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To reform the financing of congressional elections by broadening participation by small dollar donors, and for other purposes.

USA115th CongressHR-20| House 
| Updated: 1/24/2017
John P. Sarbanes

John P. Sarbanes

Democratic Representative

Maryland

Cosponsors (163)
Brenda L. Lawrence (Democratic)Donald Norcross (Democratic)David Loebsack (Democratic)Tim Ryan (Democratic)Marcy Kaptur (Democratic)Tom O'Halleran (Democratic)Richard M. Nolan (Democratic)Ruben Gallego (Democratic)Jared Huffman (Democratic)Marc A. Veasey (Democratic)Steny H. Hoyer (Democratic)Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (Democratic)Barbara Lee (Democratic)Nita M. Lowey (Democratic)Robin L. Kelly (Democratic)Joseph P. Kennedy (Democratic)Raúl M. Grijalva (Democratic)Stephanie N. Murphy (Democratic)Mark Pocan (Democratic)Karen Bass (Democratic)James R. Langevin (Democratic)Joyce Beatty (Democratic)Lisa Blunt Rochester (Democratic)David N. Cicilline (Democratic)Emanuel Cleaver (Democratic)Jackie Speier (Democratic)Kathleen M. Rice (Democratic)Darren Soto (Democratic)Sheila Jackson Lee (Democratic)Derek Kilmer (Democratic)John A. Yarmuth (Democratic)Ben Ray Luján (Democratic)Carolyn B. Maloney (Democratic)Bill Foster (Democratic)Joe Courtney (Democratic)C. A. Dutch Ruppersberger (Democratic)Pete Aguilar (Democratic)Eliot L. Engel (Democratic)Frederica S. Wilson (Democratic)Juan Vargas (Democratic)Terri A. Sewell (Democratic)Carol Shea-Porter (Democratic)Eric Swalwell (Democratic)Michael F. Doyle (Democratic)Niki Tsongas (Democratic)Debbie Dingell (Democratic)Katherine M. Clark (Democratic)Steve Cohen (Democratic)Tony Cárdenas (Democratic)Susan A. Davis (Democratic)Suzan K. DelBene (Democratic)Scott H. Peters (Democratic)Paul Tonko (Democratic)Donald M. Payne (Democratic)Thomas R. Suozzi (Democratic)Wm. Lacy Clay (Democratic)Rosa L. DeLauro (Democratic)Michael E. Capuano (Democratic)Anthony G. Brown (Democratic)Adriano Espaillat (Democratic)Danny K. Davis (Democratic)Lucille Roybal-Allard (Democratic)Peter A. DeFazio (Democratic)Daniel T. Kildee (Democratic)Ted Lieu (Democratic)Michelle Lujan Grisham (Democratic)Ro Khanna (Democratic)Elizabeth H. Esty (Democratic)Alan S. Lowenthal (Democratic)Ann M. Kuster (Democratic)Walter B. Jones (Republican)Sean Patrick Maloney (Democratic)Al Green (Democratic)André Carson (Democratic)Brendan F. Boyle (Democratic)Matt Cartwright (Democratic)John B. Larson (Democratic)Joaquin Castro (Democratic)Stephen F. Lynch (Democratic)Mark DeSaulnier (Democratic)Keith Ellison (Democratic)Jim Cooper (Democratic)Joseph D. Morelle (Democratic)G. K. Butterfield (Democratic)John Conyers (Democratic)Timothy J. Walz (Democratic)Doris O. Matsui (Democratic)Gene Green (Democratic)Gregory W. Meeks (Democratic)Hakeem S. Jeffries (Democratic)Raja Krishnamoorthi (Democratic)Marcia L. Fudge (Democratic)James A. Himes (Democratic)Jerrold Nadler (Democratic)Theodore E. Deutch (Democratic)John Lewis (Democratic)Alma S. Adams (Democratic)Anna G. Eshoo (Democratic)Ami Bera (Democratic)Mark Takano (Democratic)Luis V. Gutierrez (Democratic)Pramila Jayapal (Democratic)Kathy Castor (Democratic)Betty McCollum (Democratic)Eleanor Holmes Norton (Democratic)Brad Sherman (Democratic)Bonnie Watson Coleman (Democratic)Denny Heck (Democratic)Conor Lamb (Democratic)Tulsi Gabbard (Democratic)Salud O. Carbajal (Democratic)Jamie Raskin (Democratic)Ruben J. Kihuen (Democratic)Elijah E. Cummings (Democratic)Mike Quigley (Democratic)Lois Frankel (Democratic)Donald S. Beyer (Democratic)Louise McIntosh Slaughter (Democratic)Diana DeGette (Democratic)Janice D. Schakowsky (Democratic)James P. McGovern (Democratic)Adam Smith (Democratic)Ron Kind (Democratic)Nydia M. Velázquez (Democratic)James E. Clyburn (Democratic)Julia Brownley (Democratic)Joseph Crowley (Democratic)William R. Keating (Democratic)Jerry McNerney (Democratic)Eddie Bernice Johnson (Democratic)Beto O'Rourke (Democratic)Yvette D. Clarke (Democratic)Rick Larsen (Democratic)Jose E. Serrano (Democratic)Jared Polis (Democratic)Peter Welch (Democratic)Albio Sires (Democratic)Cedric L. Richmond (Democratic)Earl Blumenauer (Democratic)Robert A. Brady (Democratic)Seth Moulton (Democratic)Mike Thompson (Democratic)Suzanne Bonamici (Democratic)Nancy Pelosi (Democratic)Linda T. Sánchez (Democratic)Ed Perlmutter (Democratic)Zoe Lofgren (Democratic)Nanette Diaz Barragán (Democratic)Frank Pallone (Democratic)Gwen Moore (Democratic)John K. Delaney (Democratic)Grace Meng (Democratic)Cheri Bustos (Democratic)Bradley Scott Schneider (Democratic)Alcee L. Hastings (Democratic)Lloyd Doggett (Democratic)Debbie Wasserman Schultz (Democratic)Gerald E. Connolly (Democratic)Chellie Pingree (Democratic)Bill Pascrell (Democratic)Colleen Hanabusa (Democratic)Grace F. Napolitano (Democratic)Judy Chu (Democratic)

