[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 103 (Monday, July 23, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S8044]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   FEDERAL FUNDS FOR ELECTION REFORM

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, the subject of election reform has been 
talked about and discussed a great deal during the past 6 or 7 months. 
In fact, there have already been more than 60 hearings this year in 
Washington and in the States.
  I appreciate the attention that has been paid to this important 
issue, and commend my colleague on the Senate Rules Committee, Chairman 
Dodd, for his attention to this issue.
  I think we can all agree that America needs, wants, and demands 
action on election reform.
  The Senate is in a strong position to act on this issue of tremendous 
national importance, and in a refreshingly bipartisan manner. On 
election reform, Republicans and Democrats agree on far more than we 
disagree.
  In fact, 90 senators agree that we need meaningful election reform.
  Ninety Senators are cosponsoring either the bipartisan McConnell-
Schumer-Torricelli election reform bill leading the election reform 
pact with 70 Senators on board--38 Republicans, 31 Democrats, and one 
Independent; the Democrats-only Dodd bill which has all Democrats and 
one Independent as cosponsors but no Republicans; or the McCain bill--
which has 2 cosponsors.
  That means 90 Senators are cosponsoring legislation authorizing 
federal funding to assist the 50 States in improving their election 
systems. The McConnell-Schumer-Torricelli bill, the Dodd bill, and the 
McCain bill all have funding in them for election reform. Federal 
funding is the common denominator which brings the Senate together on 
this critical issue and makes election reform possible for the American 
people.
  But no money has yet been appropriated for election reform. No 
election reform money at all--not one thin dime--is yet in any 
appropriations bill for fiscal year 2002.
  I think we can all agree that is unacceptable. We must have election 
reform money appropriated for fiscal year 2002. Otherwise, any 
authorization which is passed later this fall will be all-show and no-
go, until subsequent appropriations are enacted.
  If we do not appropriate election reform money in this round of 
appropriations--for fiscal year 2002--then election reform will be 
delayed. Election reform would either be postponed until fiscal year 
2003, or be contingent upon an emergency supplemental appropriations 
bill at some point.
  Election reform delayed is election reform denied.
  The Republican Leader, Senator Lott, had planned the election reform 
debate in the Senate to occur during June. Senators Schumer, 
Torricelli, and I were ready to press ahead. The organizations 
supporting our bill--including Common Cause and the League of Women 
Voters--were ready to do an all-out push for our election reform bill. 
Obviously, that floor debate did not happen.

  It is not clear now when election reform will pass the Senate in the 
form of an authorization bill. In any event, any authorization for 
Federal funding for new voting machines and other enhancements in 
election systems will require that money be appropriated.
  That is why I take the floor today, to announce my plan to pursue a 
meaningful appropriation for election reform.
  The McConnell-Schumer bill authorizes $500 million annually. The Dodd 
bill authorizes such sums as many be necessary.
  While it may be nearly impossible to appropriate several hundred 
million dollars for the upcoming fiscal year, I do believe that we can 
come together on both sides of the aisle to find an election reform 
appropriation that is possible and meaningful. Today, I am pledging my 
commitment to do just that and calling on my colleagues on the Rules 
and Appropriations Committees to help me make this happen.
  There will have to be an authorization mechanism later on to 
determine precisely who will administer the funds, how, to whom and for 
what. But we do know that the sum is substantial. And that time is 
running out to make a difference for the 2002 elections.
  Senators on the Appropriations Committee have already demonstrated 
great enthusiasm for election reform with nearly all the Republicans 
and half the Democrats on my bill and all the Democrats on the Dodd 
bill.
  If not successful at the committee stage in the appropriations 
process, I will offer an amendment on the floor at a suitable time.
  One way or another, we need to make sure that the Senate will have 
the election reform issue before it--sooner rather than later--in the 
form of the funding that is absolutely essential to make the McConnell-
Schumer-Torricelli election reform bill, the Dodd bill, or the McCain 
bill work.
  Let's appropriate election reform money for 2002. We can decide later 
which election reform bill will become law, who will hand out the 
money, and whether there will be Federal mandates.
  I look forward to working with Chairman Dodd on the Rules Committee 
and Senators Byrd and Stevens and my fellow members of the 
Appropriations Committee to ensure that this appropriations season does 
not pass without setting aside funds for election reform.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor.

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