mrs. MURRAY, Mr. LEAHY, Mr. BENNET, Mr. BROWN of Ohio, Mr. REED, Mr. WHITEHOUSE, Mr. SPECTER, Mr. MERKLEY, Ms. KLOBUCHAR, Mr. KAUFMAN, Mr. UDALL of Colorado, Mr. BINGAMAN, Mrs. GILLIBRAND, Mr. CASEY, Mr. BEGICH, Ms. MIKULSKI, Mr. SANDERS, Mr. HARKIN, Mr. ROCKEFELLER, Mrs. MCCASKILL, Mr. MENENDEZ, Mrs. SHAHEEN, Mr. LAUTENBERG, Mrs. FEINSTEIN, Mr. TESTER, Mr. BAUCUS, Mr. CONRAD, Mrs. BOXER, Mr. AKAKA, Mr. NELSON of Florida, Mr. LEVIN, and Mr. BURRIS) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration

To amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to prohibit foreign influence in Federal elections, to prohibit government contractors from making expenditures with respect to such elections, and to establish additional disclosure requirements with respect to spending in such elections, and for other purposes.

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 ‘Democracy Is Strengthened by Casting Light On Spending in Elections Act’ or the ‘DISCLOSE Act’.

(b) Table of Contents- The table of contents of this Act is as follows:

• Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.

   

  Sec. 2. Findings.

   

TITLE I–REGULATION OF CERTAIN POLITICAL SPENDING

• Sec. 101. Prohibiting independent expenditures and electioneering communications by government contractors.

   

  Sec. 102. Application of ban on contributions and expenditures by foreign nationals to foreign-controlled domestic corporations.

   

  Sec. 103. Treatment of payments for coordinated communications as contributions.

   

  Sec. 104. Treatment of political party communications made on behalf of candidates.

   

TITLE II–PROMOTING EFFECTIVE DISCLOSURE OF CAMPAIGN-RELATED ACTIVITY

SUBTITLE A–TREATMENT OF INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURES AND ELECTIONEERING COMMUNICATIONS MADE BY ALL PERSONS

• Sec. 201. Independent expenditures.

   

  Sec. 202. Electioneering communications.

   

SUBTITLE B–EXPANDED REQUIREMENTS FOR CORPORATIONS AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS

• Sec. 211. Additional information required to be included in reports on disbursements by covered organizations.

   

  Sec. 212. Rules regarding use of general treasury funds by covered organizations for campaign-related activity.

   

  Sec. 213. Optional use of separate account by covered organizations for campaign-related activity.

   

  Sec. 214. Modification of rules relating to disclaimer statements required for certain communications.

   

SUBTITLE C–REPORTING REQUIREMENTS FOR REGISTERED LOBBYISTS

• Sec. 221. Requiring registered lobbyists to report information on independent expenditures and electioneering communications.

   

SUBTITLE D–FILING BY SENATE CANDIDATES WITH COMMISSION

• Sec. 231. Filing by Senate candidates with Commission.

   

TITLE III–DISCLOSURE BY COVERED ORGANIZATIONS OF INFORMATION ON CAMPAIGN-RELATED ACTIVITY

• Sec. 301. Requiring disclosure by covered organizations of information on campaign-related activity.

   

TITLE IV–TELEVISION MEDIA RATES

• Sec. 401. Television media rates.

   

TITLE V–OTHER PROVISIONS

• Sec. 501. Judicial review.

   

  Sec. 502. Severability.

   

  Sec. 503. Effective date.

   

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

(a) General Findings- Congress finds and declares as follows:

(b) Findings Relating to Government Contractors- Congress finds and declares as follows:

(c) Findings Relating to Foreign Corporations- Congress finds and declares as follows:

(d) Findings Relating to Coordinated Expenditures- Congress finds and declares as follows:

(e) Findings Relating to Disclosures and Disclaimers- Congress finds and declares as follows:

(f) Findings Relating to Campaign Spending by Lobbyists- Congress finds and declares as follows:

(g) Findings Relating to Lowest Unit Charge- Congress finds and declares as follows:

• (1) Throughout the history of the United States, the American people have been rightly concerned about the power of special interests to control our democratic processes. That was true over 100 years ago when Congress first enacted legislation intended to restrict corporate funds from being used in Federal elections, legislation that Congress in 1947 reaffirmed was intended to include independent expenditures. The Supreme Court held such legislation to be constitutional in 1990 in Austin v. Michigan Chamber of Commerce (494 U.S. 652) and again in 2003 in McConnell v. F.E.C. (540 U.S. 93).

   

  (2) The Supreme Court’s decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission on January 21, 2010, reverses established jurisprudence and sound policy to greatly increase the dangers of undue special interest influence over the democratic process. That decision has opened the floodgates for corporations and labor unions to spend unlimited sums from their general treasury accounts to influence the outcome of elections.

   

  (3) Congress must take action to ensure that the American public has all the information necessary to exercise its free speech and voting rights, and must otherwise take narrowly tailored steps to regulate independent expenditures and electioneering communications in elections.

   

  (1) Government contracting is an activity that is particularly susceptible to improper influence, and to the appearance of improper influence. Government contracts must be awarded based on an objective evaluation of how well bidders or potential contractors meet relevant statutory criteria.

   

  (2) Independent expenditures and electioneering communications that benefit particular candidates or elected officials or disfavor their opponents can lead to apparent and actual ingratiation, access, influence, and quid pro quo arrangements. Government contracts should be awarded based on an objective application of statutory criteria, not based on other forms of inappropriate or corrupting influence.

   

  (3) Prohibiting independent expenditures and electioneering communications by persons negotiating for or performing government contracts will prevent government officials involved in or with influence over the contracting process from influencing the contracting process based, consciously or otherwise, on this kind of inappropriate or corrupting influence.

   

  (4) Prohibiting independent expenditures and electioneering communications by persons negotiating for or performing government contracts will likewise prevent such persons from feeling pressure, whether actually exerted by government officials or not, to make expenditures and to fund communications in order to maximize their chances of receiving contracts, or to match similar expenditures and communications made by their competitors.

   

  (5) Furthermore, because government contracts often involve large amounts of public money, it is critical that the public perceive that the government contracts are awarded strictly in accordance with prescribed statutory standards, and not based on other forms of inappropriate or corrupting influence. The public’s confidence in government is undermined when corporations that make significant expenditures during Federal election campaigns later receive government funds.

   

  (6) Prohibiting independent expenditures and electioneering communications by persons negotiating for or performing government contracts will prevent any appearance that government contracts were awarded based in whole or in part on such expenditures or communications, or based on the inappropriate or corrupting influence such expenditures and communications can create and appear to create.

   

  (7) In these ways, prohibiting independent expenditures and electioneering communications by persons negotiating for or performing government contracts will protect the actual and perceived integrity of the government contracting process.

   

  (8) Moreover, the risks of waste, fraud and abuse, all resulting in economic losses to taxpayers, are significant when would-be public contractors or applicants for public funds make expenditures in Federal election campaigns in order to affect electoral outcomes.

   

  (1) The Supreme Court’s decision in the Citizens United case has provided the means by which United States corporations controlled by foreign entities can freely spend money to influence United States elections.

   

  (2) Foreign corporations commonly own U.S. corporations in whole or in part, and U.S. corporate equity and debt are also held by foreign individuals, sovereign wealth funds, and even foreign nations at levels which permit effective control over those U.S. entities.

   

  (3) As recognized in many areas of the law, foreign ownership interests and influences are exerted in a perceptible way even when the entity is not majority-foreign-owned.

   

  (4) The Federal Government has broad constitutional power to protect American interests and sovereignty from foreign interference and intrusion.

   

  (5) Congress has a clear interest in minimizing foreign intervention, and the perception of foreign intervention, in United States elections.

   

  (1) It has been the consistent view of Congress and the courts that coordinated expenditures in campaigns for election are no different in nature from contributions.

   

  (2) Existing rules still allow donors to evade contribution limits by making campaign expenditures which, while technically qualifying as independent expenditures under law, are for all relevant purposes coordinated with candidates and political parties and thus raise the potential for corruption or the appearance of corruption.

   

  (3) Such arrangements have the potential to give rise to the reality or appearance of corruption to the same degree that direct contributions to a candidate may give rise to the reality or appearance of corruption. Moreover, expenditures which are in fact made in coordination with a candidate or political party have the potential to lessen the public’s trust and faith in the rules and the integrity of the electoral process.

   

  (4) The government therefore has a compelling interest in making sure that expenditures that are de facto coordinated with a candidate are treated as such to prevent corruption, the appearance of corruption, or the perception that some participants are circumventing the laws and regulations which govern the financing of election campaigns.

   

  (1) The American people have a compelling interest in knowing who is funding independent expenditures and electioneering communications to influence Federal elections, and the government has a compelling interest in providing the public with that information. Effective disclaimers and prompt disclosure of expenditures, and the disclosure of the funding sources for these expenditures, can provide shareholders, voters, and citizens with the information needed to evaluate the actions by special interests seeking influence over the democratic process. Transparency promotes accountability, increases the fund of information available to the public concerning the support given to candidates by special interests, sheds the light of publicity on political spending, and encourages the leaders of organizations to act only upon legitimate organizational purposes.

   

  (2) Protecting this compelling interest has become particularly important to address the anticipated increase in special interest spending on election-related communications which will result from the Supreme Court’s decision in the Citizens United case. The current disclosure and disclaimer requirements were designed for a campaign finance system in which such expenditures were subject to prohibitions that no longer apply.

   

  (3) More rigorous disclosure and disclaimer requirements are necessary to protect against the evasion of current rules. Organizations that engage in election-related communications have used a variety of methods to attempt to obscure their sponsorship of communications from the general public. Robust disclosure and disclaimer requirements are necessary to ensure that the electorate is informed about who is paying for particular election-related communications, and so that the shareholders and members of these organizations are aware of their organizations’ election-related spending.

