[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 84 (Monday, May 20, 2019)]
[House]
[Pages H3975-H3976]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
GLOBAL ELECTORAL EXCHANGE ACT OF 2019
Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and
pass the bill (H.R. 753) to promote international exchanges on best
election practices, cultivate more secure democratic institutions
around the world, and for other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 753
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 ``Global Electoral Exchange
Act of 2019''.
SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS.
It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) recent elections globally have illustrated the urgent
need for the promotion and exchange of international best
election practices, particularly in the areas of
cybersecurity, results transmission, transparency of
electoral data, election dispute resolution, and the
elimination of discriminatory registration practices and
other electoral irregularities;
(2) the advancement of democracy worldwide promotes
American interests, as stable democracies provide new market
opportunities, improve global health outcomes, and promote
economic freedom and regional security;
(3) credible elections are the cornerstone of a healthy
democracy and enable all persons to exercise their basic
human right to have a say in how they are governed;
(4) inclusive elections strengthen the credibility and
stability of democracies more broadly;
(5) at the heart of a strong election cycle is the
professionalism of the election management body and an
empowered civil society;
(6) the development of local expertise via peer-to-peer
learning and exchanges promotes the independence of such
bodies from internal and external influence; and
(7) supporting the efforts of peoples in democratizing
societies to build more representative governments in their
respective countries is in the national interest of the
United States.
SEC. 3. GLOBAL ELECTORAL EXCHANGE.
(a) Global Electoral Exchange.--The Secretary of State is
authorized to establish and administer a Global Electoral
Exchange Program to promote the utilization of sound election
administration practices around the world.
(b) Purpose.--The purpose of the Global Electoral Exchange
Program described in subsection (a) shall include the
promotion and exchange of international best election
practices, including in the areas of--
(1) cybersecurity;
(2) results transmission;
(3) transparency of electoral data;
(4) election dispute resolution;
(5) the elimination of discriminatory registration
practices and electoral irregularities;
(6) equitable access to polling places, voter education
information, and voting mechanisms (including by persons with
disabilities); and
(7) other sound election administration practices.
(c) Exchange of Electoral Authorities.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of State may, in
consultation, as appropriate, with the United States Agency
for International Development, make grants to any United
States-based organization described in section 501(c)(3) of
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from tax under
section 501(a) of such Code with experience in and a primary
focus on foreign comparative election systems or subject
matter expertise in the administration or integrity of such
systems that submits an application in such form, and
satisfying such requirements, as the Secretary may require.
(2) Types of grants.--An organization described in
paragraph (1) may receive a grant for one or more of the
following purposes:
(A) To design and implement programs bringing election
administrators and officials, including government officials,
poll workers, civil society representatives, members of the
judiciary, and others who participate in the organization and
administration of public elections in a foreign country that
faces challenges to its electoral process to the United
States to study election procedures in the United States for
educational purposes.
(B) To design and implement programs taking the United
States or another country's election administrators and
officials, including government officials, poll workers,
civil society representatives, members of the judiciary, and
others who participate in the organization and administration
of public elections to study and discuss election procedures
for educational purposes.
(3) Limits on activities.--Activities administered under
the Global Electoral Exchange Program may not--
(A) include observation of an election for the purposes of
assessing the validity or legitimacy of that election;
(B) facilitate any advocacy for a certain electoral result
by a grantee when participating in the Program; or
(C) be carried out without proper consultation with State
and local authorities in the United States that administer
elections.
(4) Sense of congress.--It is the sense of Congress that
the Secretary of State should establish and maintain a
network of Global Electoral Exchange Program alumni, to
promote communication and further exchange of information
regarding sound election administration practices among
current and former program participants.
(5) Further limits.--A recipient of a grant under the
Global Electoral Exchange Program may use such grant for only
the purpose for which such grant was awarded, unless
otherwise authorized by the Secretary of State.
(6) Not duplicative.--Grants made under this subsection may
not be duplicative of any other grants made under any other
provision of law for similar or related purposes.
