{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["http://harris.house.gov/press-release/rep-andy-harris-introduces-%E2%80%9Cclean-campaign-contributions-act%E2%80%9D", "Rep Andy Harris Introduces \u201cClean Campaign Contributions Act\u201d", "2013-11-01", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "MD", "Andy Harris", "H001052", "harris.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\nOctober 29, 2013\n\u00a0\nRep Andy Harris Introduces \u201cClean Campaign Contributions Act\u201d\nBill bans the use of personal funds by any political committee including leadership PACs\n\u00a0\nWashington, D. C. - As reported in a recent edition of \u201c60 Minutes,\u201d the current ban on personal use political committee funds does not include leadership PACs.\u00a0 Rep. Andy Harris, M.D., has introduced H.R. 3356, \u201cClean Campaign Contributions Act,\u201d to close that loophole.\u00a0 The bill will extend the current ban on the personal use of funds by candidate reelection campaigns by clarifying that the ban also applies to leadership PACs, a campaign committee of a political party, and every kind of campaign committee.\n\u00a0\n\u201cPublic opinion of Congress is already low enough. We should close this loophole so no appearance of impropriety exists.\u201d said Rep. Harris.\u00a0 \u201cBy banning the personal use of political committee funds, we can help improve the public trust in Congress.\u201d\n\u00a0\nThe Federal Election Commission has recommended extending the personal use ban to all political committees.\u00a0 According to the FEC, while it is illegal to use candidate committee contributions for personal use (to fulfill any commitment, obligation, or expense that would exist irrespective of the candidate\u2019s election campaign or duties as a holder of Federal office) \u201cno corresponding provision covers individuals who convert contributions received by party committees, separate segregated funds, leadership PACs, and other political committees to their own personal use, including through theft or embezzlement.\u201d\u00a0\n\u00a0\nThe FEC has \u201cseen a substantial number of instances where individuals with access to the funds received by political committees have used such funds to make unauthorized disbursements to pay for their own personal expenses.\u201d\n\u00a0\nThis bill simply treats all campaign committees equally regarding the personal use of funds.\u00a0\n\u00a0\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["http://harris.house.gov/press-release/rep-andy-harris-introduces-%E2%80%9Cclean-campaign-contributions-act%E2%80%9D"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.8464790880680084, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}