   

  (4) The current lack of accountability and transparency allow special interest political spending to serve as a private benefit for the officials of special interest organizations, to the detriment of the organizations and their shareholders and members.

   

  (1) Lobbyists and lobbying organizations, and through them, their clients, influence the public decision-making process in a variety of ways.

   

  (2) In recent years, scandals involving undue lobbyist influence have lowered public trust in government and jeopardized the willingness of voters to take part in democratic governance.

   

  (3) One way in which lobbyists may unduly influence Federal officials is through their or their clients making independent expenditures or electioneering communications targeting elected officials.

   

  (4) Disclosure of such independent expenditures and electioneering communications will allow the public to examine connections between such spending and official actions, and will therefore limit the ability of lobbyists to exert an undue influence on elected officials.

   

  (1) The purpose of the First Amendment is to ensure a robust marketplace of ideas. The government has a compelling interest in ensuring that Americans have access to this robust marketplace of ideas through the variety of media supported by the government.

   

  (2) In recent years, the cost of political communication has been artificially inflated as candidates, parties, interest groups, and commercial advertisers compete for a dwindling supply of airtime in the periods before elections. Candidates for Federal election are currently forced to pay higher premiums for ‘nonpreemptible’ advertisement time so as not to be replaced by commercial advertisements in such periods.

   

  (3) The high cost of advertising for Federal candidates and their political parties makes it less likely that Americans will receive information necessary to engage fully in the electoral process and hear directly from all participants. The high cost of advertising for Federal candidates and political parties also drives the demand for large, potentially corrupting contributions to Federal election campaigns and forces elected officials to spend more time raising money and less time performing their official responsibilities.

   

  (4) Lower advertising costs enhance the ability of candidates to present and the public to receive information necessary for the effective operation of the democratic process. Lower advertising costs reduce the potential for corrupting contributions to Federal election campaigns. Lower advertising costs allow elected officials to spend more time serving the public interest instead of raising funds to pay for campaign advertisements.

   

SEC. 101. PROHIBITING INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURES AND ELECTIONEERING COMMUNICATIONS BY GOVERNMENT CONTRACTORS.

(a) Prohibition Applicable to Government Contractors-

‘(b) To the extent that subsection (a)(1) prohibits a person who enters into a contract described in such subsection from making any independent expenditure or disbursing funds for an electioneering communication, such subsection shall apply only if the value of the contract is equal to or greater than $50,000.’.

 

(b) Application to Recipients of Assistance Under Troubled Asset Program- Section 317(a) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 441c(a)) is amended–

(c) Technical Amendment- Section 317 of such Act (2 U.S.C. 441c) is amended by striking ‘section 321’ each place it appears and inserting ‘section 316’.

• (1) PROHIBITION-

   

  (2) THRESHOLD FOR APPLICATION OF BAN- Section 317 of such Act (2 U.S.C. 441c) is amended–

   

  • (A) IN GENERAL- Section 317(a)(1) of the Federal Election Campaign Act (2 U.S.C. 441c(a)(1)) is amended by striking ‘purpose or use; or’ and inserting the following: ‘purpose or use, to make any independent expenditure, or to disburse any funds for an electioneering communication; or’.

     

    (B) CONFORMING AMENDMENT- The heading of section 317 of such Act (2 U.S.C. 441c) is amended by striking ‘CONTRIBUTIONS’ and inserting ‘CONTRIBUTIONS, INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURES, AND ELECTIONEERING COMMUNICATIONS’.

     

    (A) by redesignating subsections (b) and (c) as subsections (c) and (d); and

     

    (B) by inserting after subsection (a) the following new subsection:

     

  (1) by striking ‘or’ at the end of paragraph (1);

   

  (2) by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (3); and

   

  (3) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following new paragraph:

   

  ‘(2) who enters into negotiations for financial assistance under title I of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (12 U.S.C. 5211 et seq.) (relating to the purchase of troubled assets by the Secretary of the Treasury), during the period–

   

  ‘(A) beginning on the later of the commencement of the negotiations or the date of the enactment of the Democracy Is Strengthened by Casting Light On Spending in Elections Act; and

   

  ‘(B) ending with the later of the termination of such negotiations or the repayment of such financial assistance;

   

  directly or indirectly to make any contribution of money or other things of value, or to promise expressly or impliedly to make any such contribution to any political party, committee, or candidate for public office or to any person for any political purpose or use, to make any independent expenditure, or to disburse any funds for an electioneering communication; or’.

   

SEC. 102. APPLICATION OF BAN ON CONTRIBUTIONS AND EXPENDITURES BY FOREIGN NATIONALS TO FOREIGN-CONTROLLED DOMESTIC CORPORATIONS.

(a) Application of Ban- Section 319(b) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 441e(b)) is amended–

(b) Certification of Compliance- Section 319 of such Act (2 U.S.C. 441e) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:

‘(c) Certification of Compliance Required Prior to Carrying Out Activity- Prior to the making of any contribution, donation, expenditure, independent expenditure, or disbursement for an electioneering communication by a corporation during a year, the chief executive officer of the corporation (or, if the corporation does not have a chief executive officer, the highest ranking official of the corporation), shall file a certification with the Commission, under penalty of perjury, that the corporation is not prohibited from carrying out such activity under subsection (b)(3), unless the chief executive officer has previously filed such a certification during the year.’.

 

• (1) by striking ‘or’ at the end of paragraph (1);

   

  (2) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (2) and inserting ‘; or’; and

   

  (3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

   

  ‘(3) any corporation which is not a foreign national described in paragraph (1) and–

   

  ‘(A) in which a foreign national described in paragraph (1) or (2) directly or indirectly owns 20 percent or more of the voting shares;

   

  ‘(B) with respect to which the majority of the members of the board of directors are foreign nationals described in paragraph (1) or (2);

   

  ‘(C) over which one or more foreign nationals described in paragraph (1) or (2) has the power to direct, dictate, or control the decision-making process of the corporation with respect to its interests in the United States; or

   

  ‘(D) over which one or more foreign nationals described in paragraph (1) or (2) has the power to direct, dictate, or control the decisionmaking process of the corporation with respect to activities in connection with a Federal, State, or local election, including–

   

  • ‘(i) the making of a contribution, donation, expenditure, independent expenditure, or disbursement for an electioneering communication (within the meaning of section 304(f)(3)); or

     

    ‘(ii) the administration of a political committee established or maintained by the corporation.’.

     

SEC. 103. TREATMENT OF PAYMENTS FOR COORDINATED COMMUNICATIONS AS CONTRIBUTIONS.

(a) In General- Section 301(8)(A) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 431(8)(A)) is amended–

(b) Coordinated Communications Described- Section 324 of such Act (2 U.S.C. 431 et seq.) is amended to read as follows:

• (1) by striking ‘or’ at the end of clause (i);

   

  (2) by striking the period at the end of clause (ii) and inserting ‘; or’; and

   

  (3) by adding at the end the following new clause:

   

  ‘(iii) any payment made by any person (other than a candidate, an authorized committee of a candidate, or a political committee of a political party) for a coordinated communication (as determined under section 324).’.

   

‘SEC. 324. COORDINATED COMMUNICATIONS.

‘(a) Coordinated Communications Defined- For purposes of this Act, the term ‘coordinated communication’ means–

 

‘(b) Covered Communication Defined-

 

‘(c) Treatment of Coordination With Political Parties for Communications Referring to Candidates- For purposes of this section, if a communication which refers to any clearly identified candidate or candidates of a political party or any opponent of such a candidate or candidates is determined to have been made in cooperation, consultation, or concert with or at the request or suggestion of a political committee of the political party but not in cooperation, consultation, or concert with or at the request or suggestion of such clearly identified candidate or candidates, the communication shall be treated as having been made in cooperation, consultation, or concert with or at the request or suggestion of the political committee of the political party but not with or at the request or suggestion of such clearly identified candidate or candidates.’.

 

(c) Effective Date-

 

• ‘(1) a covered communication which is made in cooperation, consultation, or concert with, or at the request or suggestion of, a candidate, an authorized committee of a candidate, or a political committee of a political party; or

   

  ‘(2) any communication that republishes, disseminates, or distributes, in whole or in part, any broadcast or any written, graphic, or other form of campaign material prepared by a candidate, an authorized committee of a candidate, or their agents.

   

  ‘(1) IN GENERAL- Except as provided in paragraph (4), for purposes of this subsection, the term ‘covered communication’ means, for purposes of the applicable election period described in paragraph (2), a publicly distributed or disseminated communication that refers to a clearly identified candidate for Federal office and is publicly distributed or publicly disseminated during such period.

   

  ‘(2) APPLICABLE ELECTION PERIOD- For purposes of paragraph (1), the ‘applicable election period’ with respect to a communication means–

   

  ‘(3) SPECIAL RULE FOR PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION OF COMMUNICATIONS INVOLVING CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATES- For purposes of paragraph (1), in the case of a communication involving a candidate for an office other than President or Vice President, the communication shall be considered to be publicly distributed or publicly disseminated only if the dissemination or distribution occurs in the jurisdiction of the office that the candidate is seeking.

   

  ‘(4) EXCEPTION- The term ‘covered communication’ does not include–

   

  • ‘(A) in the case of a communication which refers to a candidate for the office of President or Vice President, the period–

     

    ‘(B) in the case of a communication which refers to a candidate for any other Federal office, the period–

     

    • ‘(i) beginning with the date that is 120 days before the date of the first primary election, preference election, or nominating convention for nomination for the office of President which is held in any State; and

       

      ‘(ii) ending with the date of the general election for such office; or

       

      ‘(i) beginning with the date that is 90 days before the earliest of the primary election, preference election, or nominating convention with respect to the nomination for the office that the candidate is seeking; and

       

      ‘(ii) ending with the date of the general election for such office.