Committee on House Administration, Ways and Means Committee, Energy and Commerce Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Government By the People Act of 2017 This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code and the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (FECA) to establish a program for small individual donations to campaigns for public office and make other changes to campaign finance law. The bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow: (1) individual taxpayers a refundable tax credit of 50% of qualified congressional House campaign contributions (i.e., cash contributions by an individual to a candidate for the House of Representatives or a political committee established and maintained by a national political party, to be known as "My Voice Federal" contributions); and (2) individual taxpayers to designate a portion of any overpayment of tax as a contribution to the Freedom From Influence Fund. The Government by the People Oversight Commission, established by this bill, shall establish a voucher pilot program to provide voters with a $50 "My Voice Voucher" for making campaign contributions. The bill amends the FECA to establish a 6-1 matching program for small dollar contributions (up to $150) to a candidate for public office and sets forth eligibility, certification, and expenditure requirements for candidates. The bill permits unlimited coordinated party expenditures from small donor sources on behalf of publicly financed House candidates. The bill requires disclosure by all bundlers of bundled contributions (i.e., the practice of combining several small campaign contributions into one large contribution to avoid exceeding the limit on contributions), not just registered lobbyists. The bill amends the Communications Act of 1934 to expand the access of candidates for public office to broadcasting.
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Timeline
Jan 24, 2017
Introduced in House
Jan 24, 2017
Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, and Ways and Means, 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 concerned.
  • January 24, 2017
    Introduced in House


  • January 24, 2017
    Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, and Ways and Means, 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 concerned.

Government Operations and Politics

Related Bills

  • HR 115-7067: To amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to provide political advertising vouchers and payments to defray the costs of postage for candidates in general elections to the Senate or House of Representatives who agree to restrictions on the types of contributions such candidates raise and the types of expenditures such candidates make, and for other purposes.
Accounting and auditingAdministrative law and regulatory proceduresComputers and information technologyCongressional electionsElections, voting, political campaign regulationExecutive agency funding and structureFederal Election Commission (FEC)Government ethics and transparency, public corruptionGovernment information and archivesGovernment trust fundsHouse of RepresentativesIncome tax creditsInflation and pricesInternet and video servicesInternet, web applications, social mediaJudicial review and appealsLicensing and registrationsPolitical advertisingPublic participation and lobbyingSupreme CourtTax administration and collection, taxpayersTelecommunication rates and fees

To reform the financing of congressional elections by broadening participation by small dollar donors, and for other purposes.

