Amending the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to Extend the Administrative Fine Program for Certain Reporting Violations

Floor Speech

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Mr. STEIL. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 2747) to amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to extend the Administrative Fine Program for certain reporting violations.

The Clerk read the title of the bill.

The text of the bill is as follows: S. 2747

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. EXTENSION OF ADMINISTRATIVE FINE PROGRAM.

Section 309(a)(4)(C)(v) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (52 U.S.C. 30109(a)(4)(C)(v)) is amended by striking ``December 31, 2023'' and inserting ``December 31, 2033''.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 2747, a bill to amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to extend the Administrative Fine Program for certain reporting violations for an additional 10 years.

Congress has previously extended this program six times, each time on a nonpartisan basis. I rise today to encourage my colleagues to again extend the authorization of this crucial program.

The Federal Elections Commission, commonly referred to as the FEC, enforces Federal law that requires political committees to file reports of receipts and disbursements by a certain date.

Under the Administrative Fine Program, the FEC is able to swiftly resolve infractions related to late-filed or unfiled reports, ensuring transparency and accountability in our political process.

Currently, the Administrative Fine Program is set to expire on December 31, 2023. By passing this bill today, the House will extend the program for an additional 10 years, ensuring the FEC can expeditiously assess and enforce fines against campaign committees for their late-filed or unfiled reports.

Without the Administrative Fine Program, the FEC would be required to go through its traditional enforcement process to achieve compliance. This process is more costly and more time consuming. It would result in fewer available resources for the agency to devote to serious violations of campaign finance law.

The Administrative Fine Program has been successful. Before the inception of the Administrative Fine Program, an average of 21 percent of campaign finance reports were filed late. Now, late-filed reports are below 10 percent, and the agency has assessed over $9 million in fines. It is important to note that these fines do not fund the agency but are deposited in the U.S. Treasury.

Fewer late-filed reports means greater transparency for the American public. Greater transparency builds Americans' confidence in our elections.

The bill not only accomplishes the immediate goal of efficient campaign finance regulation, but it also aligns with the broader objectives of the American Confidence in Elections Act, or ACE Act: transparency and our shared goal to ensure confidence in our elections.

By passing this bill today, we can ensure the FEC enforcement operations continue to run smoothly. In late September, the Committee on House Administration considered an identical bill, H.R. 5734, and reported it to the full House by voice vote.

Our Senate colleagues passed S. 2747 by voice earlier this fall, which means this important bill would go to the President's desk following passage in the House.

I am urging my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join the bipartisan membership of the Committee on House Administration and the Senate Rules Committee to support this important measure today.

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Mr. STEIL. Lee), the chair of the Subcommittee on Elections of the Committee on House Administration and the former Florida Secretary of State.

I thank my colleague, Mr. Morelle, the ranking member on the Committee on House Administration, for his work in this regard.

As noted by my colleague, sometimes we disagree on elections administration. We have had those debates in our committee. This piece of legislation is a true nonpartisan opportunity for us to come together to provide more transparency for the American people, in particular, to make sure that this important program continues in place at the Federal Election Commission.

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Mr. STEIL. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues for speaking in support of this important measure. By passing the bill today, we can ensure FEC enforcement operations continue to run smoothly. I am urging my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join in supporting this measure.

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