       

    ‘(A) a communication appearing in a news story, commentary, or editorial distributed through the facilities of any broadcasting station, newspaper, magazine, or other periodical publication, unless such facilities are owned or controlled by any political party, political committee, or candidate; or

     

    ‘(B) a communication which constitutes a candidate debate or forum conducted pursuant to the regulations adopted by the Commission to carry out section 304(f)(3)(B)(iii), or which solely promotes such a debate or forum and is made by or on behalf of the person sponsoring the debate or forum.

     

  (1) IN GENERAL- This section and the amendments made by this section shall apply with respect to payments made on or after the expiration of the 30-day period which begins on the date of the enactment of this Act, without regard to whether or not the Federal Election Commission has promulgated regulations to carry out such amendments.

   

  (2) TRANSITION RULE FOR ACTIONS TAKEN PRIOR TO ENACTMENT- No person shall be considered to have made a payment for a coordinated communication under section 324 of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (as amended by subsection (b)) by reason of any action taken by the person prior to the date of the enactment of this Act. Nothing in the previous sentence shall be construed to affect any determination under any other provision of such Act which is in effect on the date of the enactment of this Act regarding whether a communication is made in cooperation, consultation, or concert with, or at the request or suggestion of, a candidate, an authorized committee of a candidate, or a political committee of a political party.

   

SEC. 104. TREATMENT OF POLITICAL PARTY COMMUNICATIONS MADE ON BEHALF OF CANDIDATES.

(a) Treatment of Payment for Communication as Contribution if Made Under Control or Direction of Candidate- Section 301(8)(A) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 431(8)(A)), as amended by section 103(a), is amended–

(b) Requiring Control or Direction by Candidate for Treatment as Coordinated Party Expenditure-

‘(4) Special Rule for Direct Costs of Communications- The direct costs incurred by a political committee of a political party for a communication made in connection with the campaign of a candidate for Federal office shall not be subject to the limitations contained in paragraphs (2) and (3) unless the communication is controlled by, or made at the direction of, the candidate or an authorized committee of the candidate.’.

 

(c) Effective Date- This section and the amendments made by this section shall apply with respect to payments made on or after the expiration of the 30-day period which begins on the date of the enactment of this Act, without regard to whether or not the Federal Election Commission has promulgated regulations to carry out such amendments.

• (1) by striking ‘or’ at the end of clause (ii);

   

  (2) by striking the period at the end of clause (iii) and inserting ‘; or’; and

   

  (3) by adding at the end the following new clause:

   

  ‘(iv) any payment by a political committee of a political party for the direct costs of a communication made on behalf of a candidate for Federal office who is affiliated with such party, but only if the communication is controlled by, or made at the direction of, the candidate or an authorized committee of the candidate.’.

   

  (1) IN GENERAL- Paragraph (4) of section 315(d) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 441a(d)) is amended to read as follows:

   

  (2) CONFORMING AMENDMENT- Paragraph (1) of section 315(d) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 441a(d)) is amended by striking ‘paragraphs (2), (3), and (4)’ and inserting ‘paragraphs (2) and (3)’.

   

SEC. 201. INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURES.

(a) Revision of Definition- Subparagraph (A) of section 301(17) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 431(17)) is amended to read as follows:

• ‘(A) that, when taken as a whole, expressly advocates the election or defeat of a clearly identified candidate, or is the functional equivalent of express advocacy because it can be interpreted by a reasonable person only as advocating the election or defeat of a candidate, taking into account whether the communication involved mentions a candidacy, a political party, or a challenger to a candidate, or takes a position on a candidate’s character, qualifications, or fitness for office; and’.

   

(b) Uniform 24-Hour Reporting For Persons Making Independent Expenditures Exceeding $10,000 at Any Time- Section 304(g) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 434(g)) is amended by striking paragraphs (1) and (2) and inserting the following:

‘(1) INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURES EXCEEDING THRESHOLD AMOUNT-

 

‘(2) THRESHOLD AMOUNT DESCRIBED- In paragraph (1), the ‘threshold amount’ means–

 

• ‘(A) INITIAL REPORT- A person (including a political committee) that makes or contracts to make independent expenditures in an aggregate amount equal to or greater than the threshold amount described in paragraph (2) shall file a report describing the expenditures within 24 hours.

   

  ‘(B) ADDITIONAL REPORTS- After a person files a report under subparagraph (A), the person shall file an additional report within 24 hours after each time the person makes or contracts to make independent expenditures in an aggregate amount equal to or greater than the threshold amount with respect to the same election as that to which the initial report relates.

   

  ‘(A) during the period up to and including the 20th day before the date of an election, $10,000; or

   

  ‘(B) during the period after the 20th day, but more than 24 hours, before the date of an election, $1,000.’.

   

(c) Effective Date-

• (1) IN GENERAL- The amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply with respect to contributions and expenditures made on or after the expiration of the 30-day period which begins on the date of the enactment of this Act, without regard to whether or not the Federal Election Commission has promulgated regulations to carry out such amendments.

   

  (2) REPORTING REQUIREMENTS- The amendment made by subsection (b) shall apply with respect to reports required to be filed after the date of the enactment of this Act.

   

SEC. 202. ELECTIONEERING COMMUNICATIONS.

(a) Period During Which Communications Treated as Electioneering Communications-

(b) Requiring Reports To Include Information on Intended Target of Communications- Section 304(f)(2)(D) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 434(f)(2)(D)) is amended–

• (1) EXPANSION OF PERIOD- Section 304(f)(3)(A)(i)(II) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 434(f)(3)(A)(i)(II)) is amended to read as follows:

   

  • • ‘(II) is made during the period beginning with the date that is 90 days before the earliest of the primary election, preference election, or nominating convention with respect to the nomination for the office that the candidate is seeking and ending with the date of the general election for such office.’.

       

  (2) EFFECTIVE DATE; TRANSITION FOR COMMUNICATIONS MADE PRIOR TO ENACTMENT- The amendment made by paragraph (1) shall apply with respect to communications made on or after the date of the enactment of this Act, without regard to whether or not the Federal Election Commission has promulgated regulations to carry out such amendments, except that no communication which is made prior to the date of the enactment of this Act shall be treated as an electioneering communication under section 304(f)(3)(A)(i)(II) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (as amended by paragraph (1)) unless the communication would be treated as an electioneering communication under such section if the amendment made by paragraph (1) did not apply.

   

  (1) by striking ‘and the names’ and inserting ‘, the names’; and

   

  (2) by inserting ‘, and (if applicable) a statement regarding whether the communications are intended to support or oppose such candidates’ before the period at the end.

   

SEC. 211. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REQUIRED TO BE INCLUDED IN REPORTS ON DISBURSEMENTS BY COVERED ORGANIZATIONS.

(a) Independent Expenditure Reports- Section 304(g) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 434(g)) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

‘(5) DISCLOSURE OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION BY COVERED ORGANIZATIONS MAKING PAYMENTS FOR PUBLIC INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURES-

 

• ‘(A) ADDITIONAL INFORMATION- If a covered organization makes or contracts to make public independent expenditures in an aggregate amount equal to or exceeding $10,000 in a calendar year, the report filed by the organization under this subsection shall include, in addition to the information required under paragraph (3), the following information:

   

  ‘(B) TREATMENT OF TRANSFERS MADE TO OTHER PERSONS-

   

  • ‘(i) If any person made a donation or payment to the covered organization during the covered organization reporting period which was provided for the purpose of being used for campaign-related activity or in response to a solicitation for funds to be used for campaign-related activity–

     

    ‘(ii) The identification of each person who made unrestricted donor payments to the organization during the covered organization reporting period–

     

    presented in the order of the aggregate amount of payments made by such persons during such period (with the identification of the person making the largest payment appearing first).

     

    • ‘(I) subject to subparagraph (C), the identification of each person who made such donations or payments in an aggregate amount equal to or exceeding $1,000 during such period, presented in the order of the aggregate amount of donations or payments made by such persons during such period (with the identification of the person making the largest donation or payment appearing first); and

       

      ‘(II) if any person identified under subclause (I) designated that the donation or payment be used for campaign-related activity with respect to a specific election or in support of a specific candidate, the name of the election or candidate involved, and if any such person designated that the donation or payment be used for a specific public independent expenditure, a description of the expenditure.

       

      ‘(I) in an aggregate amount equal to or exceeding $1,000 during such period, if any of the disbursements made by the organization for any of the public independent expenditures which are covered by the report were not made from the organization’s Campaign-Related Activity Account under section 326; or

       

      ‘(II) in an aggregate amount equal to or exceeding $10,000 during such period, if the disbursements made by the organization for all of the public independent expenditures which are covered by the report were made exclusively from the organization’s Campaign-Related Activity Account under section 326 (but only if the organization has made deposits described in subparagraph (D) of section 326(a)(2) into that Account during such period in an aggregate amount equal to or greater than $10,000),

       

    ‘(i) IN GENERAL- For purposes of the requirement to file reports under this subsection (including the requirement under subparagraph (A) to include additional information in such reports), a covered organization which transfers amounts to another person for the purpose of making a public independent expenditure by that person or by any other person, or (in accordance with clause (ii)) which is deemed to have transferred amounts to another person for the purpose of making a public independent expenditure by that person or by any other person, shall be considered to have made a public independent expenditure.

     

    ‘(ii) RULES FOR DEEMING TRANSFERS MADE FOR PURPOSE OF MAKING EXPENDITURES- For purposes of clause (i), in determining whether a covered organization or any other person who transfers amounts to another person shall be deemed to have transferred the amounts for the purpose of making a public independent expenditure, the following rules apply:

     

    • ‘(I) The person shall be deemed to have transferred the amounts for the purpose of making a public independent expenditure if–

       

‘(aa) the person making the public independent expenditure or another person acting on that person’s behalf solicited funding from the person or from the person to whom the amounts were transferred for making any public independent expenditures,

 

‘(bb) the person and the person to whom the amounts were transferred engaged in substantial discussion (whether written or verbal) regarding the making of public independent expenditures,

 

‘(cc) the person or the person to whom the amounts were transferred knew or should have known of the covered organization’s intent to make public independent expenditures, or

 

‘(dd) the person or the person to whom the amounts were transferred made a public independent expenditure during the election cycle involved or the previous election cycle (as defined in section 301(25)).

