Bill > HR1312

This bill, the Empower Act of 2021, proposes to reform the system of public financing for presidential election campaigns. The key provisions of the bill include: - Increasing the matching rate for small-dollar contributions to candidates for the presidential primary from 100% to 600%, while disregarding contributions over $200 from each donor. This is intended to boost the power of small donors. - Modifying eligibility requirements for matching payments, such as increasing the threshold for the number of small-dollar contributions needed from 20 states to 20 states with donations under $200 per donor. - Repealing expenditure limitations for presidential primary candidates while maintaining a $50,000 personal spending limit. - Allowing general election candidates to use "qualified campaign contributions" (up to $1,000 per donor) without expenditure limits, rather than relying solely on public financing. - Increasing the limit on coordinated party expenditures for the general election from around $50 million to $100 million (with inflation adjustments). - Establishing a "Freedom From Influence Fund" to serve as the sole source of public financing for presidential candidates, with provisions to reduce payments if the fund is insufficient. - Imposing new assessments of 4.75% on certain criminal fines, civil penalties, and IRS penalties to help finance the Freedom From Influence Fund. The bill is intended to reduce the influence of large donors in presidential campaigns and empower small-dollar contributors, while maintaining a system of public financing.

Government Affairs, Justice

https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/1312/all-info