Skip to main content
HR 2490 98th Congress House Government Operations and Politics Campaign funds Congressional elections Department of the Treasury Government trust funds House of Representatives Political action committees Voting

Clean Campaign Act of 1983

Introduced: April 12, 1983 See on congress.gov
This bill died when the 98th Congress ended
It never became law before the 98th Congress (1983–1984) 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 4 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Apr 18, 1983
Referred to Subcommittee on Telecommunications, Consumer Protection and Finance.
Apr 12, 1983
Introduced in House
Apr 12, 1983
Referred to House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Apr 12, 1983
Referred to House Committee on House Administration.
 Ask about this bill AI · grounded in the bill text

Have a question about what this bill does? Ask in plain English; the answer is drawn from the bill's actual text and official record, and it'll tell you when something isn't in the text rather than guess.

AI answers can be imperfect; always confirm against the full bill text.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Clean Campaign Act of 1983 - Adds a new title to the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971: "Title V: Financing of General Election Campaigns for the House of Representatives". Establishes eligibility criteria entitling candidates to receive campaign payments on a matching basis. Establishes formulae to determine such sums. Limits expenditure of personal funds to $20,000 per election.

Waives spending limits for eligible candidates whose opponents have spent sums exceeding the limit imposed upon such candidates.

Requires specified independent expenditures to be reported to the Commission and to each candidate within specified time-frames. Permits additional payments to certain candidates who have waived specified broadcasting rights.

Requires the Federal Election Commission to certify the eligibility of candidates to the Secretary of the Treasury, who shall disburse funds to such candidates. Directs the Secretary to establish a separate United States House of Representatives Election Campaign Account in the Presidential Election Campaign Fund and to deposit certain sums in such account in accordance with specified guidelines.

Directs the Commission to audit campaign accounts. Requires repayment of excess payments and unexpended payments. Penalizes the use of funds for other than campaign purposes. Authorizes the Commission to institute repayment actions in U.S. district courts.

Delineates the administrative authority of the Commission in carrying out this Act. Requires the Commission to make certain reports to the House of Representatives.

Authorizes appropriations.

Limits to $90,000 in any calendar year the amount of contributions which congressional candidates or their authorized political committees may accept from non-party multicandidate political committees. Specifies exceptions for candidates in general and special elections.

States that any extension of credit for advertising on broadcasting stations, in newspapers or magazines, or by direct mail, or for other types of public political advertising shall be considered a contribution, if such credit is: (1) in excess of $1,000; and (2) for a period exceeding 30 days.

What's happening now April 18, 1983

Referred to Subcommittee on Telecommunications, Consumer Protection and Finance.

 Committees of jurisdiction 3
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 2490: Clean Campaign Act of 1983. 98th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/98-HR-2490/
MLA
"H.R. 2490: Clean Campaign Act of 1983." 98th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/98-HR-2490/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 2490, 98th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/98-HR-2490/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 2490: Clean Campaign Act of 1983](https://openamerica.io/bill/98-HR-2490/)
Report a problem