 

(b) Electioneering Communication Reports- Section 304(f) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 434(f)) is amended–

 

• • ‘(C) EXCLUSION OF AMOUNTS DESIGNATED FOR OTHER CAMPAIGN-RELATED ACTIVITY- For purposes of subparagraph (A)(i), in determining the amount of a donation or payment made by a person which was provided for the purpose of being used for campaign-related activity or in response to a solicitation for funds to be used for campaign-related activity, there shall be excluded any amount which was designated by the person to be used–

     

    ‘(D) EXCLUSION OF AMOUNTS PAID FROM SEPARATE SEGREGATED FUND- In determining the amount of public independent expenditures made by a covered organization for purposes of this paragraph, there shall be excluded any amounts paid from a separate segregated fund established and administered by the organization under section 316(b)(2)(C).

     

    ‘(E) COVERED ORGANIZATION REPORTING PERIOD DESCRIBED- In this paragraph, the ‘covered organization reporting period’ is, with respect to a report filed by a covered organization under this subsection–

     

    ‘(F) DEFINITIONS- In this paragraph–

     

    • • ‘(II) The person shall not be deemed to have transferred the amounts for the purpose of making a public independent expenditure if the transfer was a commercial transaction occurring in the ordinary course of business between the person and the person to whom the amounts were transferred.

         

      ‘(i) for campaign-related activity described in clause (i) of section 325(d)(2)(A) (relating to independent expenditures) with respect to a different election, or with respect to a candidate in a different election, than an election which is the subject of any of the public independent expenditures covered by the report involved; or

       

      ‘(ii) for any campaign-related activity described in clause (ii) of section 325(d)(2)(A) (relating to electioneering communications).

       

      ‘(i) in the case of the first report filed by a covered organization under this subsection which includes information required under this paragraph, the shorter of–

       

      ‘(ii) in the case of any subsequent report filed by a covered organization under this subsection which includes information required under this paragraph, the period occurring since the most recent report filed by the organization which includes such information.

       

      • ‘(I) the period which begins on the effective date of the Democracy Is Strengthened by Casting Light On Spending in Elections Act and ends on the last day covered by the report, or

         

        ‘(II) the 12-month period ending on the last day covered by the report; and

         

      ‘(i) the terms ‘covered organization’, ‘campaign-related activity’, and ‘unrestricted donor payment’ have the meaning given such terms in section 325; and

       

      ‘(ii) the term ‘public independent expenditure’ means an independent expenditure for a public communication (as defined in section 301(22)).’.

       

  (1) by redesignating paragraphs (6) and (7) as paragraphs (7) and (8); and

   

  (2) by inserting after paragraph (5) the end the following new paragraph:

   

  ‘(6) DISCLOSURE OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION BY COVERED ORGANIZATIONS-

   

  • ‘(A) ADDITIONAL INFORMATION- If a covered organization files a statement under this subsection, the statement shall include, in addition to the information required under paragraph (2), the following information:

     

    ‘(B) TREATMENT OF TRANSFERS MADE TO OTHER PERSONS-

     

    • ‘(i) If any person made a donation or payment to the covered organization during the covered organization reporting period which was provided for the purpose of being used for campaign-related activity or in response to a solicitation for funds to be used for campaign-related activity–

       

      ‘(ii) The identification of each person who made unrestricted donor payments to the organization during the covered organization reporting period–

       

      presented in the order of the aggregate amount of payments made by such persons during such period (with the identification of the person making the largest payment appearing first).

       

      • ‘(I) subject to subparagraph (C), the identification of each person who made such donations or payments in an aggregate amount equal to or exceeding $1,000 during such period, presented in the order of the aggregate amount of donations or payments made by such persons during such period (with the identification of the person making the largest donation or payment appearing first); and

         

        ‘(II) if any person identified under subclause (I) designated that the donation or payment be used for campaign-related activity with respect to a specific election or in support of a specific candidate, the name of the election or candidate involved, and if any such person designated that the donation or payment be used for a specific electioneering communication, a description of the communication.

         

        ‘(I) in an aggregate amount equal to or exceeding $1,000 during such period, if any of the disbursements made by the organization for any of the electioneering communications which are covered by the statement were not made from the organization’s Campaign-Related Activity Account under section 326; or

         

        ‘(II) in an aggregate amount equal to or exceeding $10,000 during such period, if the disbursements made by the organization for all of the electioneering communications which are covered by the statement were made exclusively from the organization’s Campaign-Related Activity Account under section 326 (but only if the organization has made deposits described in subparagraph (D) of section 326(a)(2) into that Account during such period in an aggregate amount equal to or greater than $10,000),

         

      ‘(i) IN GENERAL- For purposes of the requirement to file statements under this subsection (including the requirement under subparagraph (A) to include additional information in such statements), a covered organization which transfers amounts to another person for the purpose of making an electioneering communication by that person or by any other person, or (in accordance with clause (ii)) which is deemed to have transferred amounts to another person for the purpose of making an electioneering communication by that person or by any other person, shall be considered to have made a disbursement for an electioneering communication.

       

      ‘(ii) RULES FOR DEEMING TRANSFERS MADE FOR PURPOSE OF MAKING COMMUNICATIONS- For purposes of clause (i), in determining whether a covered organization or any other person who transfers amounts to another person shall be deemed to have transferred the amounts for the purpose of making an electioneering communication, the following rules apply:

       

      • ‘(I) The person shall be deemed to have transferred the amounts for the purpose of making an electioneering communication if–

         

‘(aa) the person making the public independent expenditure or another person acting on that person’s behalf solicited funding from the person or from the person to whom the amounts were transferred for making any electioneering communications,

 

‘(bb) the person and the person to whom the amounts were transferred engaged in substantial discussion (whether written or verbal) regarding the making of electioneering communications,

 

‘(cc) the person or the person to whom the amounts were transferred knew or should have known of the covered organization’s intent to make electioneering communications, or

 

‘(dd) the person or the person to whom the amounts were transferred made an electioneering communication during the election cycle involved or the previous election cycle (as defined in section 301(25)).

 

• • ‘(C) EXCLUSION OF AMOUNTS DESIGNATED FOR OTHER CAMPAIGN-RELATED ACTIVITY- For purposes of subparagraph (A)(i), in determining the amount of a donation or payment made by a person which was provided for the purpose of being used for campaign-related activity or in response to a solicitation for funds to be used for campaign-related activity, there shall be excluded any amount which was designated by the person to be used–

     

    ‘(D) COVERED ORGANIZATION REPORTING PERIOD DESCRIBED- In this paragraph, the ‘covered organization reporting period’ is, with respect to a statement filed by a covered organization under this subsection–

     

    ‘(E) DEFINITIONS- In this paragraph, the terms ‘covered organization’, ‘campaign-related activity’, and ‘unrestricted donor payment’ have the meaning given such terms in section 325.’.

     

    • • ‘(II) The person shall not be considered to have transferred the amounts for the purpose of making an electioneering communication if the transfer was a commercial transaction occurring in the ordinary course of business between the person and the person to whom the amounts were transferred.

         

      ‘(i) for campaign-related activity described in clause (ii) of section 325(d)(2)(A) (relating to electioneering communications) with respect to a different election, or with respect to a candidate in a different election, than an election which is the subject of any of the electioneering communications covered by the statement involved; or

       

      ‘(ii) for any campaign-related activity described in clause (i) of section 325(d)(2)(A) (relating to independent expenditures consisting of a public communication).

       

      ‘(i) in the case of the first statement filed by a covered organization under this subsection which includes information required under this paragraph, the shorter of–

       

      ‘(ii) in the case of any subsequent statement filed by a covered organization under this subsection which includes information required under this paragraph, the period occurring since the most recent statement filed by the organization which includes such information.

       

      • ‘(I) the period which begins on the effective date of the Democracy Is Strengthened by Casting Light On Spending in Elections Act and ends on the disclosure date for the statement, or

         

        ‘(II) the 12-month period ending on the disclosure date for the statement; and

         

SEC. 212. RULES REGARDING USE OF GENERAL TREASURY FUNDS BY COVERED ORGANIZATIONS FOR CAMPAIGN-RELATED ACTIVITY.

Title III of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 431 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

‘SEC. 325. SPECIAL RULES FOR USE OF GENERAL TREASURY FUNDS BY COVERED ORGANIZATIONS FOR CAMPAIGN-RELATED ACTIVITY.

‘(a) Use of Funds for Campaign-Related Activity-

 

‘(b) Restrictions on Use of Funds for Campaign-Related Activity-

 

‘(c) Certifications Regarding Disbursements for Campaign-Related Activity-

 

‘(d) Definitions- For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:

 

• ‘(1) IN GENERAL- Subject to any applicable restrictions and prohibitions under this Act, a covered organization may make disbursements for campaign-related activity using–

   

  ‘(2) NO EFFECT ON USE OF SEPARATE SEGREGATED FUND- Nothing in this section shall be construed to affect the authority of a covered organization to make disbursements from a separate segregated fund established and administered by the organization under section 316(b)(2)(C).

   

  • ‘(A) amounts paid or donated to the organization which are designated by the person providing the amounts to be used for campaign-related activity;

     

    ‘(B) unrestricted donor payments made to the organization; and

     

    ‘(C) other funds of the organization, including amounts received pursuant to commercial activities in the regular course of a covered organization’s business.

