Tax Funded Advocacy Act of 1982
Latest action. Referred to subcommitteeA smaller panel inside a standing committee with jurisdiction over a slice of its subject matter. Most hearings and the first markup usually happen here.Read the full definition (opens a new tab) on Intergovernmental Relations and Human Resources.
Tax Funded Advocacy Act of 1982 - Prohibits: (1) the disbursement of Federal funds by any means to any organization which engages in advocacy or which is allied with such an organization; and (2) the use of Federal funds for lobbying or advocacy. Defines "advocacy" as any activity intended to influence public policy formation or to advance particular viewpoints with Congress or any legislative body, administrative office or individual, litigation, or the general public. Conditions eligibility for Federal funds on the certification by recipients that they do not and will not engage in advocacy. Makes it the responsibility of anyone disbursing Federal funds to establish that all applicants do not and will not engage in advocacy. Grants private citizens: (1) the right to advise Federal officials when they suspect that an organization receiving Federal funds engages in advocacy; and (2) standing to sue in Federal court to enforce this Act, to seek writs of mandamus, and to return funds to the Treasury from organizations engaged in advocacy. Entitles successful plaintiffs to their legal expenses and ten percent of the Federal funds returned. Provides that: (1) a public official's lack of reasonable care in monitoring fund recipients to determine whether they engage in advocacy shall constitute automatic grounds for adverse personnel action including dismissal; and (2) the intentional continuation of funding to a group in violation of this Act shall constitute a felony. Requires self certification by recipients as to noninvolvement in advocacy prior to any renewal or extension of funding. Establishes intentional misrepresentation as a felony offense. Requires any organization or individual found to have violated this Act to forfeit an amount equal to three times the funds unlawfully used. Authorizes the Government, on a motion by the appropriate Federal district court, to sue a person possessing funds or proceeds from funds expended in violation of this Act and to require forfeiture of such funds equal to three times the amount lost. Authorizes the Department of Justice to impose a $10,000 fine for failure to provide information relating to violations of this Act pursuant to formal requests. Declares that any violation of this Act shall be the basis for total disbarment of Federal benefits.
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 1, 1982. It describes the bill, it is not the legal text.
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 15, 1982: Referred to Subcommittee on Intergovernmental Relations and Human Resources.
- Clearing the committees it was referred to, and being scheduled for a floor vote
- Passage by the House
- Passage by the Senate
- 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 97th Congress (1981-82), 473 of the 11,489 bills and joint resolutions introduced became law, about 4.1 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?
JAMES JEFFRIES (R-KS) introduced it on October 1, 1982. No cosponsors are recorded.
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 1, 1982, 16050 days ago. The most recent recorded action was 16036 days ago, on October 15, 1982.
Measures do not carry over. Anything the 97th Congress has not finished by January 3, 1983 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
- HouseIn committee, no floor vote yet
- SenateAwaits House passage
- PresidentAwaits both chambers