[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5672 Introduced in House (IH)]







106th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 5672

  To establish a commission to develop uniform standards which may be 
 adopted by the States for the administration of elections for Federal 
                    office, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           December 15, 2000

   Ms. Jackson-Lee of Texas introduced the following bill; which was 
 referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to 
    the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently 
   determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such 
 provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To establish a commission to develop uniform standards which may be 
 adopted by the States for the administration of elections for Federal 
                    office, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Secure Democracy for All Americans 
Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) Despite Federal efforts to increase uniformity in 
        voting procedures for elections for Federal office, there 
        remains much variation in such procedures among the States.
            (2) A major goal of the National Voter Registration Act of 
        1993 (commonly known as the ``Motor-Voter Act'') was the 
        standardization of voter registration procedures for elections 
        for Federal office to prevent voter fraud and provide an 
        accurate list of eligible voters.
            (3) Under the provisions of the Uniformed and Overseas 
        Citizens Absentee Voting Act, absent uniformed services voters 
        and overseas voters can vote by absentee ballot in elections 
        for Federal office and, if a State does not provide an official 
        State absentee ballot in response to a timely request, can 
        write in the names of candidates on a Federal write-in absentee 
        ballot.
            (4) In North Dakota and in some counties in Wisconsin, 
        individuals may vote without registering.
            (5) Individuals in Idaho, New Hampshire, Maine, Minnesota, 
        Wisconsin, and Wyoming may register to vote on the day of the 
        election.
            (6) The duration of the residency requirement for voter 
        registration varies from State to State from 1 to 30 days.
            (7) In 7 States disability or illness does not provide 
        sufficient grounds for registering as an absentee voter, and in 
        4 States disability or illness does not provide sufficient 
        grounds for voting as an absentee.
            (8) A few States allow any citizen who is out of the United 
        States or the State to register as an absentee voter.
            (9) At least 7 different types of voting equipment are used 
        to carry out Presidential elections throughout the United 
        States, and the type of equipment used is determined on the 
        county level.
            (10) The opening time for polling places in Federal 
        elections varies from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., and the closing 
        time for such polling places varies from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION.

    There is established the Commission on the Comprehensive Study of 
Voting Procedures (in this Act referred to as the ``Commission'').

SEC. 4. DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION.

    (a) Study.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Commission shall complete a thorough study of all issues 
relating to voting procedures in Federal, State, and local elections, 
including the following:
            (1) Voting procedures in Federal, State, and local 
        government elections.
            (2) Voting procedures that represent the best practices in 
        Federal, State, and local government elections.
            (3) Legislation and regulatory efforts that affect voting 
        procedures issues.
            (4) The implementation of standardized voting procedures, 
        including standardized technology and procedures for voter 
        registration, absentee voting, early voting, and voting hours 
        on the day of the election, for Federal, State, and local 
        government elections.
            (5) The speed and timeliness of vote counts in Federal, 
        State and local elections.
            (6) The accuracy of vote counts in Federal, State and local 
        elections.
            (7) The security of voting procedures in Federal, State and 
        local elections.
    (b) Recommendations.--The Commission shall develop recommendations 
on the matters studied under subsection (a).
    (c) Reports.--
            (1) Final report.--Not later than 180 days after the 
        expiration of the period referred to in subsection (a), the 
        Commission shall submit a report which has been approved by a 
        majority of the members of the Commission to the President and 
        Congress which shall contain a detailed statement of the 
        findings and conclusions of the Commission, together with its 
        recommendations for such legislation and administrative actions 
        as it considers appropriate.
            (2) Interim reports.--The Commission may submit to the 
        President and Congress any interim reports that are approved by 
        a majority of the members of the Commission.
            (3) Additional reports.--The Commission may include in any 
        of the reports submitted under paragraph (1) or paragraph (2) 
        additional reports that contain any dissenting or minority 
        opinions of the members of the Commission.

SEC. 5. MEMBERSHIP.