     

  ‘(1) CERTIFICATION AFTER RECEIVING NOTIFICATION BY DONOR TO NOT USE FUNDS FOR ACTIVITY- If any person who makes a donation, payment, or transfer to a covered organization (other than the covered organization) notifies the organization in writing (at the time of making the donation, payment, or transfer) that the organization may not use the donation, payment, or transfer for campaign-related activity, not later than 7 days after the organization receives the donation, payment, or transfer the organization shall transmit to the person a written certification by the chief financial officer of the covered organization (or, if the organization does not have a chief financial officer, the highest ranking financial official of the organization), under penalty of perjury, that–

   

  ‘(2) EXCEPTION FOR PAYMENTS MADE PURSUANT TO COMMERCIAL ACTIVITIES- Paragraph (1) does not apply with respect to any payment or transfer made pursuant to commercial activities in the regular course of a covered organization’s business.

   

  • ‘(A) the organization will not use the donation, payment, or transfer for campaign-related activity; and

     

    ‘(B) the organization will not include any information on the person in any report filed by the organization under section 304 with respect to independent expenditures or electioneering communications, so that the person will not be required to appear in a significant funder statement or a Top 5 Funders list under section 318(e).

     

  ‘(1) CERTIFICATION BY CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER- If, at any time during a calendar quarter, a covered organization makes a disbursement of funds for campaign-related activity using funds described in subsection (a)(1), the chief executive officer of the covered organization (or, if the organization does not have a chief executive officer, the highest ranking official of the organization), under penalty of perjury, shall file a statement with the Commission which contains the following certifications:

   

  ‘(2) APPLICATION OF ELECTRONIC FILING RULES- Section 304(d)(1) shall apply with respect to a statement required under this subsection in the same manner as such section applies with respect to a statement under subsection (c) or (g) of section 304.

   

  ‘(3) DEADLINE- The chief executive officer or highest ranking official of a covered organization (as the case may be) shall file the statement required under this subsection with respect to a calendar quarter not later than 15 days after the end of the quarter.

   

  • ‘(A) None of the campaign-related activity for which the organization disbursed the funds during the quarter was made in cooperation, consultation, or concert with, or at the request or suggestion of, any candidate or any authorized committee or agent of such candidate, or political committee of a political party or agent of any political party.

     

    ‘(B) The chief executive officer or highest ranking official of the covered organization (as the case may be) has reviewed and approved each statement and report filed by the organization under section 304 with respect to any such disbursement made during the quarter.

     

    ‘(C) Each statement and report filed by the organization under section 304 with respect to any such disbursement made during the quarter is complete and accurate and does not contain an untrue statement of a material fact.

     

    ‘(D) All such disbursements made during the quarter are in compliance with this Act and all other applicable Federal laws.

     

    ‘(E) No portion of the amounts used to make any such disbursements during the quarter is attributable to funds received by the organization that were restricted by the person who provided the funds from being used for campaign-related activity pursuant to subsection (b).

     

  ‘(1) COVERED ORGANIZATION- The term ‘covered organization’ means any of the following:

   

  ‘(2) CAMPAIGN-RELATED ACTIVITY-

   

  ‘(3) UNRESTRICTED DONOR PAYMENT- The term ‘unrestricted donor payment’ means a payment to a covered organization which consists of a donation or payment from a person other than the covered organization, except that such term does not include–

   

  • ‘(A) Any corporation which is subject to section 316(a).

     

    ‘(B) Any labor organization (as defined in section 316).

     

    ‘(C) Any organization described in paragraph (4), (5), or (6) of section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from tax under section 501(a) of such Code.

     

    ‘(D) Any political organization under section 527 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, other than a political committee under this Act.

     

    ‘(A) IN GENERAL- The term ‘campaign-related activity’ means–

     

    ‘(B) RULE FOR DEEMING TRANSFERS MADE FOR PURPOSE OF CAMPAIGN-RELATED ACTIVITY- For purposes of subparagraph (A), in determining whether a transfer of funds by one person to another person shall be deemed to have been made for the purpose of making an independent expenditure consisting of a public communication or an electioneering communication, the following rules apply:

     

    • ‘(i) an independent expenditure consisting of a public communication (as defined in section 301(22)), a transfer of funds to another person for the purpose of making such an independent expenditure by that person or by any other person, or (in accordance with subparagraph (B)) a transfer of funds to another person which is deemed to have been made for the purpose of making such an independent expenditure by that person or by any other person; or

       

      ‘(ii) an electioneering communication, a transfer of funds to another person for the purpose of making an electioneering communication by that person or by any other person, or (in accordance with subparagraph (B)) a transfer of funds to another person which is deemed to have been made for the purpose of making an electioneering communication by that person or by any other person.

       

      ‘(i) The transfer shall be deemed to have been made for the purpose of making such an independent expenditure or an electioneering communication if–

       

      ‘(ii) The transfer shall not be deemed to have been made for the purpose of making such an independent expenditure or an electioneering communication if the transfer was a commercial transaction occurring in the ordinary course of business between the person and the person to whom the amounts were transferred.

       

      • ‘(I) the person making the independent expenditure or electioneering communication or another person acting on that person’s behalf solicited funding from the person or from the person to whom the amounts were transferred for the purpose of making any such independent expenditures or electioneering communications,

         

        ‘(II) the person and the person to whom the amounts were transferred engaged in substantial discussion (whether written or verbal) regarding the making of such independent expenditures or electioneering communications,

         

        ‘(III) the person or the person to whom the amounts were transferred knew or should have known of the covered organization’s intent to disburse funds for campaign-related activity, or

         

        ‘(IV) the person or the person to whom the amounts were transferred made such an independent expenditure or electioneering communication during the election cycle involved or the previous election cycle (as defined in section 301(25)).

         

    ‘(A) any payment made pursuant to commercial activities in the regular course of a covered organization’s business;

     

    ‘(B) any donation or payment which is designated by the person making the donation or payment to be used for campaign-related activity or made in response to a solicitation for funds to be used for campaign-related activity; or

     

    ‘(C) any donation or payment made by a person who notifies the organization in writing (at the time of making the payment) that the organization may not use the donation or payment for campaign-related activity.’.

     

SEC. 213. OPTIONAL USE OF SEPARATE ACCOUNT BY COVERED ORGANIZATIONS FOR CAMPAIGN-RELATED ACTIVITY.

Title III of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 431 et seq.), as amended by section 212, is further amended by adding at the end the following new section:

‘SEC. 326. OPTIONAL USE OF SEPARATE ACCOUNT BY COVERED ORGANIZATIONS FOR CAMPAIGN-RELATED ACTIVITY.

‘(a) Optional Use of Separate Account-

 

‘(b) Reduction in Amounts Otherwise Available for Account in Response to Demand of General Donors-

 

‘(c) Definitions- In this section, the terms ‘campaign-related activity’ and ‘covered organization’ have the meaning given such terms in section 325.’.

 

• ‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT OF ACCOUNT-

   

  ‘(2) DEPOSITS DESCRIBED- The deposits described in this paragraph are deposits of the following amounts:

   

  ‘(3) NO TREATMENT AS POLITICAL COMMITTEE- The establishment and administration of an Account in accordance with this subsection shall not by itself be treated as the establishment or administration of a political committee for any purpose of this Act.

   

  • ‘(A) IN GENERAL- At its option, a covered organization described in section 325 may make disbursements for campaign-related activity using amounts from a bank account established and controlled by the organization to be known as the Campaign-Related Activity Account (hereafter in this section referred to as the ‘Account’), which shall be maintained separately from all other accounts of the organization and which shall consist exclusively of the deposits described in paragraph (2).

     

    ‘(B) MANDATORY USE OF ACCOUNT AFTER ESTABLISHMENT- If a covered organization establishes an Account under this section, it may not make disbursements for campaign-related activity from any source other than amounts from the Account.

     

    ‘(C) EXCLUSIVE USE OF ACCOUNT FOR CAMPAIGN-RELATED ACTIVITY- Amounts in the Account shall be used exclusively for disbursements by the covered organization for campaign-related activity. After such disbursements are made, information with respect to deposits made to the Account shall be disclosed in accordance with section 304(g)(5) or section 304(f)(6).

     

    ‘(A) Amounts donated or paid to the covered organization by a person other than the organization for the purpose of being used for campaign-related activity, and for which the person providing the amounts has designated that the amounts be used for campaign-related activity with respect to a specific election or specific candidate.

     

    ‘(B) Amounts donated or paid to the covered organization by a person other than the organization for the purpose of being used for campaign-related activity, and for which the person providing the amounts has not designated that the amounts be used for campaign-related activity with respect to a specific election or specific candidate.

     

    ‘(C) Amounts donated or paid to the covered organization by a person other than the organization in response to a solicitation for funds to be used for campaign-related activity.

     

    ‘(D) Amounts transferred to the Account by the covered organization from other accounts of the organization, including from the organization’s general treasury funds.

     

  ‘(1) IN GENERAL- If a covered organization which has established an Account obtains any revenues during a year which are attributable to a donation or payment from a person other than the covered organization, and if any person who makes such a donation or payment to the organization notifies the organization in writing (at the time of making the donation or payment) that the organization may not use the donation or payment for campaign-related activity, the organization shall reduce the amount of its revenues available for deposits to the Account which are described in subsection (a)(3)(D) during the year by the amount of the donation or payment.

   

  ‘(2) EXCEPTION- Paragraph (1) does not apply with respect to any payment made pursuant to commercial activities in the regular course of a covered organization’s business.

   

SEC. 214. MODIFICATION OF RULES RELATING TO DISCLAIMER STATEMENTS REQUIRED FOR CERTAIN COMMUNICATIONS.

(a) Applying Requirements to All Independent Expenditure Communications- Section 318(a) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 441d(a)) is amended by striking ‘for the purpose of financing communications expressly advocating the election or defeat of a clearly identified candidate’ and inserting ‘for an independent expenditure consisting of a public communication’.

