Bill Sponsor
Senate Bill 416
117th Congress(2021-2022)
Restoring Integrity to America’s Elections Act
Introduced
Introduced
Introduced in Senate on Feb 24, 2021
Overview
Text
Introduced
Feb 24, 2021
Latest Action
Feb 24, 2021
Origin Chamber
Senate
Type
Bill
Bill
The primary form of legislative measure used to propose law. Depending on the chamber of origin, bills begin with a designation of either H.R. or S. Joint resolution is another form of legislative measure used to propose law.
Bill Number
416
Congress
117
Policy Area
Government Operations and Politics
Government Operations and Politics
Primary focus of measure is government administration, including agency organization, contracting, facilities and property, information management and services; rulemaking and administrative law; elections and political activities; government employees and officials; Presidents; ethics and public participation; postal service. Measures concerning agency appropriations and the budget process may fall under Economics and Public Finance policy area.
Sponsorship by Party
Democrat
Maryland
Democrat
New Mexico
Senate Votes (0)
House Votes (0)
No Senate votes have been held for this bill.
Summary

Restoring Integrity to America's Elections Act

This bill revises provisions regarding the Federal Election Commission (FEC), including to change FEC membership.

Specifically, the bill reduces the number of appointed members of the FEC from six to five and permits no more than two members to be affiliated with the same political party. Further, it removes the Secretary of the Senate and Clerk of the House as ex officio members.

Next, the bill establishes the Blue Ribbon Advisory Panel to recommend to the President individuals for nomination to the FEC. The President shall appoint the FEC chair, subject to Senate confirmation.

The bill distributes the FEC's powers between the chair and the other FEC members. Further, it requires the FEC to ensure that its forms allow for the use of an accent mark as part of an individual's identification.

The bill modifies the process for (1) the FEC to initiate an investigation, and (2) a party aggrieved by the FEC's dismissal of the party's complaint or the FEC's failure to take action on the party's complaint to seek judicial review in federal court. Additionally, individuals who submit written comments regarding requests for advisory opinions must be given an opportunity to appear at FEC hearings on those requests.

The bill also permanently extends the FEC's administrative penalty authority.

Finally, the bill provides statutory authority for limitations on ex parte communications as applied to FEC members and employees. It also specifies that FEC attorneys may represent the FEC before the Supreme Court.

Text (1)
February 24, 2021
Actions (2)
02/24/2021
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
02/24/2021
Introduced in Senate
Public Record
Record Updated
Mar 15, 2023 7:00:23 PM