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H.R. 181 105th Congress House

To amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to reform the financing of elections for members of the House of Representatives, and for other purposes.

Introduced: January 7, 1997 See on congress.gov
Government Operations and Politics Campaign fundsCongressCongressional candidatesCongressional districts
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This bill died when the 105th Congress ended
It never became law before the 105th Congress (1997–1998) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 5 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jan 23, 1997
Referred to the Subcommittee on Telecommunications, Trade, and Consumer Protection, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Chairman.
Jan 7, 1997
Referred to House Commerce
Jan 7, 1997
Referred to the Committee on House Oversight, and in addition to the Committee on Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Jan 7, 1997
Referred to House Oversight
Jan 7, 1997
Introduced in House
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 Latest action January 23, 1997

Referred to the Subcommittee on Telecommunications, Trade, and Consumer Protection, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Chairman.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to limit contributions to House of Representatives elections from persons other than local individual residents.

Reduces maximum House contribution amounts from multicandidate political committees (PACs).

Sets forth limitations and reporting requirements for amounts paid for mixed political activities ("soft money").

Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to require a broadcast station to make broadcast time available to all House and Senate candidates in the last 30 (currently 45) days before a primary and the last 45 (currently 60) days before a general election, at the lowest unit charge of the station for the same amount of time (currently, the same class and amount of time) for the same period on the same date. Prohibits broadcasters from preempting advertisements sold to political candidates at the lowest unit rate, unless the preemption is beyond the broadcaster's control.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 181: To amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to reform the financing of elections for members of the House of Representatives, and for other purposes.. 105th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-181/
MLA
"H.R. 181: To amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to reform the financing of elections for members of the House of Representatives, and for other purposes.." 105th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-181/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 181, 105th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-181/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 181: To amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to reform the financing of elections for members of the House of Representatives, and for other purposes.](https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-181/)
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