(b) Stand by Your Ad Requirements-

‘(e) Communications by Others-

 

‘(1) IN GENERAL- Any communication described in paragraph (3) of subsection (a) which is transmitted through radio or television (other than a communication to which subsection (d)(2) applies because the communication is paid for by a political committee, including a political committee of a political party) shall include, in addition to the requirements of that paragraph, the following:

 

‘(2) INDIVIDUAL DISCLOSURE STATEMENT DESCRIBED- The individual disclosure statement described in this paragraph is the following: ‘I am XXXXXXX, and I approve this message.’, with the blank filled in with the name of the applicable individual.

 

‘(3) ORGANIZATIONAL DISCLOSURE STATEMENT DESCRIBED- The organizational disclosure statement described in this paragraph is the following: ‘I am XXXXXXX, the XXXXXXX of XXXXXXX, and XXXXXXX approves this message.’, with–

 

‘(4) SIGNIFICANT FUNDER DISCLOSURE STATEMENT DESCRIBED-

 

‘(5) TOP 5 FUNDERS LIST DESCRIBED- With respect to a communication paid for in whole or in part with a payment which is treated as a disbursement by a covered organization for campaign-related activity under section 325, the Top 5 Funders list described in this paragraph is–

 

‘(6) METHOD OF CONVEYANCE OF STATEMENT-

 

‘(7) APPLICABLE INDIVIDUAL DEFINED- In this subsection, the term ‘applicable individual’ means, with respect to a communication to which this paragraph applies–

 

‘(8) OTHER DEFINITIONS- In this subsection, the terms ‘campaign-related activity’, ‘covered organization’, and ‘unrestricted donor payment’ have the meaning given such terms in section 325.’.

 

• ‘(A) The individual disclosure statement described in paragraph (2) (if the person paying for the communication is an individual) or the organizational disclosure statement described in paragraph (3) (if the person paying for the communication is not an individual).

   

  ‘(B) If the communication is an electioneering communication or an independent expenditure consisting of a public communication and is paid for in whole or in part with a payment which is treated as a disbursement by a covered organization for campaign-related activity under section 325, the significant funder disclosure statement described in paragraph (4) (if applicable).

   

  ‘(C) If the communication is transmitted through television and is an electioneering communication or an independent expenditure consisting of a public communication and is paid for in whole or in part with a payment which is treated as a disbursement by a covered organization for campaign-related activity under section 325, the Top Five Funders list described in paragraph (5) (if applicable), unless, on the basis of criteria established in regulations promulgated by the Commission, the communication is of such short duration that including the Top Five Funders list in the communication would constitute a hardship to the person paying for the communication by requiring a disproportionate amount of the communication’s content to consist of the Top Five Funders list.

   

  ‘(A) the first blank to be filled in with the name of the applicable individual;

   

  ‘(B) the second blank to be filled in with the title of the applicable individual; and

   

  ‘(C) the third and fourth blank each to be filled in with the name of the organization or other person paying for the communication.

   

  ‘(A) STATEMENT IF SIGNIFICANT FUNDER IS AN INDIVIDUAL- If the significant funder of a communication paid for in whole or in part with a payment which is treated as a disbursement by a covered organization for campaign-related activity under section 325 is an individual, the significant funder disclosure statement described in this paragraph is the following: ‘I am XXXXXXX. I helped to pay for this message, and I approve it.’, with the blank filled in with the name of the applicable individual.

   

  ‘(B) STATEMENT IF SIGNIFICANT FUNDER IS NOT AN INDIVIDUAL- If the significant funder of a communication paid for in whole or in part with a payment which is treated as a disbursement by a covered organization for campaign-related activity under section 325 is not an individual, the significant funder disclosure statement described in this paragraph is the following: ‘I am XXXXXXX, the XXXXXXX of XXXXXXX. XXXXXXX helped to pay for this message, and XXXXXXX approves it.’, with–

   

  ‘(C) SIGNIFICANT FUNDER DEFINED-

   

  • ‘(i) the first blank to be filled in with the name of the applicable individual;

     

    ‘(ii) the second blank to be filled in with the title of the applicable individual; and

     

    ‘(iii) the third, fourth, and fifth blank each to be filled in with the name of the significant funder of the communication.

     

    ‘(i) INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURES- For purposes of this paragraph, the ‘significant funder’ with respect to an independent expenditure consisting of a public communication paid for in whole or in part with a payment which is treated as a disbursement by a covered organization for campaign-related activity under section 325 shall be determined as follows:

     

    ‘(ii) ELECTIONEERING COMMUNICATIONS- For purposes of this paragraph, the ‘significant funder’ with respect to an electioneering communication paid for in whole or in part with a payment which is treated as a disbursement by a covered organization for campaign-related activity under section 325, shall be determined as follows:

     

    • ‘(I) If any report filed by any organization with respect to the independent expenditure under section 304 includes information on any person who made a payment to the organization in an amount equal to or exceeding $100,000 which was designated by the person to be used for campaign-related activity consisting of that specific independent expenditure (as required to be included in the report under section 304(g)(5)(A)(i)), the person who is identified among all such reports as making the largest such payment.

       

      ‘(II) If any report filed by any organization with respect to the independent expenditure under section 304 includes information on any person who made a payment to the organization in an amount equal to or exceeding $100,000 which was designated by the person to be used for campaign-related activity with respect to the same election or in support of the same candidate (as required to be included in the report under section 304(g)(5)(A)(i)) but subclause (I) does not apply, the person who is identified among all such reports as making the largest such payment.

       

      ‘(III) If any report filed by any organization with respect to the independent expenditure under section 304 includes information on any person who made a payment to the organization which was provided for the purpose of being used for campaign-related activity or in response to a solicitation for funds to be used for campaign-related activity (as required to be included in the report under section 304(g)(5)(A)(i)) but subclause (I) or subclause (II) does not apply, the person who is identified among all such reports as making the largest such payment.

       

      ‘(IV) If none of the reports filed by any organization with respect to the independent expenditure under section 304 includes information on any person (other than the organization) who made a payment to the organization which was provided for the purpose of being used for campaign-related activity or in response to a solicitation for funds to be used for campaign-related activity, but any of such reports includes information on any person who made an unrestricted donor payment to the organization (as required to be included in the report under section 304(g)(5)(A)(ii)), the person who is identified among all such reports as making the largest such unrestricted donor payment.

       

      ‘(I) If any report filed by any organization with respect to the electioneering communication under section 304 includes information on any person who made a payment to the organization in an amount equal to or exceeding $100,000 which was designated by the person to be used for campaign-related activity consisting of that specific electioneering communication (as required to be included in the report under section 304(f)(6)(A)(i)), the person who is identified among all such reports as making the largest such payment.

       

      ‘(II) If any report filed by any organization with respect to the electioneering communication under section 304 includes information on any person who made a payment to the organization in an amount equal to or exceeding $100,000 which was designated by the person to be used for campaign-related activity with respect to the same election or in support of the same candidate (as required to be included in the report under section 304(f)(6)(A)(i)) but subclause (I) does not apply, the person who is identified among all such reports as making the largest such payment.

       

      ‘(III) If any report filed by any organization with respect to the electioneering communication under section 304 includes information on any person who made a payment to the organization which was provided for the purpose of being used for campaign-related activity or in response to a solicitation for funds to be used for campaign-related activity (as required to be included in the report under section 304(f)(6)(A)(i)) but subclause (I) or subclause (II) does not apply, the person who is identified among all such reports as making the largest such payment.

       

      ‘(IV) If none of the reports filed by any organization with respect to the electioneering communication under section 304 includes information on any person who made a payment to the organization which was provided for the purpose of being used for campaign-related activity or in response to a solicitation for funds to be used for campaign-related activity, but any of such reports includes information on any person who made an unrestricted donor payment to the organization (as required to be included in the report under section 304(f)(6)(A)(ii)), the person who is identified among all such reports as making the largest such unrestricted donor payment.

       

  ‘(A) in the case of a disbursement for an independent expenditure consisting of a public communication, a list of the 5 persons who provided the largest payments of any type which are required under section 304(g)(5)(A) to be included in the reports filed by any organization with respect to that independent expenditure under section 304, together with the amount of the payments each such person provided; or

   

  ‘(B) in the case of a disbursement for an electioneering communication, a list of the 5 persons who provided the largest payments of any type which are required under section 304(f)(6)(A) to be included in the reports filed by any organization with respect to that electioneering communication under section 304, together with the amount of the payments each such person provided.

   

  ‘(A) COMMUNICATIONS TRANSMITTED THROUGH RADIO- In the case of a communication to which this subsection applies which is transmitted through radio, the disclosure statements required under paragraph (1) shall be made by audio by the applicable individual in a clearly spoken manner.

   

  ‘(B) COMMUNICATIONS TRANSMITTED THROUGH TELEVISION- In the case of a communication to which this subsection applies which is transmitted through television, the information required under paragraph (1)–

   

  • ‘(i) shall appear in writing at the end of the communication in a clearly readable manner, with a reasonable degree of color contrast between the background and the printed statement, for a period of at least 6 seconds; and

     

    ‘(ii) except in the case of a Top 5 Funders list described in paragraph (5), shall also be conveyed by an unobscured, full-screen view of the applicable individual, or by the applicable individual making the statement in voice-over accompanied by a clearly identifiable photograph or similar image of the individual.

     

  ‘(A) if the communication is paid for by an individual or if the significant funder of the communication under paragraph (4) is an individual, the individual involved;

   

  ‘(B) if the communication is paid for by a corporation or if the significant funder of the communication under paragraph (4) is a corporation, the chief executive officer of the corporation (or, if the corporation does not have a chief executive officer, the highest ranking official of the corporation);

   

  ‘(C) if the communication is paid for by a labor organization or if the significant funder of the communication under paragraph (4) is a labor organization, the highest ranking officer of the labor organization; or

   

  ‘(D) if the communication is paid for by any other person or if the significant funder of the communication under paragraph (4) is any other person, the highest ranking official of such person.

