[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 15 (Thursday, February 9, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Page S1044]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 HURRICANE ELECTION RELIEF ACT OF 2005

  Mr. FRIST. I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Rules and 
Administration be discharged from further consideration of S. 2166 and 
the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The clerk 
will report the bill by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 2166) to direct the Election Assistance 
     Commission to make grants to States to restore and replace 
     election administration supplies, materials, records, 
     equipment, and technology which were damaged, destroyed, or 
     dislocated as a result of Hurricane Katrina or Hurricane 
     Rita.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
  Mr. FRIST. I ask unanimous consent that the bill be read the third 
time and passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and 
any statements relating to the measure be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The bill (S. 2166) was read the third time and passed, as follows:

                                S. 2166

       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 ``Hurricane Election Relief 
     Act of 2005''.

     SEC. 2. GRANTS TO STATES FOR RESTORING AND REPLACING ELECTION 
                   ADMINISTRATION SUPPLIES, MATERIALS, RECORDS, 
                   EQUIPMENT, AND TECHNOLOGY WHICH WERE DAMAGED, 
                   DESTROYED, OR DISLOCATED BY HURRICANES KATRINA 
                   OR RITA.

       (a) Authority to Make Grants.--The Election Assistance 
     Commission shall make a grant to each eligible State, in such 
     amount as the Commission considers appropriate, for purposes 
     of restoring and replacing supplies, materials, records, 
     equipment, and technology used in the administration of 
     Federal elections in the State which were damaged, destroyed, 
     or dislocated as a result of Hurricane Katrina or Hurricane 
     Rita and ensuring the full participation in such elections by 
     individuals who were displaced as a result of Hurricane 
     Katrina or Hurricane Rita.
       (b) Use of Grant Funds.--Funds received under a grant under 
     subsection (a) shall be used in a manner that is consistent 
     with the requirements of title III of the Help America Vote 
     Act of 2002.
       (c) Eligibility.--A State is eligible to receive a grant 
     under this section if it submits to the Commission (at such 
     time and in such form as the Commission may require) a 
     certification that--
       (1) supplies, materials, records, equipment, and technology 
     used in the administration of Federal elections in the State 
     were damaged, destroyed, or dislocated as a result of 
     Hurricane Katrina or Hurricane Rita; or
       (2) the system of such State for conducting Federal 
     elections has been significantly impacted by the displacement 
     of individuals as a result of Hurricane Katrina or Hurricane 
     Rita.

     SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       There are authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 
     2006 for grants under this Act $50,000,000, to remain 
     available until expended.

                          ____________________