Bipartisan Campaign Finance Reform Act of 2001

1/16/2023, 10:48 PM
Bipartisan Campaign Finance Reform Act of 2001 - Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (FECA) to prohibit the solicitation of soft money (not subject to FECA) by political parties, increasing the contribution limit for State committees of political parties and the aggregate individual contribution limit.

Prohibits a committee of a political party, after party nomination of a candidate, from making both coordinated and independent expenditures to the candidate during the election cycle.

Requires a coordinated activity to be considered a contribution to the candidate and an expenditure by the candidate.

Prohibits the deposit (except in escrow accounts) or negotiation of contributions from a person making aggregate contributions exceeding $200 annually by a candidate's authorized committee, unless the information required of and disclosed by the contributor is complete.

Establishes: (1) time frames (with certain exceptions) for filing of statements with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) by certain persons who make aggregate disbursements exceeding $50,000 annually (of soft money) for specified Federal election activities expressing support for or opposition to a Federal office candidate or a political party; and (2) a voluntary personal funds expenditure limit of $50,000 for eligible congressional candidates.

Sets forth disclaimers to affirm equal participation of eligible voters in campaigns and elections for Federal office.

Establishes: (1) a clearinghouse of specified public information on political activities of foreign principals and their agents; and (2) the Independent Commission on Campaign Finance Reform.

Amends the Federal criminal code to prohibit White House political fundraising.

Expresses the sense of Congress on "controlling legal authority" concerning use of Federal property to raise campaign funds.

Amends the Federal criminal code to establish criminal penalties for anyone who solicits or receives anything of value for providing a person with access to specified Federal property.

Amends FECA to require political committees of national political parties (for use of Air Force One by the President, Vice President, or an executive department head) and candidates for Federal office (who don't already hold Federal office) to reimburse the Federal government for use of Government property for fundraising and campaign-related travel.

Amends FECA to prohibit campaigns from providing cash to individuals to encourage turnout on election day (walking around money)

Mandates imprisonment for certain FECA violations.

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to prohibit presidential and vice presidential candidates certified to receive public financing from coordinating expenditures for issue advocacy unless the funds used are subject to FECA.

Provides for expulsion of Members of the House of Representatives convicted of violating FECA's foreign national contribution prohibitions.

Congress
107

Number
HR - 380

Introduced on
2001-01-31

# Amendments
0

Sponsors
+5

Cosponsors
+5

Variations and Revisions

1/31/2001

Status of Legislation

Bill Introduced
Introduced to House
House to Vote
Introduced to Senate
Senate to Vote

Purpose and Summary

Bipartisan Campaign Finance Reform Act of 2001 - Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (FECA) to prohibit the solicitation of soft money (not subject to FECA) by political parties, increasing the contribution limit for State committees of political parties and the aggregate individual contribution limit.

Prohibits a committee of a political party, after party nomination of a candidate, from making both coordinated and independent expenditures to the candidate during the election cycle.

Requires a coordinated activity to be considered a contribution to the candidate and an expenditure by the candidate.

Prohibits the deposit (except in escrow accounts) or negotiation of contributions from a person making aggregate contributions exceeding $200 annually by a candidate's authorized committee, unless the information required of and disclosed by the contributor is complete.

Establishes: (1) time frames (with certain exceptions) for filing of statements with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) by certain persons who make aggregate disbursements exceeding $50,000 annually (of soft money) for specified Federal election activities expressing support for or opposition to a Federal office candidate or a political party; and (2) a voluntary personal funds expenditure limit of $50,000 for eligible congressional candidates.

Sets forth disclaimers to affirm equal participation of eligible voters in campaigns and elections for Federal office.

Establishes: (1) a clearinghouse of specified public information on political activities of foreign principals and their agents; and (2) the Independent Commission on Campaign Finance Reform.

Amends the Federal criminal code to prohibit White House political fundraising.

Expresses the sense of Congress on "controlling legal authority" concerning use of Federal property to raise campaign funds.

Amends the Federal criminal code to establish criminal penalties for anyone who solicits or receives anything of value for providing a person with access to specified Federal property.

Amends FECA to require political committees of national political parties (for use of Air Force One by the President, Vice President, or an executive department head) and candidates for Federal office (who don't already hold Federal office) to reimburse the Federal government for use of Government property for fundraising and campaign-related travel.

Amends FECA to prohibit campaigns from providing cash to individuals to encourage turnout on election day (walking around money)

Mandates imprisonment for certain FECA violations.

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to prohibit presidential and vice presidential candidates certified to receive public financing from coordinating expenditures for issue advocacy unless the funds used are subject to FECA.

Provides for expulsion of Members of the House of Representatives convicted of violating FECA's foreign national contribution prohibitions.

Alternative Names
Official Title as IntroducedTo amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to reform the financing of campaigns for elections for Federal office, and for other purposes.

Policy Areas
Government Operations and Politics

Potential Impact
Administrative procedure•
Administrative remedies•
Age (Law)•
Agriculture and Food•
Aliens•
Appellate procedure•
Armed Forces and National Security•
Arts, Culture, Religion•
Auditing•
Building construction•
Campaign contributors•
Campaign finance reform•
Campaign funds•
Capitol (Washington, D.C.)•
Charitable contributions•
Civil actions and liability•
Community service (Punishment)•
Congress•
Congressional candidates•
Congressional elections•
Congressional ethics•
Congressional mail•
Congressional office buildings•
Congressional reporting requirements•
Conspiracy•
Constitutional amendments•
Constitutional law•
Crime and Law Enforcement•
Data banks•
Economics and Public Finance•
Election fraud•
Electronic data interchange•
Electronic government information•
Electronic mail systems•
Evidence (Law)•
Executive reorganization•
Expedited congressional procedure•
Facsimile transmission•
Families•
Federal Election Commission•
Federal employees•
Federal office buildings•
Finance and Financial Sector•
Financial statements•
Fines (Penalties)•
Foreign agents•
Forfeiture•
Franking privilege•
Fund raising•
Gifts•
Government aircraft•
Government employees' political activities•
Government paperwork•
Government property•
Government publicity•
Government travel•
Government trust funds•
Government vehicles•
Governmental investigations•
Honoraria•
House rules and procedure•
Housing and Community Development•
Identification devices•
Immigration•
International Affairs•
Internet•
Labor and Employment•
Labor union finances•
Labor union political activities•
Law•
Legislation•
Legislative resolutions•
Lobbying•
Mandatory sentences•
Members of Congress (House)•
Military aircraft•
Misconduct in office•
Music•
Names•
Nonprofit organizations•
Political advertising•
Political consultants•
Political parties•
Presidential candidates•
Presidential commissions•
Presidential elections•
Presidential ethics•
Primaries•
Public Lands and Natural Resources•
Public records•
Radio in politics•
Removal of officials•
Science, Technology, Communications•
Senate rules and procedure•
Sentences (Criminal procedure)•
Social Welfare•
Soft money•
Supreme Court•
Supreme Court jurisdiction•
Tax-exempt organizations•
Taxation•
Television in politics•
Transportation and Public Works•
Travel costs•
Unfair labor practices•
Union dues•
Vice Presidents•
Voter registration•
Voter turnout•
Voting age•
White House (Washington, D.C.)

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Bipartisan Campaign Finance Reform Act of 2001 - Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (FECA) to prohibit the solicitation of soft money (not subject to FECA) by political parties, increasing the contribution limit for State committees of ...

Latest Action3/15/2001
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