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S. 229: DISCLOSE Act of 2015

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S. 229: DISCLOSE Act of 2015

114th Congress · introduced 2015-01-21 · Government Operations and Politics · Latest: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S349-350; text of measure as introduced: CR S350-352)

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2015-01-21 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
  4. Where it stands now: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S349-350; text of measure as introduced: CR S350-352) Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
  5. 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 2015

Plain summary

Democracy Is Strengthened by Casting Light On Spending in Elections Act of 2015 or the DISCLOSE Act of 2015 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 2015

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in Senate)

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The strongest published arguments

Arguments for (supporters)

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Arguments against (opponents)

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Alternatives

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

Officials and money

Sponsor: Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI] · 42 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Christopher A. Coons (D-DE), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Richard J. Durbin (D-IL), Patty Murray (D-WA), Michael F. Bennet (D-CO), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Kirsten E. Gillibrand (D-NY), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Christopher Murphy (D-CT), Jack Reed (D-RI), Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Bernard Sanders (I-VT), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Charles E. Schumer (D-NY), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Angus S. King, Jr. (I-ME), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory A. Booker (D-NJ), Gary C. Peters (D-MI), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Brian Schatz (D-HI)

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.

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong114-s229 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong114 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong114