Top Legislation - View All

Latest Action: 01/05/2007 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E3)

Bill Text
To amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to prohibit certain State election administration officials from actively participating in electoral campaigns.

1/4/2007--Introduced.

Federal Election Integrity Act of 2007 - Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to make it unlawful for a chief state election administration official to take active part in political management or in a political campaign with respect to any election for federal office over which the official has supervisory authority.

Latest Action: 09/14/2007 - Signed by President.

Bill Text
A bill to provide greater transparency in the legislative process. 9/14/2007--Public Law.    (There are 3 other summaries) (This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the House on July 31, 2007. The summary of that version is repeated here.)Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007 - Title I: Closing the Revolving Door - (Sec. 101) Amends the federal criminal code to extend from one to two years the ban on lobbying contacts by former: (1) very senior executive personnel with any Member, officer, or employee of the entity in which such person served before his or her tenure terminated; and (2) Senators with any Member, officer or employee of either chamber, or employee of any other legislative office.Continues the one-year ban on lobbying contacts by former: (1) Members of the House of Representatives with any Member, officer, or employee of either chamber, or employee of any other legislative office; (2) [...]

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Latest Action: 02/02/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.

Bill Text
To amend the Rules of the House of Representatives to reform the ethics process, and for other purposes. 1/4/2007--Introduced. Accountability and Transparency in Ethics Act - Establishes an independent Investigations Commission within the legislative branch. Requires annual ethics training for Members and employees of the House of Representatives and for registered lobbyists. Amends Rule XXV (Limitations on Outside Earned Income and Acceptance of Gifts) of the Rules of the House to require advance authorization by the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct of any privately-funded trip by any Member, officer, or employee of the House. Amends such Rule and Rule XXXV (Gifts) of the Standing Rules of the Senate with respect to: (1) the market value of a flight on an airplane not licensed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to operate for compensation or hire; (2) a ban on gifts worth less than $50; and (3) disbursements for a national party convention [...]

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Latest Action: 02/02/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.

Bill Text
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relating to limitations on the amounts of contributions and expenditures that may be made in connection with campaigns for election to public office.

1/4/2007--Introduced.

Constitutional Amendment - Declares that Congress shall have power to set limits on the amount of contributions that may be accepted by, and the amount of expenditures that may be made by, in support of, or in opposition to, a candidate for nomination or election to federal office.

Declares that a state shall have the power to set limits on the amount of contributions that may be accepted by, and the amount of expenditures that may be made by, in support of, or in opposition to, a candidate for nomination or election to state or local office.

Latest Action: 11/02/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.

Bill Text
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relating to contributions and expenditures intended to affect elections.

10/31/2007--Introduced.

Constitutional Amendment - States that Congress shall have the power to regulate the raising and spending of money, including through setting limits, for campaigns for nomination for election to, or for election to, federal office.

Gives a state the power to regulate the raising and spending of money for state or local ballot initiatives, referenda, plebiscites, or other similar ballot measures and campaigns for nomination for election to, or for election to, state or local office.

Gives Congress the power to implement and enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

Latest Action: 01/24/2007 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H948)

Bill Text
Amending the Rules of the House of Representatives to clarify and make corrections to the House ban on air travel. 1/24/2007--Introduced. Amends Rule XXIII (Code of Official Conduct) of the Rules of the House of Representatives to revise the new prohibition against the use by a Member, Delegate or Resident Commissioner of personal funds, official funds, or campaign funds for a flight on a nongovernmental plane that is not licensed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to operate for compensation or hire. Changes the prohibition to one against the use of such funds for a flight on a nongovernmental plane that is owned or operated by a registered lobbyist or agent of a foreign principal (or from a private entity retaining or employing such individuals), except for flights: (1) on regularly scheduled air carriers; (2) at the public rate on chartered aircraft where seats are generally available to the public; and (3) on aircraft used in support of official duties [...]

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Latest Action: 01/04/2007 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.

Bill Text
A bill to require disclosure and payment of noncommercial air travel in the Senate. 1/4/2007--Introduced. Amends Rule XXXV (Gifts) of the Standing Rules of the Senate to require a Member, officer, or employee of the Senate to: (1) disclose a flight taken in connection with official duties on an aircraft that is not licensed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to operate for compensation or hire (unless it is owned, operated, or leased by a governmental entity); (2) reimburse the aircraft's owner or lessee for the pro rata share of the flight's fair market value; and (3) report to the Secretary of the Senate specified information about the trip, including its purpose and the persons on it (other than the pilot). Declares that the fair market value of noncommercial air travel is the fair market value of the normal and usual charter fare or rental charge for a comparable plane of appropriate size. Amends Rule XXXVIII (Prohibition of Unofficial Office Accounts) [...]

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Latest Action: 01/04/2007 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.

Bill Text
A bill to prohibit authorized committees and leadership PACs from employing the spouse or immediate family members of any candidate or Federal office holder connected to the committee.

1/4/2007--Introduced.

Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to prohibit any authorized committee of a candidate or any other political committee established, maintained, or controlled by a candidate or person who holds a federal office from employing the spouse or any immediate family member of such candidate or federal office holder.

Latest Action: 10/18/2007 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S13099)

Bill Text
A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relating to contributions and expenditures intended to affect elections.

10/18/2007--Introduced.

Constitutional Amendment - States that Congress shall have the power to regulate the raising and spending of money, including through setting limits, for campaigns for nomination for election to, or for election to, federal office.

Gives a state the power to regulate the raising and spending of money for state or local ballot initiatives, referenda, plebiscites, or other similar ballot measures and campaigns for nomination for election to, or for election to, state or local office.

Gives Congress the power to implement and enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

Latest Action: 01/04/2007 - Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committee on Rules, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee con

Bill Text
To amend the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 and the Rules of the House of Representatives to strengthen financial disclosures and to require precertification of privately-funded travel, and for other purposes. 1/4/2007--Introduced. Sunlight Act of 2007 - Amends Rule XXV (Limitations on Outside Earned Income and Acceptance of Gifts) of the Rules of the House of Representatives to require a Member of the House, officer, or employee, before taking a privately-funded trip, to: (1) provide certain travel-related information to the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct, and agree to provide expenses reimbursed or to be reimbursed after the trip's completion; and (2) receive the Committee's precertification of such proposed trip. Prohibits any such privately-funded trip unless the Committee determines that it complies with all applicable rules of the House. Amends the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 to require annual financial disclosure statements of Members of Congress [...]

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Latest Legislation - View All

Latest Action: 07/31/2008 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7947)

Bill Text
A bill to amend the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 to provide for the treatment of institutions of higher education as voter registration agencies.

7/31/2008--Introduced.

Student Voter Opportunity To Encourage Registration Act of 2008 or the Student VOTER Act of 2008 - Amends the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 to require states to designate federally-funded institutions of higher education as agencies for the registration of voters in federal elections.

Requires such schools to provide mail voter registration application forms to students registering to enroll in their courses.

Latest Action: 08/01/2008 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E1673)

Bill Text
To amend the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 to provide for the treatment of institutions of higher education as voter registration agencies.

7/31/2008--Introduced.

Student Voter Opportunity To Encourage Registration Act of 2008 or the Student VOTER Act of 2008 - Amends the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 to require states to designate federally-funded institutions of higher education as agencies for the registration of voters in federal elections.

Requires such schools to provide mail voter registration application forms to students registering to enroll in their courses.

Latest Action: 07/30/2008 - Committee on Rules and Administration. Date of scheduled hearing. SR-301. 10:00 a.m.

Bill Text
A bill to amend the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to provide for auditable, independent verification of ballots, to ensure the security of voting systems, and for other purposes. 6/26/2008--Introduced. Bipartisan Electronic Voting Reform Act of 2008 - Amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to require any voting system other than one using paper ballots personally marked by the voter to permit independent verification of cast ballots by various specified means, including paper or electronic.Requires each state to conduct an audit of every federal election to ensure that each certificate of election is justified by the vote totals. Directs the Federal Election Commission to establish an Audit Guidelines Development Task Force to assist the Commission in developing model audit guidelines.Prescribes election security requirements for voting systems, including: (1) chain of custody protocols; (2) disclosure of election-dedicated software; and (3) minimum state standards [...]

