HR2352-119

What This Bill Does

The Abolish Super PACs Act responds to unlimited contributions to independent expenditure committees after SpeechNow. It makes detailed findings about the growth of super PAC spending, including more than $4.48 billion in independent expenditures in 2024, 2,459 registered super PACs, and the concentration of individual super PAC contributions among the top 1 percent of contributors. The operative amendment changes FECA section 315 so the existing limit on contributions to other political committees also applies to an independent expenditure committee, defined as a political committee that makes at least $5,000 in independent expenditures in a calendar year or contributes at least $5,000 to other independent expenditure committees. The limits apply beginning with the first calendar year after enactment.

Who Benefits and How

Voters concerned about corruption benefit because the bill limits very large contributions to super PAC-style committees. Campaign finance reform organizations benefit from a statutory response to SpeechNow and the post-2010 super PAC funding model. Federal candidates without megadonor networks may benefit if rivals cannot rely on unlimited super PAC contributions from a small donor class. Foreign-interference watchdogs benefit because contribution caps make it harder to route very large foreign-linked funds through third-party contributors.

Who Bears the Burden and How

Independent expenditure committees must comply with FECA contribution limits once they meet the $5,000 expenditure or transfer threshold. Megadonors to super PACs lose the ability to give unlimited amounts to covered independent expenditure committees. FEC enforcement staff must interpret and administer the new independent expenditure committee definition and separate-account treatment. Political committees with independent expenditure accounts must monitor whether those accounts fall within the new definition.

Key Provisions

• Adds independent expenditure committees to FECA's contribution-limit provision for political committees.
• Defines an independent expenditure committee as one making at least $5,000 in independent expenditures or transfers to other such committees in a calendar year.
• Includes separate accounts established for independent expenditures or contributions to independent expenditure committees.
• Applies the amendments beginning with the first calendar year after enactment.
• Uses anti-corruption findings about post-2010 super PAC spending, $4.48 billion in 2024 independent expenditures, and concentrated large-donor funding.