[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6625 Reported in House (RH)]






                                                 Union Calendar No. 552
110th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 6625

                      [Report No. 110-851, Part I]

 To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to permit facilities of 
     the Department of Veterans Affairs to be designated as voter 
             registration agencies, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 29, 2008

Mr. Brady of Pennsylvania (for himself, Ms. Watson, Ms. Zoe Lofgren of 
  California, Ms. Kaptur, Mr. Gonzalez, Mrs. Davis of California, Ms. 
     Wasserman Schultz, Mr. Patrick J. Murphy of Pennsylvania, Mr. 
McDermott, Mr. Lewis of Georgia, Ms. Berkley, Mr. Hinchey, Ms. Moore of 
   Wisconsin, Mr. Cummings, Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson of Texas, Mr. 
  Filner, Mr. Farr, Mr. Murphy of Connecticut, Mrs. Christensen, Mr. 
 Foster, Ms. Corrine Brown of Florida, Mr. Capuano, Ms. Jackson-Lee of 
Texas, Mr. Boucher, Mr. Davis of Alabama, Mr. Serrano, Ms. Shea-Porter, 
 Mrs. Capps, Mr. Udall of Colorado, Mr. Allen, Mr. Scott of Virginia, 
 Mr. McGovern, Mr. Boswell, Ms. Slaughter, Mr. Grijalva, Mr. Holt, Mr. 
 Gene Green of Texas, and Mr. Courtney) introduced the following bill; 
  which was referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in 
  addition to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, 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

                           September 15, 2008

 Reported from the Committee on House Administration with an amendment
  [Omit the part struck through and insert the part printed in italic]

                           September 15, 2008

 Additional sponsors: Ms. Solis, Mr. Levin, Ms. Woolsey, Mr. Larsen of 
Washington, Ms. Bean, Mrs. Lowey, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Walz of Minnesota, 
    Mr. Pastor, Mr. Al Green of Texas, Mr. Smith of Washington, Ms. 
  Schakowsky, Mr. Johnson of Georgia, Mr. Waxman, Mr. Blumenauer, Mr. 
                 Doggett, Mr. Ellison, and Mr. Yarmuth

                           September 15, 2008

    The Committee on Veterans' Affairs discharged, committed to the 
Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to 
                               be printed

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to permit facilities of 
     the Department of Veterans Affairs to be designated as voter 
             registration agencies, 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 ``Veteran Voting Support Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) Veterans serving in foreign wars have performed a great 
        service to, and risked the greatest sacrifice in the name of, 
        our country, and should be supported by the people and the 
        Government of the United States.
            (2) Veterans are especially qualified to understand issues 
        of war, foreign policy, and government support for veterans, 
        and they should have the opportunity to voice that 
        understanding through voting.
            (3) The Department of Veterans Affairs should assist 
        veterans in meeting their medical, social, and civic needs, 
        including the full participation of veterans in our democracy.
            (4) The Department of Veterans Affairs should make every 
        effort to assist veterans to register to vote and to vote.

SEC. 3. USE OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS FACILITIES AS VOTER 
              REGISTRATION AGENCIES.

    The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall permit a State to designate 
facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs located in such State 
as voter registration agencies under section 7 of the National Voter 
Registration Act of 1993 (42 U.S.C. 1973gg-5).

SEC. 4. ASSISTANCE WITH ABSENTEE BALLOTS.

    In addition to the duties required under section 7 of the National 
Voter Registration Act of 1993 (42 U.S.C. 1973gg-5), any facility of 
the Department of Veterans Affairs designated as a voter registration 
agency under section 3 shall--
            (1) provide information relating to the opportunity to 
        request an absentee ballot;
            (2) make available absentee ballot applications and 
        absentee ballots upon request, as well as assistance in 
        completing such applications and ballots<DELETED>;</DELETED>, 
        except that nothing in this paragraph may be construed to waive 
        any requirement under State or local law regarding an 
        individual's eligibility to receive an absentee ballot or vote 
        by absentee ballot in any election; and
            (3) work with local election officials to ensure the proper 
        delivery of absentee ballot applications and absentee ballots.

SEC. 5. INFORMATION PROVIDED BY NONPARTISAN ORGANIZATIONS.

    The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall permit a meaningful 
opportunity for nonpartisan organizations to provide voter registration 
information and assistance at facilities of the Department of Veterans 
Affairs.

SEC. 6. ASSISTANCE PROVIDED BY ELECTION OFFICIALS AT DEPARTMENT OF 
              VETERANS AFFAIRS FACILITIES.

    (a) Distribution of Information.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
        not prohibit any election administration official, whether 
        State or local, party-affiliated or non-party affiliated, or 
        elected or appointed, from providing voting information to 
        veterans at any facility of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
            (2) Voting information.--In this subsection, the term 
        ``voting information'' means nonpartisan information intended 
        for the public about voting, including information about voter 
        registration, voting systems, absentee balloting, polling 
        locations, and other important resources for voters.
    (b) Voter Registration Services.--The Secretary shall provide 
reasonable access to facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs 
to State and local election officials for the purpose of providing 
nonpartisan voter registration services to individuals.

SEC. 7. ANNUAL REPORT ON COMPLIANCE.

    The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to Congress an 
annual report on how the Secretary has complied with the requirements 
of this Act.
                                                 Union Calendar No. 552

110th CONGRESS

  2d Session

                               H. R. 6625

                      [Report No. 110-851, Part I]

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

 To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to permit facilities of 
     the Department of Veterans Affairs to be designated as voter 
             registration agencies, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                           September 15, 2008

 Reported from the Committee on House Administration with an amendment

                           September 15, 2008

    The Committee on Veterans' Affairs discharged, committed to the 
Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to 
                               be printed