USA115th CongressHR-20| House 
| Updated: 1/24/2017
Government By the People Act of 2017 This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code and the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (FECA) to establish a program for small individual donations to campaigns for public office and make other changes to campaign finance law. The bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow: (1) individual taxpayers a refundable tax credit of 50% of qualified congressional House campaign contributions (i.e., cash contributions by an individual to a candidate for the House of Representatives or a political committee established and maintained by a national political party, to be known as "My Voice Federal" contributions); and (2) individual taxpayers to designate a portion of any overpayment of tax as a contribution to the Freedom From Influence Fund. The Government by the People Oversight Commission, established by this bill, shall establish a voucher pilot program to provide voters with a $50 "My Voice Voucher" for making campaign contributions. The bill amends the FECA to establish a 6-1 matching program for small dollar contributions (up to $150) to a candidate for public office and sets forth eligibility, certification, and expenditure requirements for candidates. The bill permits unlimited coordinated party expenditures from small donor sources on behalf of publicly financed House candidates. The bill requires disclosure by all bundlers of bundled contributions (i.e., the practice of combining several small campaign contributions into one large contribution to avoid exceeding the limit on contributions), not just registered lobbyists. The bill amends the Communications Act of 1934 to expand the access of candidates for public office to broadcasting.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline
Jan 24, 2017
Introduced in House
Jan 24, 2017
Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, and Ways and Means, 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 concerned.
  • January 24, 2017
    Introduced in House


  • January 24, 2017
    Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, and Ways and Means, 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 concerned.
John P. Sarbanes

