[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 110 (Wednesday, September 15, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1627]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E1627]]
                 ADDITIONAL FUNDS FOR ELECTORAL PROCESS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOHN B. LARSON

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 14, 2004

  Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I would like to submit the 
following statement on the FY 2005 Funding of the Federal Election and 
Election Assistance Commission. As Ranking Minority Member of the 
Committee on House Administration, I am especially interested in the 
Appropriations Committee's funding recommendation for the Federal 
Election Commission, the Election Assistance Commission and programs 
implementing the Help America Vote Act (HAVA). While these commissions 
and the programs they administer comprise a very small portion of the 
federal budget, the process of electing federal officials is critical 
to the health of our democracy.
  I am pleased that the committee provided full funding for the Federal 
Election Commission (FEC). The FEC administers campaign-finance and 
presidential election laws, and in recent years it has received 
additional responsibilities.
  Although the process has been contentious at times, I am happy to see 
that both sides of the committee came together and not only met the 
authorized funding of $10 million for the EAC, but exceed it by $5 
million.
  I recognize that the President's delay in appointing members to the 
EAC gave the commission a late start, but I remain hopeful that the EAC 
can regain lost time during the coming fiscal year. Given the 2000 
Florida election debacle and widespread public interest in election 
procedures, we need to assure voters nationwide of the sanctity of 
their votes in the electronic age. In the coming year, I expect that 
the EAC will use this additional money to devote appropriate attention 
to standards and technology issues with the assistance of the National 
Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).
  The EAC and its NIST partner must expedite the development of proper 
standards so the American people can realize the potential of HAVA, 
especially the election reform programs, which the Appropriations 
Committee also did not fund. The EAC must also establish the Help 
America Vote Foundation, as authorized by HAVA, so the foundation can 
help civic organizations encourage voter participation.
  Implementing a new federal program like HAVA is often fraught with 
difficulty. In this case, however, there is not a moment to lose, for 
it is our democracy at risk. The Committee on House Administration 
looks forward to working with the FEC, the EAC, state election 
officials, and interest groups to ensure that federal election laws and 
programs achieve their important purpose.
  Again, I would like to commend the Chairman and Ranking Minority 
Member of the Transportation-Treasury subcommittee for including this 
critical funding for the EAC.

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