[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 32 (Wednesday, March 6, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E247-E248]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      FEDERAL ELECTION LAWS SHOULD APPLY TO ALL FEDERAL ELECTIONS

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                  HON. GREGORIO KILILI CAMACHO SABLAN

                    of the northern mariana islands

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, March 6, 2013

  Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing legislation that 
provides the full protection of federal election law to the 
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Commonwealth of 
Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, and the United States Virgin 
Islands. The people of these areas deserve to have their elections 
protected by the same laws that safeguard elections and voters 
everywhere else in our Nation.
   Because of various anomalies federal election laws do not always 
apply in the territories as in the states. There are gaps in 
application from one territory to the next. My legislation simply 
closes those gaps, so that the laws that govern federal elections apply 
in the same way throughout our country.
   The result will be that voters in the territories will be protected 
from intimidation, threats, and coercion, when they cast their ballots 
in federal elections--just as voters are protected in the rest of 
America.
   The result will be that the manipulation of elections for federal 
office by public officials will be illegal--just as in the rest of 
America.
   By extending federal election law, as it does, my bill makes clear 
that aliens are prohibited from voting and extends the penalties of 
fine and imprisonment that apply in the rest of our country.

[[Page E248]]

   By extending federal election law, as it does, my bill makes sure 
that persons employed in federal or territorial government offices are 
barred from using their official authority to interfere with the 
nomination or election process for any federal office and penalizes 
those who do.
   By extending federal election law, as it does, my bill gives voters 
assurance that their votes will not be diluted with votes cast by 
persons using false information to register or identify themselves at 
the polling place, just as federal law assures voters in the rest of 
America.
   My bill simply adds the Northern Mariana Islands and other U.S. 
territories to those parts of the law where we are not included, in the 
Voting Rights Act of 1965, for example, and in the Federal Election 
Campaign Act of 1971.
   Each and every Member of Congress from each and every State abides 
by and is protected by these same laws. I believe that Members of 
Congress from the non-State areas and their constituents must abide by 
the same standards and deserve these same safeguards in their elections 
for federal office.
   I urge my colleagues to support this measure.

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