Senate Campaign Finance Reform Act of 1995

openUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

7 September 1995

Last action

25 June 1996 · Floor

Status

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 456.

Summary

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Senate Election Spending Limits and Benefits Title II: Reduction of Special Interest Influence Subtitle A: Elimination of Political Action Committees From Federal Election Activities Subtitle B: Provisions Relating to Soft Money of Political Parties Subtitle C: Soft Money of Persons Other Than Political Parties Subtitle D: Contributions Subtitle E: Additional Contribution Limits Subtitle F: Independent Expenditures Title III: Miscellaneous Provisions Senate Campaign Finance Reform Act of 1995 - Title I: Senate Election Spending Limits and Benefits - Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (FECA) to set forth Senate election spending limits and benefits. Entitles complying candidates to specified: (1) broadcast discounts and free time; and (2) postage reductions. (Sec. 103) Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to: (1) provide for preemption only in situations beyond a station's control; and (2) extend the license revocation provision for failure to provide access to cable systems. Title II: Reduction of Special Interest Influence - Subtitle A: Elimination of Political Action Committees From Federal Election Activities - Amends FECA to prohibit Federal election activities by political action committees (as defined by this Act). States that if such ban is not in effect: (1) a committee's contributions to a candidate shall not exceed limits applicable to an individual; and (2) a candidate may not accept more than 20 percent of contributions from committee sources. Subtitle B: Provisions Relating to Soft Money of Political Parties - Amends FECA to set forth soft money contribution and reporting provisions. Subtitle C: Soft Money of Persons Other Than Political Parties - Amends FECA to set forth reporting requirements for persons other than political parties (with exceptions for candidate's authorized committees or independent expenditures) who disburse more than $2000 for political activities. Subtitle D: Contributions - Amends FECA to set forth conditions under which contributions to a candidate made by a person through an intermediary or conduit shall be treated as having come from the person or from the intermediary. Subtitle E: Additional Prohibitions on Contributions - Requires candidates to raise at least 60 percent of their contributions from in-State individuals in order to be in FECA compliance. Subtitle F: Independent Expenditures - Amends FECA to redefine "independent expenditure." Includes within the definition of "contribution" certain expenditures containing express advocacy made by a candidate or candidate's representative. Title III: Miscellaneous Provisions - Amends FECA to prohibit the personal use of campaign funds. (Sec. 302) Sets forth political advertising provisions for print and broadcast or cablecast communications. (Sec. 303) Authorizes the Federal Election Commission to: (1) prescribe regulations for computer and facsimile reporting; and (2) conduct random post-election audits to ensure voluntary FECA compliance. (Sec. 305) Prohibits franked mass mailings by a Member in his or her election year (unless such Member will not be a candidate for any Federal office). (Sec. 306) Grants the Commission injunctive relief authority. (Sec. 308) Provides for direct appeal to the United States Supreme Court from any judicial ruling on the constitutionality of any provision of this Act. (Sec. 309) Revises certain political committee reporting requirements.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

7 September 1995
Introduced
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules.
Source: IntroReferral
7 September 1995
Introduced
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S12831-12832)
Source: IntroReferral
7 September 1995
Introduced
Introduced in Senate
Source: IntroReferral
1 February 1996
Committee
Committee on Rules and Administration. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 104-542.
Source: Committee
13 March 1996
Committee
Committee on Rules and Administration. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 104-542.
Source: Committee
27 March 1996
Committee
Committee on Rules and Administration. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 104-542.
Source: Committee
17 April 1996
Committee
Committee on Rules and Administration. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 104-542.
Source: Committee
8 May 1996
Committee
Committee on Rules and Administration. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 104-542.
Source: Committee
15 May 1996
Committee
Committee on Rules and Administration. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 104-542.
Source: Committee
20 June 1996
Floor
Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S6630)
Source: Floor
20 June 1996
Discharge
Senate Committee on Rules discharged by Unanimous Consent.
Source: Discharge
20 June 1996
Committee
Senate Committee on Rules discharged by Unanimous Consent.
Source: Committee
24 June 1996
Floor
Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S6680-6718)
Source: Floor
25 June 1996
Calendars
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 456.
Source: Calendars
25 June 1996
Floor
Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S6761-6817)
Source: Floor

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

Placed on Calendar Senate · 25 June 1996 · Download file
Introduced in Senate · 7 September 1995 · Download file

Documents

5 official files

Placed on Calendar Senate (text)

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Placed on Calendar Senate (text)
Placed on Calendar Senate · EN · 25 June 1996
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Placed on Calendar Senate (PDF)
Placed on Calendar Senate · EN · 25 June 1996
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Introduced in Senate (text)
Introduced in Senate · EN · 7 September 1995
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Introduced in Senate (PDF)
Introduced in Senate · EN · 7 September 1995
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Introduced in Senate
summary · EN · 7 September 1995
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Related records

amends ← SAMDT 4093
amends ← SAMDT 4097
amends ← SAMDT 4101
amends ← SAMDT 4105
amends ← SAMDT 4096
amends ← SAMDT 4100
amends ← SAMDT 4104
amends ← SAMDT 4108

Showing 8 of 21 related records.

Sources

PoliticalRepo is an index and interpretation layer, not the authoritative legal source.

Official source: https://www.congress.gov/bill/104th-congress/senate-bill/1219
Open data entity: https://api.congress.gov/v3/bill/104/s/1219
us · 104-s-1219 · source updated 21 August 2025