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Latest Action: 10/16/2008 - Signed by President.

Bill Text
To extend through 2013 the authority of the Federal Election Commission to impose civil money penalties on the basis of a schedule of penalties established and published by the Commission.

10/2/2008--Public Law.    (There are 3 other summaries)

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to extend through calendar 2013 the authority of the Federal Election Commission (FEC) to impose civil monetary penalties.

Latest Action: 06/11/2008 - Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.

Bill Text
To change the date for regularly scheduled Federal elections and establish polling place hours. 6/11/2008--Introduced. Weekend Voting Act - Amends the Revised Statutes with respect to the time of election to establish the first Saturday and Sunday after the first Friday in November, in every even numbered year, as the days for the election, in each state and territory, of Delegates to, or Members of, Congress.Amends federal law with respect to presidential elections and vacancies to establish the first Saturday and Sunday after the first Friday in November, in every fourth year, as the days for the election of the President and Vice President of the United States. Amends such federal laws to establish the same polling place hours in the United States for both congressional and presidential elections, namely from 10:00 a.m. EST on Saturday till 6:00 p.m. EST on Sunday, with polls allowed to close between the hours of 10:00 p.m. local time on Saturday and 6:00 [...]

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Latest Action: 06/06/2008 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.

Bill Text
A bill to require early voting in Federal elections, to prohibit restrictions on absentee voting in Federal elections, to establish a grant program to promote voting by mail, and for other purposes. 6/6/2008--Introduced. Voting Opportunities and Integrity in the Conduct of Elections Act of 2008 - Amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to: (1) allow individuals to vote in an election before the date of the regularly scheduled election; (2) require the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) to issue standards for administration of such voting; and (3) require each state to permit any person otherwise qualified to vote in a federal election to vote in a manner other than in person, and impose no conditions or restrictions on absentee voting other than a reasonable deadline for requesting and returning the ballot.Directs the EAC to establish a Vote by Mail grant program. Requires each federal election voting system to require the use of or produce an individual, [...]

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Latest Action: 06/03/2008 - Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.

Bill Text
To require that ballots used in Federal elections be generally printed only in English and to amend the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to modify the requirement that certain jurisdictions provide ballots and other voting materials in languages other than English, and for other purposes.

5/6/2008--Introduced.

American Elections Act of 2008 - Amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to require, except as provided for under this Act, that all ballots and balloting material used in federal elections be only in the English language.

Amends the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to revise the requirement that certain jurisdictions provide ballots and other voting materials in languages other than English. Restricts such requirement to certain political subdivisions with populations of American Indians or Alaska Natives.

Latest Action: 07/15/2008 - Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H6536-6541; text of measure as reported in House: CR H6536)

Bill Text
To direct the Election Assistance Commission to establish a program to make grants to participating States and units of local government which will administer the regularly scheduled general election for Federal office held in November 2008 for carrying out a program to make backup paper ballots available in the case of the failure of a voting system or voting equipment in the election or some other emergency situation, and for other purposes. 5/15/2008--Reported to House without amendment.    (There is 1 other summary) (This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)Directs the Election Assistance Commission to make a grant to each participating state and unit of local government for carrying out a program to make backup paper ballots available in the case of the failure of a voting system or voting equipment or some other emergency situation in the administration of the regularly [...]

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Latest Action: 04/09/2008 - Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.

Bill Text
To amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to restrict political robocalls, and for other purposes.

4/9/2008--Introduced.

Robocall Privacy Act of 2008 - Makes it unlawful for a person during specified periods before a federal primary or general election to make certain prerecorded political telephone calls with respect to a candidate for federal office without immediate disclosure of the recorded nature of the calls, the name of the sponsor or originator of the call, and the appearance of the caller's telephone number on the recipient's caller identification service.

Latest Action: 04/03/2008 - Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.

Bill Text
To amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to protect uncompensated Internet activity by individuals from treatment as a contribution or expenditure under the Act, and for other purposes.

4/3/2008--Introduced.

Blogger Protection Act of 2008 - Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to: (1) exempt uncompensated individual Internet activity from treatment as a contribution to or expenditure of a campaign for federal office; and (2) cover blogs and other Internet and electronic publications under the general media exemption pertaining to expenditures.