   

• (1) MAINTENANCE OF EXISTING REQUIREMENTS FOR COMMUNICATIONS BY POLITICAL PARTIES AND OTHER POLITICAL COMMITTEES- Section 318(d)(2) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 441d(d)(2)) is amended–

   

  (2) SPECIAL DISCLAIMER REQUIREMENTS FOR CERTAIN COMMUNICATIONS- Section 318 of such Act (2 U.S.C. 441d) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:

   

  • (A) in the heading, by striking ‘OTHERS’ and inserting ‘POLITICAL COMMITTEES’;

     

    (B) by striking ‘subsection (a)’ and inserting ‘subsection (a) which is paid for by a political committee (including a political committee of a political party)’; and

     

    (C) by striking ‘or other person’ each place it appears.

     

SEC. 221. REQUIRING REGISTERED LOBBYISTS TO REPORT INFORMATION ON INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURES AND ELECTIONEERING COMMUNICATIONS.

(a) In General- Section 5(d)(1) of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1604(d)(1)) is amended–

(b) Effective Date- The amendments made by this section shall apply with respect to reports for semiannual periods described in section 5(d)(1) of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 that begin after the date of the enactment of this Act.

• (1) by striking ‘and’ at the end of subparagraph (F);

   

  (2) by redesignating subparagraph (G) as subparagraph (I); and

   

  (3) by inserting after subparagraph (F) the following new subparagraphs:

   

  ‘(G) the amount of any independent expenditure (as defined in section 301(17) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 431(17)) equal to or greater than $1,000 made by such person or organization, and for each such expenditure the name of each candidate being supported or opposed and the amount spent supporting or opposing each such candidate;

   

  ‘(H) the amount of any electioneering communication (as defined in section 304(f)(3) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 434(f)(3)) equal to or greater than $1,000 made by such person or organization, and for each such communication the name of the candidate referred to in the communication and whether the communication involved was in support of or in opposition to the candidate; and’.

   

SEC. 231. FILING BY SENATE CANDIDATES WITH COMMISSION.

Section 302(g) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 432(g)) is amended to read as follows:

‘(g) FILING WITH THE COMMISSION- All designations, statements, and reports required to be filed under this Act shall be filed with the Commission.’.

 

SEC. 301. REQUIRING DISCLOSURE BY COVERED ORGANIZATIONS OF INFORMATION ON CAMPAIGN-RELATED ACTIVITY.

Section 325 of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971, as added by section 212, is amended–

‘(c) Disclosures to Shareholders, Members, and Donors of Information on Disbursements for Campaign-Related Activity-

 

‘(1) INCLUDING INFORMATION IN REGULAR PERIODIC REPORTS- A covered organization which submits regular, periodic reports to its shareholders, members, or donors on its finances or activities shall include in each such report the information described in paragraph (2) with respect to the disbursements made by the organization for campaign-related activity during the period covered by the report.

 

‘(2) INFORMATION DESCRIBED- The information described in this paragraph is, for each disbursement for campaign-related activity–

 

• ‘(A) the date of the independent expenditure or electioneering communication involved;

   

  ‘(B) the amount of the independent expenditure or electioneering communication involved;

   

  ‘(C) the name of the candidate identified in the independent expenditure or electioneering communication involved, the office sought by the candidate, and (if applicable) whether the independent expenditure or electioneering communication involved was in support of or in opposition to the candidate;

   

  ‘(D) in the case of a transfer of funds to another person, the information required by subparagraphs (A) through (C), as well as the name of the recipient of the funds and the date and amount of the funds transferred;

   

  ‘(E) the source of such funds; and

   

  ‘(F) such other information as the Commission determines is appropriate to further the purposes of this subsection.

   

‘(d) Public Dissemination of Certain Information-

 

‘(1) INFORMATION INCLUDED IN REPORTS-

 

‘(2) INFORMATION ON BREAKDOWN OF DISBURSEMENTS AMONG TYPES OF RECIPIENTS-

 

• ‘(A) REQUIRING DISSEMINATION- If a covered organization maintains an Internet site, the organization shall post on such Internet site, in a machine-readable, searchable, sortable, and downloadable manner and through a direct link from the homepage of the organization, the following information:

   

  ‘(B) DEADLINE; DURATION OF POSTING- The covered organization shall post the information described in subparagraph (A) not later than 24 hours after the organization files the information with the Commission under the applicable provision of this Act, and shall ensure that the information remains on the website until the expiration of the 1-year period which begins on the date of the election with respect to which the public independent expenditures or electioneering communications are made.

   

  • ‘(i) The information the organization is required to report under section 304(g)(5)(A) with respect to public independent expenditures.

     

    ‘(ii) The information the organization is required to include in a statement of disbursements for electioneering communications under section 304(f)(6).

     

  ‘(A) REQUIRING DISSEMINATION- If a covered organization maintains an Internet site, the organization shall post on such Internet site, in a machine-readable, searchable, sortable, and downloadable manner and through a direct link from the homepage of the organization, the following information with respect to the aggregate amount of disbursements made by the organization for campaign-related activity during a calendar year:

   

  ‘(B) DEADLINE; DURATION OF POSTING- A covered organization shall post the information described in subparagraph (A) with respect to a calendar year not later than the first January 31 which follows that calendar year, and shall ensure that the information remains on the website until the end of the calendar year in which the information is posted.’.

   

  • ‘(i) A breakdown by political party of the total amount disbursed in support of and in opposition to candidates of each political party.

     

    ‘(ii) The total amount disbursed in support of or opposition to–

     

    • ‘(I) incumbent candidates;

       

      ‘(II) candidates challenging incumbent candidates; and

       

      ‘(III) candidates for election to an office for which no incumbent is seeking re-election.

       

• (1) by redesignating subsections (c) and (d) as subsections (e) and (f); and

   

  (2) by inserting after subsection (b) the following new subsections:

   

SEC. 401. TELEVISION MEDIA RATES.

(a) Application of Equal Opportunities Requirement and Prohibition of Censorship to Candidate and National Committees of Political Parties-

‘(a) In General- If any licensee shall permit any person who is a legally qualified candidate for any public office or any national committee of a political party in connection with a campaign of a legally qualified candidate for Federal office to use a broadcasting station, the licensee shall afford equal opportunities in the use of such broadcasting station to all other such candidates for that office or national committees of political parties in connection with such campaign for such office: Provided, That such licensee shall have no power of censorship over the material broadcast under the provisions of this section. No obligation is imposed under this subsection upon any licensee to allow the use of its station by any such candidate or national committee. Appearance by a legally qualified candidate or a representative of a national committee of a political party on behalf of any legally qualified candidate for Federal office on any–’.

 

(b) Reasonable Access To Purchase Broadcasting Time-

(c) Lowest Unit Charge-

• (1) IN GENERAL- The matter preceding paragraph (1) of section 315(a) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 315(a)) is amended to read as follows:

   

  (2) CONFORMING AMENDMENT- Section 315(a)(3) of such Act (47 U.S.C. 315(a)(3)) is amended by striking ‘candidate’ and inserting ‘candidate or representative’.

   

  (1) REASONABLE ACCESS BY POLITICAL PARTIES- Section 312(a)(7) of such Act (47 U.S.C. 312(a)(7)) is amended–

   

  (2) DETERMINATION- Section 312(c) of such Act (47 U.S.C. 312(c)) is amended by inserting after the second sentence the following: ‘In determining whether reasonable amounts of time, including reasonable amounts of time purchased at the lowest unit charge under section 315(b), have been provided under subsection (a)(7), the Commission shall examine and consider the time provided by the licensee, permittee, or person to purchase time, including nonpreemptible time, by purchasers other than a legally qualified candidate for Federal office on behalf of his candidacy or by a national committee of a political party (including a national congressional campaign committee of a political party) in connection with such campaign.’

   

  • (A) by striking ‘reasonable amounts of time’ and inserting ‘reasonable amounts of time, including reasonable amounts of time purchased at the lowest unit charge under section 315(b),’;

     

    (B) by striking ‘elective’; and

     

    (C) by striking the period at the end and inserting the following: ‘or by a national committee of a political party (including a national congressional campaign committee of a political party) in connection with the campaign of such candidate.’.

     

  (1) CHARGES FOR CANDIDATES FOR FEDERAL OFFICE- Section 315(b) of such Act (47 U.S.C. 315(b)) is amended–

   

  ‘(2) CHARGES FOR CANDIDATES FOR FEDERAL OFFICE-

   

  ‘(A) LIMITATION ON CHARGES- Subject to subparagraphs (B) and (C), the charges made for the use of any broadcasting station by any person who is a legally qualified candidate for any Federal office in connection with the campaign of such candidate for election to such office, or by a national committee of a political party in connection with such campaign, shall not exceed–

   

  ‘(B) GEOGRAPHIC LIMITATION- The limitation on charges under subparagraph (A) shall only apply for the use of a broadcasting station in the media markets that cover the State (or States) in which the candidate is seeking election to Federal office.

   

  ‘(C) ELIGIBILITY-

   

  ‘(D) SEVERABILITY- If the operation of subparagraph (C) is enjoined by any court of competent jurisdiction, or if subparagraph (C) is held to be constitutionally insufficient by final judicial decision, then subparagraph (A) shall take effect immediately without any limitation imposed by subparagraph (C).’.

   

  • ‘(i) subject to paragraph (3), during the 45 days preceding the date of a primary or primary runoff election and during the 60 days preceding the date of a general or special election in which such person is a candidate, the lowest unit charge of the station for the same amount of time that was offered at any time during the 180 days preceding the date of use; and

     

    ‘(ii) at any other time, the charges made for comparable use of such station by other users thereof.

