S. 3369: DISCLOSE Act of 2012

112th Congress · introduced 2012-07-10 · Government Operations and Politics · Latest: Committee on the Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights. Hearings held.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2012-07-10 · official record
Who proposed it: Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: 2 recorded votes in our records. Latest: Senate vote 180 (2012): On Cloture on the Motion to Proceed, S3369 (2012-07-17), Cloture on the Motion to Proceed Rejected. See all
Where it stands now: Committee on the Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights. Hearings held. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

DISCLOSE Act of 2012

Plain summary

Democracy Is Strengthened by Casting Light On Spending in Elections Act of 2012 or DISCLOSE Act of 2012 - Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (FECA) to redefine the term "independent expenditure" as an expenditure by a person that, when taken as a whole, expressly advocates the election or defeat of a clearly identified candidate, or is the functional equivalent of express advocacy because it can be interpreted by a reasonable person only as advocating the election or defeat of a candidate, taking into account whether the communication involved mentions a candidacy, a political party, or a challenger to a candidate, or takes a position on a candidate's character, qualifications, or fitness for office. Expands the period during which certain communications are treated as electioneering communications. Prescribes disclosure requirements for corporations, labor organizations, and certain other entities, including a political committee with an account established for the purpose of accepting donations or contributions that do not comply with the contribution limits or source prohibitions under FECA (but only with respect to such accounts). Repeals the prohibition against political contributions by individuals age 17 or younger.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in Senate), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

DISCLOSE Act of 2012

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in Senate)

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI] · 40 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Charles E. Schumer (D-NY), Michael F. Bennet (D-CO), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Christopher A. Coons (D-DE), Bernard Sanders (I-VT), Jack Reed (D-RI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Kirsten E. Gillibrand (D-NY), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Patty Murray (D-WA), Richard J. Durbin (D-IL)

Sponsor's campaign money: Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI] reported raising $652,856 (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

Recorded votes

Senate vote 179 (2012): On Cloture on the Motion to Proceed, S3369 (2012-07-16): Cloture on the Motion to Proceed Rejected
Senate vote 180 (2012): On Cloture on the Motion to Proceed, S3369 (2012-07-17): Cloture on the Motion to Proceed Rejected

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in Senate)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-112s3369.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/112/s>

Record fed-us-cong112-s3369 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong112 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong112