[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 51 (Friday, March 20, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1445-S1446]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 4711. Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER submitted an amendment intended to be 
proposed to amendment SA 4420 proposed by Mr. Thune (for Mr. Schmitt) 
to the bill S. 1383, to establish the Veterans Advisory Committee on 
Equal Access, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the 
table; as follows:

       At the end of title I insert the following:

 Subtitle D--Protection Military, Military Family, and Overseas Voters

     SEC. __. PROTECTING MILITARY, MILITARY FAMILY, AND OVERSEAS 
                   VOTERS.

       (a) Requirement.--
       (1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision of 
     this title or the amendments made by this Act, the provisions 
     of and the amendments made by this title shall not apply 
     before the date that is 2 years after the following have been 
     submitted to Congress:
       (A) A certification meeting the requirement of subsection 
     (b).
       (B) The findings of each member of the Election Assistance 
     Commission with respect to the matters required to be 
     certified under subsection (b)(1).
       (C) A report prepared by the Presidential designee 
     documenting the basis for the certification under subsection 
     (b)(1) and including a State-by State impact analysis of 
     effects of such provisions and amendments on absent uniformed 
     services voters (as defined in section 107(1) of the 
     Uniformed and Absentee Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act 
     (52 U.S.C. 20310(1))) and overseas voters (as defined in 
     section 107(5) of such Act (52 U.S.C. 20310(5))).
       (2) Extension.--
       (A) Submission of request.--The chief State election 
     official of a State may submit to the Commission a request up 
     to a 1-year extension of the applicable date under paragraph 
     (1) with respect to the application of any provision of this 
     title to the State.
       (B) Consideration.--The Commission may grant such extension 
     upon a finding of good cause that the State is not yet 
     operationally ready to implement this title without 
     materially impairing or burdening the ability of absent 
     uniformed services voters (as defined in section 107(1) of 
     the Uniformed and Absentee Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting 
     Act (52 U.S.C. 20310(1))) and overseas voters (as defined in 
     section 107(5) of such Act (52 U.S.C. 20310(5))) to register, 
     request, receive, cast, and have counted absentee ballots in 
     elections for Federal office.
       (b) Certification.--A certification under subsection 
     (a)(1)(A) meets the requirements of this subsection if such 
     certification includes--
       (1) a statement, signed by the Presidential designee under 
     section 101 of the Uniformed and Absentee Overseas Citizens 
     Absentee Voting Act (52 U.S.C. 20301), the Attorney General, 
     and each member of the Election Assistance Commission, that 
     the implementation of the provisions of and amendments made 
     by this Act will not materially impair, delay, burden, or 
     reduce the ability of absent uniformed services voters (as 
     defined in section 107(1) of the Uniformed and Absentee 
     Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (52 U.S.C. 20310(1))) 
     and overseas voters (as defined in section 107(5) of such Act 
     (52 U.S.C. 20310(5))) to register, request, receive, cast, 
     and have counted absentee ballots in elections for Federal 
     office;
       (2) a statement, signed by the Presidential designee under 
     section 101 of such Act that the chief State election 
     official of each State has been consulted and has no 
     unresolved objections to the certification under paragraph 
     (1);
       (3) a statement, signed by the Inspector Generals for the 
     Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Defense, 
     and the Election Assistance Commission, that plans for the 
     implementation of this Act and the amendments made by this 
     Act--
       (A) will not conflict with the provisions of the Uniformed 
     and Absentee Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (52 U.S.C. 
     20301) or the Military Overseas Voting Empowerment

[[Page S1446]]

     Act, including the use of the official post card form 
     prescribed under section 101(b)(2) of such Act (52 U.S.C. 
     20301(b)(2)), the use of the Federal write-in absentee ballot 
     prescribed under section 103 of such Act (52 U.S.C. 20303), 
     or the requirement that States timely transmit ballots before 
     Federal elections under section 102(a)(8) of such Act (52 
     U.S.C. 20302(a)(8)); and
       (B) contain adequate safeguards to protect the rights of 
     such voters under such Act; and
       (4) a determination by the Election Assistance Commission 
     that Congress has appropriated funding specifically for State 
     implementation of this title, including funding for election 
     official training, voter education, and any required 
     safeguards or accommodations.
                                 ______