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H.R. 10817 · 93th CongressIn committee

A bill to amend the Presidential Election Campaign Fund Act, and for other purposes.

Latest action. Referred to House Committee on Ways and Means. · October 9, 1973

Live record from Congress.gov, updated as the official record changes.
What this bill would do
Official summary · Congressional Research Service

Federal Election Campaign Fund Act - Sets forth the definitions of the terms used in this Act as it applies to the Presidential Election Campaign Fund, a candidate of a political party in a federal election shall, in writing, agree to: (1) obtain and furnish to the Comptroller General such evidence as he may request of the qualified campaign expenses with respect to which payment is sought; (2) keep and furnish to the Comptroller General such records and books; (3) an audit; and (4) furnish statements of qualified campaign expenses. Prescribes additional requirements to be fulfilled and agreed to prior to eligibility of major and minor party candidates to receive payments from the fund. Sets forth the amounts to which eligible candidates are entitled. Provides that, on the basis of information furnished by the eligible candidates of a political party, the Comptroller General shall certify to the Secretary of the Treasury the payments to which candidates are entitled. Establishes a special fund to be known as the "Federal Election Campaign Fund." Directs the Secretary to transfer to the fund a specified amount, and such additional sums as Congress may appropriate. States that, after each federal election, the Comptroller General shall conduct a thorough examination and audit of the qualified campaign expenses of the candidates of each political party for federal office. Requires repayment of campaign expenses upon specified findings of the Comptroller General. States that if the Comptroller General determines that any amount of any payment made to an eligible candidate of a political party was used for any purpose other than: (1) to defray the qqualified campaign expenses with respect to which such payment was made, or (2) to repay loans the proceeds of which were used, or otherwise to restore funds, he shall notify such candidate of the amount so used, and such candidate shall pay to the Secretary an amount equal to such amount. Requires a candidate of a political party for federal office in a federal election to furnish to the Comptroller General a detailed statement of the qualified campaign expenses incurred by him and the expenses which he and his authorized committees propose to incur. Directs the Comptroller General to, as soon as practicable after each federal election, submit a full report to the Senate and House of Representatives setting forth enumerated items. Authorizes the Comptroller General to appear in and defend against any action filed pursuant to this Act by attorneys employed in his office or by counsel whom he may appoint. Provides for judicial review of any certification, determination or other action by the Comptroller General taken pursuant to the provisions of this Act by the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Collumbia upon petition filed in such court by any interested person. Makes it unlawful for an eligible candidate of a political party for federal office in a federal election or any of his authorized committees knowingly and willfully to incur qualified campaign expenses in excess of the aggregate payments to which the eligible candidates of a major party are entitled. Provides criminal penalties for violations of this Act, including: (1) the unlawful use of payments; (2) false statements to the Comptroller General; (3) kickbacks and illegal payments; (4) unauthorized expenditures and contributions; and (5) unauthorized disclosure of information. Establishes an Advisory board to be known as the Federal Election Campaign Fund Advisory Board to Counsel and assist the Comptroller General in the performance of the duties and functions imposed on him under the Federal Election Campaign Fund Act. Sets forth the composition and compensation of the board members. Provides procedures for designation of inccome tax payments to the Federal Election Campaign Fund. States that every individual whose adjusted gross income for the taxable year is $2 or more may designate that $2 shall be paid over to the Federal Election Campaign Fund.

Written by analysts at the Congressional Research Service and published on Congress.gov, not by Civibrief. Summarized at the "Introduced in House" stage on October 9, 1973. It describes the bill, it is not the legal text.

Status
Introduced
October 9, 1973
In committee
October 9, 1973
Passed a chamber
Cleared Congress
Enacted
Where this sits in the process
Common questions
Composed from the official record
Where is it in the process, and what happens next?

4 steps remain before this bill could become law.

The record's latest action, on October 9, 1973: Referred to House Committee on Ways and Means.

  1. Clearing the committees it was referred to, and being scheduled for a floor vote
  2. Passage by the House
  3. Passage by the Senate
  4. The President's signature. If the President vetoes it, two-thirds of both chambers must vote to override.
How likely is it to become law?

Civibrief does not forecast outcomes and this page has no opinion about this one. What the record supports is a base rate, which is a fact about the whole pile, not a prediction about this measure.

In the 93rd Congress (1973-74), 651 of the 23,396 bills and joint resolutions introduced became law, about 2.8 percent. That count covers every measure at every stage, including the many that never left committee.

This one is not there yet: 4 steps are still outstanding, listed above.

Has anyone actually voted on it?

No. No roll call in this Congress cites this measure. That is the ordinary outcome: most measures never reach a recorded floor vote, and a committee ends most of them simply by not acting.

A vote is not the only thing that happens to a measure. Hearings, markups, and referrals are all recorded actions, and none of them is a vote of the full chamber.

Who is behind it?

MICHAEL HARRINGTON (D-MA) introduced it on October 9, 1973, and 7 members have since signed on as cosponsors.

They are 7 Democrats.

Cosponsoring is a formal signature on the text. It is not a commitment to vote for the measure, it does not bind anyone's party, and a long list of cosponsors is a measure of attention rather than of prospects.

How long has it been in play?

It was introduced on October 9, 1973, 19329 days ago. The most recent recorded action was 19329 days ago, on October 9, 1973.

Measures do not carry over. Anything the 93rd Congress has not finished by January 3, 1975 dies when the term ends, and has to be introduced again from the start in the next Congress.

Every answer above is assembled from this measure's own record on Congress.gov and from published counts of what Congress has passed before. Civibrief does not predict outcomes and takes no position on any measure.

Vote history

  1. House
    In committee, no floor vote yet
  2. Senate
    Awaits House passage
  3. President
    Awaits both chambers
No recorded votes yet
No roll call in this Congress cites this bill. Most bills die in committee without ever reaching a recorded floor vote.