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Schneider Amendment on Campaign Donation Disclosures Included in H.R. 1, the For the People Act

March 3, 2021

WASHINGTON – An Amendment offered by Congressman Brad Schneider (IL-10) strengthening campaign donation disclosure requirements was added to H.R. 1, the For the People Act. The For the People Act is a sweeping government reform package that restricts the influence of dark money in campaigns, expands voting rights protections, and strengthens ethics rules.

The Schneider Amendment cracks down on tactics used by some Political Action Committees (PACs), including Super PACs, to avoid disclosure to voters. By officially organizing a PAC or SuperPAC just before an election, these committees can spend on ads to influence an election without disclosing information on donors or funding until after voting has already occurred. In another scheme, PACs borrow money to pay for advertising and operations, incurring debt that is not paid off by donors until after the election.

The amendment requires disclosure of donations of $5,000 or more to political committees, including super PACs, made 20 days or less before an election in order to ensure transparency of contributions not likely to be disclosed through regular reporting requirements before an election.

"Americans deserve clarity in their political campaigns. No individual and no corporation should be able to secretly fund political ads. With this amendment, H.R. 1, the For the People Act, will protect voters from being taken advantage of on their ways to the polls," said Congressman Brad Schneider (IL-10).

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