Campaign Truth and Fairness Act of 1997

Referred to the House Committee on House Oversight.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Jan 21, 1997

Campaign Truth and Fairness Act of 1997 - Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to prohibit a national committee or a congressional campaign committee of a political party from soliciting or accepting contributions or transfers not subject to the limitations, prohibitions, and reporting requirements of such Act (soft money). Specifies exceptions and inclusions, including get-out-the-vote activities. Specifies permitted State Party Grassroots Fund expenditures. Sets forth specified "contribution" and "expenditure" exclusions. Increases individual contribution limits to a candidate and his or her political committee, and decreases similar multicandidate political committee limits, to $2,500. Limits personal contributions by a candidate for the House of Representatives to $100,000 per campaign cycle.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Rep. Clement, Bob [D-TN-5] · D–TN

Committees

Committee on House Administration

1 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Rep. Schiff, Steven [R-NM-1]

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

Jan 21, 1997
Referred to the House Committee on House Oversight.
Jan 21, 1997
Introduced in House
Jan 21, 1997
Introduced in House

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in House · Jan 21, 1997 Formatted Text PDF

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: Aug 21, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

AI Conversation Starters

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.R.458 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

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Discuss H.R.458, 105th Congress: Campaign Truth and Fairness Act of 1997

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/house-bill/458

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 1997-01-21.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/105/bills/hr458/BILLS-105hr458ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-21T16:13:30Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze H.R.458 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.R.458 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.458, 105th Congress: Campaign Truth and Fairness Act of 1997

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/house-bill/458

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 1997-01-21.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/105/bills/hr458/BILLS-105hr458ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-21T16:13:30Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.458 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.R.458 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.458, 105th Congress: Campaign Truth and Fairness Act of 1997

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/house-bill/458

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 1997-01-21.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/105/bills/hr458/BILLS-105hr458ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-21T16:13:30Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.458 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.R.458 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.458, 105th Congress: Campaign Truth and Fairness Act of 1997

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/house-bill/458

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 1997-01-21.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/105/bills/hr458/BILLS-105hr458ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-21T16:13:30Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.458 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.