John P. Sarbanes

Democratic Representative

Maryland

Cosponsors (163)
Brenda L. Lawrence (Democratic)Donald Norcross (Democratic)David Loebsack (Democratic)Tim Ryan (Democratic)Marcy Kaptur (Democratic)Tom O'Halleran (Democratic)Richard M. Nolan (Democratic)Ruben Gallego (Democratic)Jared Huffman (Democratic)Marc A. Veasey (Democratic)Steny H. Hoyer (Democratic)Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (Democratic)Barbara Lee (Democratic)Nita M. Lowey (Democratic)Robin L. Kelly (Democratic)Joseph P. Kennedy (Democratic)Raúl M. Grijalva (Democratic)Stephanie N. Murphy (Democratic)Mark Pocan (Democratic)Karen Bass (Democratic)James R. Langevin (Democratic)Joyce Beatty (Democratic)Lisa Blunt Rochester (Democratic)David N. Cicilline (Democratic)Emanuel Cleaver (Democratic)Jackie Speier (Democratic)Kathleen M. Rice (Democratic)Darren Soto (Democratic)Sheila Jackson Lee (Democratic)Derek Kilmer (Democratic)John A. Yarmuth (Democratic)Ben Ray Luján (Democratic)Carolyn B. Maloney (Democratic)Bill Foster (Democratic)Joe Courtney (Democratic)C. A. Dutch Ruppersberger (Democratic)Pete Aguilar (Democratic)Eliot L. Engel (Democratic)Frederica S. Wilson (Democratic)Juan Vargas (Democratic)Terri A. Sewell (Democratic)Carol Shea-Porter (Democratic)Eric Swalwell (Democratic)Michael F. Doyle (Democratic)Niki Tsongas (Democratic)Debbie Dingell (Democratic)Katherine M. Clark (Democratic)Steve Cohen (Democratic)Tony Cárdenas (Democratic)Susan A. Davis (Democratic)Suzan K. DelBene (Democratic)Scott H. Peters (Democratic)Paul Tonko (Democratic)Donald M. Payne (Democratic)Thomas R. Suozzi (Democratic)Wm. Lacy Clay (Democratic)Rosa L. DeLauro (Democratic)Michael E. Capuano (Democratic)Anthony G. Brown (Democratic)Adriano Espaillat (Democratic)Danny K. Davis (Democratic)Lucille Roybal-Allard (Democratic)Peter A. DeFazio (Democratic)Daniel T. Kildee (Democratic)Ted Lieu (Democratic)Michelle Lujan Grisham (Democratic)Ro Khanna (Democratic)Elizabeth H. Esty (Democratic)Alan S. Lowenthal (Democratic)Ann M. Kuster (Democratic)Walter B. Jones (Republican)Sean Patrick Maloney (Democratic)Al Green (Democratic)André Carson (Democratic)Brendan F. Boyle (Democratic)Matt Cartwright (Democratic)John B. Larson (Democratic)Joaquin Castro (Democratic)Stephen F. Lynch (Democratic)Mark DeSaulnier (Democratic)Keith Ellison (Democratic)Jim Cooper (Democratic)Joseph D. Morelle (Democratic)G. K. Butterfield (Democratic)John Conyers (Democratic)Timothy J. Walz (Democratic)Doris O. Matsui (Democratic)Gene Green (Democratic)Gregory W. Meeks (Democratic)Hakeem S. Jeffries (Democratic)Raja Krishnamoorthi (Democratic)Marcia L. Fudge (Democratic)James A. Himes (Democratic)Jerrold Nadler (Democratic)Theodore E. Deutch (Democratic)John Lewis (Democratic)Alma S. Adams (Democratic)Anna G. Eshoo (Democratic)Ami Bera (Democratic)Mark Takano (Democratic)Luis V. Gutierrez (Democratic)Pramila Jayapal (Democratic)Kathy Castor (Democratic)Betty McCollum (Democratic)Eleanor Holmes Norton (Democratic)Brad Sherman (Democratic)Bonnie Watson Coleman (Democratic)Denny Heck (Democratic)Conor Lamb (Democratic)Tulsi Gabbard (Democratic)Salud O. Carbajal (Democratic)Jamie Raskin (Democratic)Ruben J. Kihuen (Democratic)Elijah E. Cummings (Democratic)Mike Quigley (Democratic)Lois Frankel (Democratic)Donald S. Beyer (Democratic)Louise McIntosh Slaughter (Democratic)Diana DeGette (Democratic)Janice D. Schakowsky (Democratic)James P. McGovern (Democratic)Adam Smith (Democratic)Ron Kind (Democratic)Nydia M. Velázquez (Democratic)James E. Clyburn (Democratic)Julia Brownley (Democratic)Joseph Crowley (Democratic)William R. Keating (Democratic)Jerry McNerney (Democratic)Eddie Bernice Johnson (Democratic)Beto O'Rourke (Democratic)Yvette D. Clarke (Democratic)Rick Larsen (Democratic)Jose E. Serrano (Democratic)Jared Polis (Democratic)Peter Welch (Democratic)Albio Sires (Democratic)Cedric L. Richmond (Democratic)Earl Blumenauer (Democratic)Robert A. Brady (Democratic)Seth Moulton (Democratic)Mike Thompson (Democratic)Suzanne Bonamici (Democratic)Nancy Pelosi (Democratic)Linda T. Sánchez (Democratic)Ed Perlmutter (Democratic)Zoe Lofgren (Democratic)Nanette Diaz Barragán (Democratic)Frank Pallone (Democratic)Gwen Moore (Democratic)John K. Delaney (Democratic)Grace Meng (Democratic)Cheri Bustos (Democratic)Bradley Scott Schneider (Democratic)Alcee L. Hastings (Democratic)Lloyd Doggett (Democratic)Debbie Wasserman Schultz (Democratic)Gerald E. Connolly (Democratic)Chellie Pingree (Democratic)Bill Pascrell (Democratic)Colleen Hanabusa (Democratic)Grace F. Napolitano (Democratic)Judy Chu (Democratic)

Committee on House Administration, Ways and Means Committee, Energy and Commerce Committee

Government Operations and Politics

Related Bills

  • HR 115-7067: To amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to provide political advertising vouchers and payments to defray the costs of postage for candidates in general elections to the Senate or House of Representatives who agree to restrictions on the types of contributions such candidates raise and the types of expenditures such candidates make, and for other purposes.
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Accounting and auditingAdministrative law and regulatory proceduresComputers and information technologyCongressional electionsElections, voting, political campaign regulationExecutive agency funding and structureFederal Election Commission (FEC)Government ethics and transparency, public corruptionGovernment information and archivesGovernment trust fundsHouse of RepresentativesIncome tax creditsInflation and pricesInternet and video servicesInternet, web applications, social mediaJudicial review and appealsLicensing and registrationsPolitical advertisingPublic participation and lobbyingSupreme CourtTax administration and collection, taxpayersTelecommunication rates and fees