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V. Campaign Contributions
You may accept lawful campaign contributions, whether to federal campaign committees or leadership PACs or to state or local campaign committees.[130] You may not use those campaign contributions for your own personal use or for purposes that are not bona fide campaign, political, or certain official purposes.[131] See Proper Use of Campaign Funds and Resources for further guidance.
[130] House Rule 25, cl. 5(a)(3)(B).
[131] House Rule 23, cl. 6; House Rule 24, cls. 1-3.
Any proceeds from testimonial dinners or other fundraising events for you must be considered campaign contributions.[132] You must disclose them as required by FEC regulations and you may only use those proceeds for bona fide campaign, political, or certain official purposes.[133] The proceeds may not be treated as unrestricted personal gifts to you.
[132] House Rule 23, cls. 6-7. This provision was a recommendation of the House Commission on Administrative Review. See House Comm’n on Admin. Review, Financial Ethics, H.R. Rep. No. 95-73, at 14 (1977).
The Committee determined that a direct mail solicitation by a Member or a Member’s spouse was a fundraising event, and all proceeds had to be treated as campaign contributions. Select Comm. on Ethics, Advisory Opinion No. 4 (Apr. 6, 1977), reprinted in H.R. Rep. No. 95-1837, at 61-62 (1977). The Committee also found that a Member may not accept proceeds from a fundraiser conducted by a group independent of the Member for the Member’s unrestricted personal use. Select Comm. on Ethics, Advisory Opinion No. 11 (May 11, 1977), reprinted in H.R. Rep. No. 95-1837, at 76. The Committee noted that a major purpose of the revisions to the Official Code of Conduct was to prevent Members from “cashing in” on their official position in Congress. Select Comm. on Ethics, Advisory Opinion No. 4, at 62 (Apr. 6, 1977).
[133] House Rule 23, cl. 6. Visit FEC.gov or call the FEC’s Office of Congressional Affairs at 202-694-1006 for information about FEC reporting requirements and additional limitations on expenditures.
Example (Permissible). You are running for re-election to the House and hosting a testimonial dinner with $100 tickets. The proceeds from the dinner must be reported to the FEC and you may only use those proceeds for bona fide campaign, political, or certain official purposes.
Example (Impermissible). You are running for re-election to the House. One very enthusiastic campaign supporter gives your campaign a check for three times the individual contribution limit. You may not accept the excess contribution. Contact the FEC for assistance with reporting and to determine whether contributions may be attributed to other election cycles.
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