     

    ‘(i) IN GENERAL- The limitation on charges under subparagraph (A) shall only apply if, in an election for a Federal office, a covered organization under section 325 of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 makes disbursements for electioneering communications in connection with any legally qualified candidate for Federal office or for independent expenditures in an aggregate amount of $50,000 or more during a calendar year.

     

    ‘(ii) APPLICATION- In such circumstances, the limitation on charges under subparagraph (A) shall apply to all legally qualified candidates for Federal office in such election and national committees of political parties in connection with such election.

     

    ‘(iii) REQUIREMENT- In an election for Federal office in which no covered organization has made the disbursements described in clause (i), all legally qualified candidates in such election shall be entitled to receive the lowest unit charge described in paragraph (1) for as long as no such disbursements are made in such election.

     

  (2) NATIONAL COMMITTEE CHARGES- Section 315(b)(1) of such Act (47 U.S.C. 315(b)(1)) is amended in the matter preceding subparagraph (A) by striking ‘office shall’ and inserting ‘office or by a national committee of a political party in connection with the campaign of a legally qualified candidate for Federal office shall’.

   

  (3) ADEQUATE ACCESS AT LOWEST UNIT CHARGE- Section 315(b) of such Act (47 U.S.C. 315(b)) is amended by adding at the end the following:

   

  ‘(4) ADEQUATE ACCESS AT LOWEST UNIT CHARGE- A licensee shall take all actions necessary to ensure access to the use of a broadcasting station, in accordance with the requirements under paragraph (2), to meet the obligations under section 312(a)(7) for the use of such station by a legally qualified candidate for Federal office on behalf of his candidacy and by a national committee of a political party in connection with the campaign of such candidate.’.

   

  (4) CONFORMING AMENDMENT- Section 315(b)(3) of such Act (as redesignated by paragraph (1)(A)) is amended by striking ‘under paragraph (1)(A)’ each place it appears and inserting ‘under paragraph (1)(A) or (2)(A)(i)’.

   

  (5) REQUIRING ORGANIZATIONS TO NOTIFY COMMISSION IF DISBURSEMENTS EQUAL OR EXCEED THRESHOLD- Title III of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 431 et seq.), as amended by section 213(a), is further amended by adding at the end the following new section:

   

  • (A) in paragraph (1)(A), by striking ‘paragraph (2)’ and inserting ‘paragraphs (2) and (3)’;

     

    (B) by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (3); and

     

    (C) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:

     

‘SEC. 327. REQUIRING COVERED ORGANIZATIONS TO NOTIFY COMMISSION AND FCC IF DISBURSEMENTS EQUAL OR EXCEED THRESHOLD.

‘(a) Notification Required if Election- or Candidate-Specific Disbursements Equal or Exceed Threshold- Not later than 24 hours after the date by which the aggregate amount of disbursements made by a covered organization for campaign-related activity with respect to a specific election or a specific candidate (together with the amount of any disbursements contracted to be made by the organization for such activity) first equals or exceeds $50,000, the organization shall file a report with the Commission and with the Federal Communications Commission which states the amount of the disbursements and identifies the election or candidate involved.

 

‘(b) Definitions- For purposes of subsection (a), the terms ‘campaign-related activity’ and ‘covered organization’ have the meaning given such terms in section 325.’.

 

(d) Preemption; Random Audits- Section 315 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 315) is amended–

 

‘(c) Preemption-

 

‘(d) Random Audits-

 

(e) Political File- Section 315(e) of such Act (47 U.S.C. 315(e)) is amended by adding at the end the following:

 

(f) Definitions- Section 315(g) of such Act (as redesignated by subsection (d)(1)) is amended–

 

(g) Stylistic Amendment- Section 315(f) of such Act (as redesignated by subsection (d)(2)), is amended by striking ‘The Commission’ and inserting ‘Regulations- The Commission’.

 

• (1) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (g);

   

  (2) by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (f); and

   

  (3) by inserting after subsection (b) the following:

   

  ‘(1) IN GENERAL- Except as provided in paragraph (2), a licensee shall not preempt the use of a broadcasting station by a legally qualified candidate for Federal office or a national committee of a political party in connection with the campaign of such candidate.

   

  ‘(2) CIRCUMSTANCES BEYOND CONTROL OF LICENSEE- If a program to be broadcast by a broadcasting station is preempted because of circumstances beyond the control of the station, any scheduled use of a broadcasting station by such candidate or committee scheduled during that program may also be preempted.

   

  ‘(1) IN GENERAL- During the 45 days preceding a primary election and the 60 days preceding a general election, the Commission shall conduct random audits of designated market areas to ensure that each broadcasting station to which this section applies is allocating broadcast time for legally qualified candidates for Federal office in accordance with this section and section 312.

   

  ‘(2) MARKETS- Each audit conducted under paragraph (1) shall cover the following markets:

   

  ‘(3) BROADCAST STATIONS- Each random audit shall include each of the 3 largest television broadcast networks, 1 independent television network, 1 cable network, 1 provider of satellite services, and 1 radio network.’.

   

  • ‘(A) At least 6 of the top 50 largest designated market areas.

     

    ‘(B) At least 3 of the 51-100 largest designated market areas.

     

    ‘(C) At least 3 of the 101-150 largest designated market areas.

     

    ‘(D) At least 3 of the 151-210 largest designated market areas.

     

  ‘(4) PUBLIC ACCESS TO POLITICAL FILE- In making a record available for public inspection under paragraph (1), a licensee shall make available on a timely basis on the station’s Web site the record of a request to purchase broadcast time that is made by or on behalf of a legally qualified candidate for Federal office, a national committee of a political party in connection with a campaign for such office, or by a covered organization under section 325(c) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 for electioneering communications in connection with any legally qualified candidate for Federal office or for independent expenditures.’.

   

  (1) by striking ‘For purposes’ and inserting ‘Definitions- For purposes’;

   

  (2) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘; and’ and inserting the following: ‘and a provider of cable or satellite television service, except that such term does not include a noncommercial educational broadcast station as defined under section 397;’

   

  (3) in paragraph (2), by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; and

   

  (4) by adding at the end the following:

   

  ‘(3) the terms ‘authorized committee’, ‘election’, ‘electioneering communications’, ‘Federal office’, and ‘independent expenditure’ have the meanings given such terms by section 301 of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 431);

   

  ‘(4) the term ‘designated market area’ has the meaning given such term in section 122(j)(2)(C) of title 17, United States Code; and

   

  ‘(5) the term ‘national committee of a political party’ includes a national congressional campaign committee of a political party.’.

   

SEC. 501. JUDICIAL REVIEW.

(a) Special Rules for Actions Brought on Constitutional Grounds- If any action is brought for declaratory or injunctive relief to challenge the constitutionality of any provision of this Act or any amendment made by this Act, the following rules shall apply:

(b) Intervention by Members of Congress- In any action in which the constitutionality of any provision of this Act or any amendment made by this Act is raised, any member of the House of Representatives (including a Delegate or Resident Commissioner to the Congress) or Senate shall have the right to intervene either in support of or opposition to the position of a party to the case regarding the constitutionality of the provision or amendment. To avoid duplication of efforts and reduce the burdens placed on the parties to the action, the court in any such action may make such orders as it considers necessary, including orders to require intervenors taking similar positions to file joint papers or to be represented by a single attorney at oral argument.

(c) Challenge by Members of Congress- Any Member of the House of Representatives (including a Delegate or Resident Commissioner to the Congress) or Senate may bring an action, subject to the special rules described in subsection (a), for declaratory or injunctive relief to challenge the constitutionality of any provision of this Act or any amendment made by this Act.

• (1) The action shall be filed in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, and an appeal from a decision of the District Court may be taken to the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.

   

  (2) A copy of the complaint shall be delivered promptly to the Clerk of the House of Representatives and the Secretary of the Senate.

   

  (3) It shall be the duty of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, and the Supreme Court of the United States to advance on the docket and to expedite to the greatest possible extent the disposition of the action and appeal.

   

SEC. 502. SEVERABILITY.

If any provision of this Act or amendment made by this Act, or the application of a provision or amendment to any person or circumstance, is held to be unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act and amendments made by this Act, and the application of the provisions and amendment to any person or circumstance, shall not be affected by the holding.

SEC. 503. EFFECTIVE DATE.

Except as otherwise provided, this Act and the amendments made by this Act shall take effect upon the expiration of the 30-day period which begins on the date of the enactment of this Act, and shall take effect without regard to whether or not the Federal Election Commission has promulgated regulations to carry out such amendments.

On November 30, 2012, the US Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania reported that former Pennsylvania State Senator Robert Mellow received 16 months in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $40,000 while being ordered to pay $79,806.17 in restitution.

Mellow was charged in March 2012 to trying to defraud the Pennsylvania Senate and filing a false federal income tax return.  He pleaded guilty.  

During the crimes, Mellow was a Senate Democratic Leader and a member of the Pennsylvania Democratic State Senate Democratic Committee and Caucus.  He was also in charge of several Senate Democratic administrative offices that provided computer services, communications, and research.  

From 2006 to 2010, Mellow conspired with others to misuse staff and resources of the Senate for fund-raising and campaign reasons.  Mellow personally allowed false job classification and reclassification forms to be submitted for senate staff members to the chief clerk of the senate.  

Mellow was able to misuse staff and raise hundreds of thousands of dollars from an organization called the Friends of Bob Mellow and the Democratic State Senate Campaign Committee.  The funds were ultimately used to support candidates and causes in Pennsylvania.  

Mellow also filed a false federal income tax return in 2008.  Mellow and others did not report income that was connected with the sale of a Peckville property where the district office for Mellow was located.  

U.S. Attorney Peter J. Smith stated: “This was a terrible example and a sad betrayal of the people of northeastern Pennsylvania who he represented and the people of the state.  The prosecution and the sentence that was imposed today by Judge Slomsky hopefully demonstrate that no one, including lawmakers, can be above the law.”  

The case was investigated by the FBI and the IRS’s Criminal Investigations Division.  

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation