Federal

SANTOS Act

Source: Congress.gov · 445 words in original text

What This Bill Does

This bill changes the Federal Election Campaign Act to require candidates for Congress to provide information about their educational background, military service and employment history when they file campaign paperwork. The bill also creates a penalty for candidates who knowingly provide false information or refuse to provide this information.

Who It Affects

Individuals who are candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives or U.S. Senate.

Key Provisions

* Candidates for the House of Representatives or Senate must include their educational background in their campaign filing paperwork. (Sec. 2(a)) * Candidates for the House of Representatives or Senate must include information about any military service they have completed in their campaign filing paperwork. (Sec. 2(a)) * Candidates for the House of Representatives or Senate must include their employment history in their campaign filing paperwork. (Sec. 2(a)) * A person who knowingly and willfully violates these requirements or knowingly provides false information faces a fine of $100,000, imprisonment for one year, or both. (Sec. 2(b))

What Changes

Candidates for Congress will have to disclose their educational background, military service and employment history as part of their official campaign filings. Candidates who knowingly break these rules or lie about this information can face criminal penalties.

Important Definitions

None defined in the bill text.

Effective Date

The changes apply to elections held on or after the date this bill becomes law. (Sec. 2(c))

I 118TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. R. 350 To amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to require a candidate for Congress to file additional information about a candidate’s edu- cational background, military service, and employment history, and for other purposes. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES JANUARY 12, 2023 Mr. TORRES of New York (for himself and Mr. GOLDMAN of New York) intro- duced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on House Administration A BILL To amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to require a candidate for Congress to file additional infor- mation about a candidate’s educational background, mili- tary service, and employment history, and for other pur- poses. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Stopping Another Non- 4 Truthful Office Seeker Act’’ or the ‘‘SANTOS Act’’. 5 VerDate Sep 11 2014 06:07 Jan 26, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H350.IH H350 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB 2 •HR 350 IH SEC. 2. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REQUIRED FROM CAN- 1 DIDATES FOR CONGRESS. 2 (a) INFORMATION REQUIRED.—Section 302(e) of the 3 Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (52 U.S.C. 4 30102(e)) is amended by adding at the end the following: 5 ‘‘(6) ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REQUIRED 6 FROM CANDIDATES FOR CONGRESS.—Any individual 7 who is a candidate for the House of Representatives 8 or for the Senate shall include, in the designation re- 9 quired under paragraph (1), the following: 10 ‘‘(A) The educational background of the 11 candidate. 12 ‘‘(B) The military service of the candidate, 13 if any. 14 ‘‘(C) The employment history of the can- 15 didate.’’. 16 (b) PENALTY.—Section 309(d)(1) of such Act (52 17 U.S.C. 30109(d)(1)) is amended by adding at the end the 18 following: 19 ‘‘(E) Any individual who knowingly and willfully vio- 20 lates section 302(e)(6), including an individual who know- 21 ingly and willfully provides false information described in 22 section 302(e)(6), shall be fined $100,000, imprisoned for 23 1 year, or both.’’. 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 06:07 Jan 26, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H350.IH H350 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB 3 •HR 350 IH (c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 1 this section shall apply with respect to elections held on 2 or after the date of the enactment of this Act. 3 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 06:07 Jan 26, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H350.IH H350 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB

Important: This plain English summary was generated by AI and is provided for informational purposes only. It is not legal advice. Always consult the official bill text on Congress.gov or a qualified attorney for legal matters.