[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 161 (Friday, October 3, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2247]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




INTRODUCTION OF THE ``FIXING THE FEDERAL VOTING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM ACT 
                               OF 2008''

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                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 3, 2008

  Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, today, along with 
Representative Honda (D-CA), I am introducing the ``Fixing the Federal 
Voting Assistance Program Act of 2008'' which would do two things: (1) 
make the Director of the Federal Voting Assistance Office a 
presidential nominee confirmable by the Senate, and (2) create an 
advisory board to strengthen oversight of the office to ensure better 
access to the ballot by overseas military and civilians voters.
  The recent history of the Federal Voter Assistance Program (FVAP) is 
one of clear lapses in the Government's efforts to help ensure access 
to the ballot for thousands of overseas voters, both civilian and 
military in recent elections. This legislation is designed to bring 
greater attention to the voting office in the Department of Defense and 
enhanced oversight to ensure that it does its job of providing greater 
access to voting for our soldiers, sailors and airmen, their families, 
as well as civilians living overseas.
  The ``Fixing the Federal Voting Assistance Program Act'' is a 
necessary step in ensuring that overseas voters are counted in 
elections. Unfortunately, it will not help with the coming election. I 
believe that Americans serving in the military abroad or civilians 
residing overseas will still not have adequate help from the Government 
in facilitating their right of access to the ballot. I and 
Representative Honda believe we need to start working on improving 
access to the next election now while the problems are still fresh in 
our minds so that we are not facing them again in 2010.

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