HR 156 IH

To amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to require that communications advocating the election or defeat of a candidate for election for Federal office contain specific information regarding the sponsor of the communication and whether or not the communication is authorized by the candidate involved.

January 3, 2001

Mr. PRICE of North Carolina (for himself and Mr. HORN) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on House Administration

To amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to require that communications advocating the election or defeat of a candidate for election for Federal office contain specific information regarding the sponsor of the communication and whether or not the communication is authorized by the candidate involved.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Stand By Your Ad Act'.

SEC. 2. REQUIRING CAMPAIGN ADVERTISEMENTS TO INCLUDE INFORMATION ON SPONSOR AND AUTHORIZATION BY CANDIDATE.

(a) IN GENERAL- Section 318 of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 441d) is amended--

(1) by redesignating subsection (b) as subsection (c); and

(2) by inserting after subsection (a) the following new subsection:

`(b) A communication shall be considered to clearly state information required under subsection (a) if it meets the following requirements:

`(1) In the case of any printed communication, if the information required to be stated under such subsection constitutes not less than 10 percent of the space of the communication (or, in the case of a communication for which each copy consists of multiple pages, folds, or faces, if the information constitutes not less than 10 percent of the space of any single page, fold, or face in each copy).

`(2) In the case of any televised communication, if the communication includes--

`(A) with respect to a communication described in subsection (a)(1), an unobscured, full-screen view of the candidate stating the following on camera: `I am (name of candidate), candidate for (name of office involved), and I sponsored this advertisement.', or an unobscured, full-view photograph of the candidate, with such statement made by the candidate in voice over;

`(B) with respect to a communication described in subsection (a)(2), an unobscured, full-screen view of a representative of the persons paying for the communication stating the following on camera: `I am a representative of (name of persons paying), who sponsored this advertisement (in support of) (in opposition to) (name of candidate involved) for (name of office involved).', or an unobscured, full-view photograph of the representative, with such statement made by the representative in voice over; or

`(C) with respect to a communication described in subsection (a)(3), an unobscured, full-screen view of a representative of the persons paying for the communication stating the following on camera: `I am a representative of (name of persons paying), who sponsored this advertisement (in support of) (in opposition to) (name of candidate involved) for (name of office involved). This advertisement was not authorized by any candidate.', or an unobscured, full-view photograph of the representative, with such statement made by the representative in voice over.

`(3) In the case of any communication broadcast over the radio, if the communication includes--

`(A) with respect to a communication described in subsection (a)(1), a statement read by the candidate as follows: `I am (name of candidate), candidate for (name of office involved), and I sponsored this advertisement.';

`(B) with respect to a communication described in subsection (a)(2), a statement read by a representative of the persons paying for the communication as follows: `I am a representative of (name of persons paying), who sponsored this advertisement (in support of) (in opposition to) (name of candidate involved) for (name of office involved).'; or

`(C) with respect to a communication described in subsection (a)(3), a statement read by a representative of the persons paying for the communication as follows: `I am a representative of (name of persons paying), who sponsored this advertisement (in support of) (in opposition to) (name of candidate involved) for (name of office involved). This advertisement was not authorized by any candidate.'.'.

(b) EFFECTIVE DATE- The amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply with respect to communications made on or after January 1, 2002.

END