SEC. 4. CONGRESSIONAL OVERSIGHT.
Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of
this Act and in each of the following two years thereafter,
the Secretary of State shall provide to the Committee on
Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and the
Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate a briefing on
the status of any activities carried out pursuant to this Act
during the preceding year, which shall include, among other
information, the following:
(1) A summary of all exchanges conducted under the Global
Electoral Exchange Program, including information regarding
grantees, participants, and the locations where program
activities were held.
(2) A description of the criteria used to select grantees
under the Global Electoral Exchange Program.
(3) Any recommendations for the improvement of the Global
Electoral Exchange Program, based on the purpose specified in
section 3(b).
SEC. 5. NO ADDITIONAL FUNDS AUTHORIZED.
No additional funds are authorized to be appropriated to
carry out the requirements of this Act. Such requirements
shall be carried out using amounts otherwise authorized to be
appropriated.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Texas (Mr. Castro) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Wright) each will
control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Castro).
General Leave
Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all
Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their
remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 753.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Texas?
There was no objection.
Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 753, the Global
Electoral Exchange Act of 2019. I would first like to thank my
colleague Representative Mark Meadows for his important work on this
measure that he and I introduced.
We passed this bill last Congress, and I urge my colleagues to do the
same
[[Page H3976]]
this Congress. This time, I hope that the Senate acts on this small but
important measure that will promote best practices in election
administration worldwide.
This bill authorizes the Secretary of State to establish an exchange
program for election officials like poll workers, judges, ballot
designers, and civil society to promote best practices in election
administration around the world.
We would send U.S.-based election administrators and officials abroad
or bring foreign administrators and officials to the United States in
order to train and exchange best practices when it comes to election
administration.
This bill is a good idea and is needed now more than ever. Election
irregularities, voter fraud, election manipulation, discriminatory
registration, access to polls, intimidation and harassment while
voting, and violence at polling stations are problems that have plagued
countries around the world. This bill brings people together to tackle
some of these problems and to ensure that best practices are promoted
worldwide.
Credible, transparent, and peaceful elections are the cornerstones of
a stable and robust democracy. This bill furthers that principle.
Madam Speaker, I strongly support the passage of H.R. 753, and I
reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. WRIGHT. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the Global Electoral
Exchange Act authored by my friend and fellow Texan, Mr. Castro.
Authoritarian regimes are a threat to personal liberty, international
security, and economic progress all around the world. Countries like
China, Russia, North Korea, Iran, and Venezuela present major
roadblocks to global peace and prosperity, but there is nothing that
dictators fear more than free markets and free people. This is why
tyrants use repressive tactics to stifle dissent and crack down on
public protests.
The world is a safer, more prosperous place when individuals are
governed as citizens, not subjects. This is why promoting democracy
abroad has always been a bipartisan cause.
The United States must maintain its leadership in keeping the flame
of freedom burning. This legislation gives us another opportunity to be
that leader.
The Global Electoral Exchange Act would facilitate the international
exchange of election monitors, poll workers, and civil society leaders
who participate in the administration of elections. By promoting best
practices and empowering foreign societies to conduct elections that
truly recognize the will of the people, these exchanges will strengthen
democratic institutions in other countries.
Let's pass this bill and demonstrate that America remains a beacon of
hope and freedom to the world by empowering free and fair elections.
Madam Speaker, I do want to thank my colleague from Texas (Mr.
Castro) and the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Meadows) for their
hard work on this bill. Friends of democracy have an interest in free
and fair elections that are credible and protected from manipulation.
This bill promotes that and deserves our unanimous support.
I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support
this measure. Once again, I thank my colleague Mark Meadows from North
Carolina for his support and hard work on this bill.
The exchanges under this bill would be administered by the State
Department and by USAID and would promote best practices and strengthen
electoral institutions around the world.
I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Castro) that the House suspend the rules and
pass the bill, H.R. 753.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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