Campaign Finance Transparency Act

This bill significantly amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to enhance transparency and accountability in federal elections. It introduces new requirements for **internet credit or debit card contributions**, mandating the disclosure of the **card verification value (CVV/CVC)** and the billing ZIP Code. For individuals with non-State mailing addresses, additional identification, such as a U.S. passport or permanent resident card, is required to verify their eligibility to donate. The legislation further stipulates that the **name on the credit or debit card must match the name of the donor** for any accepted contribution, preventing anonymous or third-party card use. It also explicitly **prohibits political committees from accepting contributions made through gift certificates or store gift cards**, closing a potential loophole for untraceable donations. Treasurers of political committees are given an affirmative duty to refund any contributions found to be non-compliant with these new requirements, with a "best efforts" clause for compliance. A major provision of the bill is the **removal of the $200 threshold for reporting contributions**, meaning that all contributions, regardless of their amount, must be disclosed to the Federal Election Commission (FEC). This aims to provide a more comprehensive view of campaign funding. Furthermore, the bill strengthens existing prohibitions against **straw donors** by making it illegal to knowingly direct, help, or assist someone in making a contribution in the name of another person, and requires recipients to report suspected violations to the FEC. The FEC is tasked with promulgating new regulations within 90 days of enactment, in consultation with payment card networks, to implement these changes.