[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 41 (Friday, April 15, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: April 15, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
             VOTER TURNOUT ENHANCEMENT STUDY COMMISSION ACT

                                 ______


                              HON. JON KYL

                               of arizona

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 14, 1994

  Mr. KYL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce the Voter Turnout 
Enhancement Study [VoTES] Commission Act, a bill to establish a 
temporary commission to determine whether changing the deadline for 
filing federal income tax returns to the date on which federal 
elections are held will enhance voter turnout rates.
  Mr. Speaker, the only regular contacts most Americans have with their 
government are on Election Day and when they pay their income taxes. 
However, while nearly all Americans fulfill their tax obligations, far 
fewer people regularly exercise their right as citizens to participate 
in the electoral process.
  In fact, in 1992, nearly 115 million income tax returns were filed by 
individuals and couples, whereas a total of only 104 million people 
voted in that year's presidential election. That discrepancy is 
alarming.
  I believe that more closely tying individuals' rights as voters to 
their obligations as taxpayers--creating, if you will, an ``Obligations 
of Citizenship Day''--will provide additional incentives for persons to 
both participate in the political process and scrutinize the costs and 
benefits of government policies.
  People are probably the most focused on government when they are 
preparing their tax returns. So, what better time to hold an election 
that when people are most focused on, and interested in, what their 
government means to them? What better time than when people's 
concerns--and choices--can bring about the real change they want in 
government policy?
  Mr. Speaker, the VoTES Commission Act provides for a thoughtful and 
thorough analysis of the date change, its potential impact on voter 
turnout, as well as any economic impact it might have. To minimize 
costs, members of the commission would serve on a voluntary basis, and 
any staff needed would be detailed from other agencies.
  The bill has been endorsed by Americans for Tax Reform, the Small 
Business Survival Committee, the Association of Concerned Taxpayers, 
and the Free Congress Foundation.
  I invite my colleagues to cosponsor this important legislation, and I 
insert the text of the bill in the Record at this point:

                                 H.R.--

       Be it enacted by 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 ``Voter Turnout Enhancement 
     Study Commission Act''.

     SECTION 2. CONGRESSIONAL FINDINGS.

       The Congress finds that--
       (1) the right of citizens of the United States to vote is a 
     fundamental right;
       (2) Federal, State, and local governments have a duty to 
     promote the exercise of the right to vote to the greatest 
     extent possible;
       (3) the power to tax is only guardedly granted to Federal, 
     State, and local governments by the citizens of the United 
     States.
       (4) the only regular contact that most Americans have with 
     their government consists of filing personal income tax 
     returns and voting in Federal, State, and local elections.
       (5) in 1992, almost 115,000,000 Federal income tax returns 
     were filed by individuals and couples, but only approximately 
     104,000,000 votes were cast in the year's presidential 
     election; and
       (6) more closely tying the rights of individuals as voters 
     to their obligations as taxpayers will provide additional 
     incentives for individuals to both participate in the 
     electoral process and scrutinize the costs and benefits of 
     government policies.

     SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT.

       There is established a commission to be known as the Voter 
     Turnout Enhancement Study Commission (in this Act referred to 
     as the ``Commission'').

     SEC. 4. MEMBERSHIP.

       (a) Number and Appointment.--The Commission shall be 
     composed of 9 members appointed as follows:
       (1) 3 members appointed by the President.
       (2) 3 members appointed by the President pro tempore of the 
     Senate, upon the joint recommendation of the majority leader 
     and the minority leader of the Senate.
       (3) 3 members appointed by the Speaker of the House of 
     Representatives, upon the joint recommendation of the Speaker 
     and the minority leader of the House of Representatives.
       (b) Political Affiliation.--Not more than 2 of the 3 
     members of the Commission appointed under any 1 paragraph of 
     subsection (a) may be of the same political party.
       (c) Time of Appointment.--Members of the Commission shall 
     be appointed not later than 30 days after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act.
       (d) Terms.--Members of the Commission shall be appointed to 
     serve for the life of the Commission.
       (e) Vacancies.--Any vacancy in the Commission shall be 
     filled in the same manner as the original appointment.
       (f) Compensation.--
       (1) Rate of pay.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), 
     members of the Commission shall serve without pay.
       (2) Travel expenses.--Each member of the Commission shall 
     be entitled to receive travel expenses, including per diem in 
     lieu of subsistence, as authorized by section 5703 of title 
     5, United States Code, for persons employed intermittently in 
     the Government service.
       (g) Quorum.--A majority of the members of the Commission 
     shall constitute a quorum, but a lesser number of members may 
     hold a hearing.
       (h) Chairperson and Vice Chairperson.--The Commission shall 
     select a Chairperson and Vice Chairperson from among its 
     members.
       (i) Meetings.--
       (1) In general.--The Commission shall meet at the call of 
     the Chairperson or a majority of its members.
       (2) Initial meeting.--The Commission shall hold its initial 
     meeting not later than 30 days after the date on which all 
     members of the Commission have been appointed.

     SEC. 5. DUTIES.

       (a) Study.--The Commission shall conduct a comprehensive 
     study of all matters relating to the possibility of changing 
     the filing date for Federal income tax returns to the 1st 
     Tuesday after the 1st Monday in November. The study shall 
     include an analysis of--
       (1) the costs and benefits of the change in filing date; 
     and
       (2) the likelihood that establishment of a single date on 
     which individuals can fulfill obligations of citizenship as 
     both electors and taxpayers will increase participation in 
     Federal, State, and local elections.
       (b) Consultation.--The Commission shall consult with 
     Governors, Federal and State election officials, the 
     Commissioner of Internal Revenue, and any other person, 
     agency, or entity that the Commission determines to be 
     appropriate.

     SEC. 6. POWERS.

       (a) Hearings.--The Commission may hold the hearings, sit 
     and act at the times and places, take the testimony, and 
     receive the information that the Commission considers 
     advisable to carry out the purposes of this Act.
       (b) Mails.--The Commission may use the United States mails 
     in the same manner and under the same conditions as any other 
     Federal department or agency.
       (c) Powers of Members and Agents.--Any member or agent of 
     the Commission may, if authorized by the Commission, take any 
     action that the Commission is authorized to take under this 
     section.
       (d) Requests for Official Information.--The Commission may 
     request from a Federal department or agency information 
     necessary to enable the Commission to carry out this Act. The 
     head of the department or agency shall provide the 
     information to the Commission unless release of the 
     information to the public by the agency is prohibited by law.

     SEC. 7. STAFF ASSISTANCE FROM FEDERAL AGENCIES.

       Upon the request of the Commission or the Chairperson of 
     the Commission, the head of any Federal department or agency 
     may detail any of the personnel of the department or agency 
     to the Commission to assist the Commission to carry out this 
     Act.

     SEC. 8. REPORT.

       Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of 
     this Act, the Commission shall submit to the President and 
     the Congress a report that contains--
       (1) a detailed statement of the findings and conclusions of 
     the study required by section 5; and
       (2) recommendations of the Commission regarding any 
     legislation or administrative action the Commission considers 
     appropriate.

     SEC. 9. TERMINATION.

       The Commission shall terminate upon the submission of the 
     report required by section 8.

     SEC. 10. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be 
     necessary to carry out this Act.

                          ____________________