    (a) Number and Appointment.--The Commission shall be composed of 5 
members of whom--
            (1) 1 shall be appointed by the President;
            (2) 1 shall be appointed by the majority leader of the 
        Senate;
            (3) 1 shall be appointed by the minority leader of the 
        Senate;
            (4) 1 shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of 
        Representatives; and
            (5) 1 shall be appointed by the minority leader of the 
        House of Representatives.
    (b) Members.--The Commission shall include at least 1 member from 
each of the following:
            (1) The National Institute of Standards and Technology.
            (2) The Department of Justice.
            (3) The National Academy of Sciences.
    (c) Date of Appointment.--The appointments of the members of the 
Commission shall be made not later than 30 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act.
    (d) Terms.--Each member of the Commission shall be appointed for 
the life of the Commission.
    (e) Vacancies.--A vacancy in the Commission shall not affect its 
powers, but shall be filled in the same manner in which the original 
appointment was made.
    (f) Meetings.--
            (1) In general.--The Commission shall meet at the call of 
        the Chairperson or a majority of its members.
            (2) Initial meeting.--Not later than 30 days after the date 
        on which all members of the Commission have been appointed, the 
        Commission shall hold its first meeting.
    (g) Quorum.--A majority of the members of the Commission shall 
constitute a quorum, but a lesser number of members may hold hearings.
    (h) Chairperson and Vice Chairperson.--The Commission shall select 
a Chairperson and Vice Chairperson from among its members.

SEC. 6. POWERS OF THE COMMISSION.

    (a) Hearings and Sessions.--The Commission may hold such hearings 
for the purpose of carrying out this Act, sit and act at such times and 
places, take such testimony, and receive such evidence as the 
Commission considers advisable to carry out this Act. The Commission 
may administer oaths and affirmations to witnesses appearing before the 
Commission.
    (b) Information From Federal Agencies.--The Commission may secure 
directly from any Federal department or agency such information as the 
Commission considers necessary to carry out this Act. Upon request of 
the Chairperson of the Commission, the head of such department or 
agency shall furnish such information to the Commission.
    (c) Website.--For purposes of conducting the study under section 
4(a), the Commission shall establish a website to facilitate public 
comment and participation.
    (d) Postal Services.--The Commission may use the United States 
mails in the same manner and under the same conditions as other 
departments and agencies of the Federal Government.
    (e) Administrative Support Services.--Upon the request of the 
Chairperson of the Commission, the Administrator of the General 
Services Administration shall provide to the Commission, on a 
reimbursable basis, the administrative support services that are 
necessary to enable the Commission to carry out its duties under this 
Act.
    (f) Contracts.--The Commission may contract with and compensate 
persons and Federal agencies for supplies and services without regard 
to section 3709 of the Revised Statutes (41 U.S.C. 5).
    (g) Gifts and Donations.--The Commission may accept, use, and 
dispose of gifts or donations of services or property to carry out this 
Act.

SEC. 7. COMMISSION PERSONNEL MATTERS.

    (a) Compensation of Members.--Each member of the Commission who is 
not an officer or employee of the Federal Government shall be 
compensated at a rate equal to the daily equivalent of the annual rate 
of basic pay prescribed for level IV of the Executive Schedule under 
section 5315 of title 5, United States Code, for each day (including 
travel time) during which such member is engaged in the performance of 
the duties of the Commission. All members of the Commission who are 
officers or employees of the United States shall serve without 
compensation in addition to that received for their services as 
officers or employees of the United States.
    (b) Travel Expenses.--The members of the Commission shall be 
allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at 
rates authorized for employees of agencies under subchapter I of 
chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, while away from their homes 
or regular places of business in the performance of services for the 
Commission.
    (c) Staff.--
            (1) In general.--The chair of the Commission may appoint 
        staff of the Commission, request the detail of Federal 
        employees, and accept temporary and intermittent services in 
        accordance with section 3161 of title 5, United States Code, 
        except that the rate of pay of any staff may not exceed the 
        annual rate payable for level V of the Executive Schedule under 
        section 5316 of title 5, United States Code.
            (2) Special rule regarding appointment of executive 
        director.--The employment of an executive director shall be 
        subject to confirmation by the Commission.

SEC. 8. TERMINATION OF THE COMMISSION.

    The Commission shall terminate 30 days after the date on which the 
Commission submits its final report under section 4(c)(1).

SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    (a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated such sums 
as may be necessary to the Commission to carry out this Act.
    (b) Availability.--Any sums appropriated under the authorization 
contained in this section shall remain available, without fiscal year 
limitation, until expended.
                                 <all>