[House Report 118-461]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]


118th Congress }                                               {  Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 2d Session    }                                               {   118-461

======================================================================



 
   HIRING PREFERENCE FOR VETERANS AND AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT

                                _______
                                

 April 15, 2024.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the 
              State of the Union and ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

 Mr. Steil, from the Committee on House Administration, submitted the 
                               following

                              R E P O R T

                             together with

                            ADDITIONAL VIEWS

                        [To accompany H.R. 4486]

    The Committee on House Administration, to whom was referred 
the bill (H.R. 4486) to clarify that a State or local 
jurisdiction may give preference to individuals who are 
veterans or individuals with a disability with respect to 
hiring election workers to administer an election in the State 
or local jurisdiction, and for other purposes, having 
considered the same, reports favorably thereon with an 
amendment and recommends that the bill as amended do pass.

                                CONTENTS

                                                                   Page
Purpose and Summary..............................................     2
Background and Need for Legislation..............................     2
Committee Action.................................................     6
Committee Consideration..........................................     7
Committee Votes..................................................     7
Statement of Constitutional Authority............................     7
Committee Oversight Findings.....................................     7
Statement of Budget Authority and Related Items..................     8
Congressional Budget Office Estimate.............................     8
Performance Goals and Objectives.................................     8
Duplication of Federal Programs..................................     8
Advisory on Earmarks.............................................     8
Federal Mandates Statement.......................................     8
Advisory Committee Statement.....................................     9
Applicability to Legislative Branch..............................     9
Section-by-Section Analysis......................................     9
Changes in Existing Law as Reported..............................     9

    The amendment is as follows:
    Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the 
following:

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

  This Act may be cited as the ``Hiring Preference for Veterans and 
Americans With Disabilities Act''.

SEC. 2. CLARIFICATION OF RULES WITH RESPECT TO HIRING OF ELECTION 
                    WORKERS.

  (a) Preferences for Veterans and Individuals With Disabilities.--
          (1) Preferences.--In hiring election workers to administer an 
        election in a State or local jurisdiction, the State or local 
        jurisdiction may give preference to individuals who are 
        veterans or individuals with a disability.
          (2) Individual with a disability defined.--In this 
        subsection, an ``individual with a disability'' means an 
        individual with an impairment that substantially limits any 
        major life activities.
  (b) Preference and Waiver of Residency Requirement for Spouses and 
Dependents of Absent Military Voters.--
          (1) Preference and waivers.--In hiring election workers to 
        administer an election in a State or local jurisdiction, the 
        State or local jurisdiction--
                  (A) may give preference to an individual who is a 
                nonresident military spouse or dependent; and
                  (B) may not refuse to hire such an individual as an 
                election worker solely on the grounds that the 
                individual does not maintain a place of residence in 
                the State or local jurisdiction.
          (2) Nonresident military spouse or dependent defined.--In 
        this subsection, a ``nonresident military spouse or dependent'' 
        means an individual who is an absent uniformed services voter 
        under section 107(1)(C) of the Uniformed and Overseas Citizen 
        Absentee Voting Act (52 U.S.C. 20310(1)(C)).
  (c) Effective Date.--This section shall take effect on the date of 
the enactment of this Act.

                          Purpose and Summary

    H.R. 4486, the Hiring Preference for Veterans and Americans 
With Disabilities Act, introduced by Representative Mike Garcia 
(CA-27) allows State and local governments to provide a hiring 
preference to veterans or individuals with a disability when 
hiring election workers to help administer an election. With a 
presidential election this November, States and localities 
might need to hire additional election workers to ensure that 
their elections run smoothly. This legislation allows them to 
provide a hiring preference to individuals often overlooked in 
society, but who have unique skillsets and experiences to 
improve voter confidence that their elections are run in a free 
and fair manner.

                  Background and Need for Legislation


                               BACKGROUND

    Article I, Section 4 of the United States Constitution\1\ 
(``the Elections Clause'') explains that the States have the 
primary authority over election administration, the ``times, 
places, and manner of holding elections'', which includes 
hiring election workers to help administer federal, State, and 
local elections. Conversely, the Constitution grants the 
Congress a purely secondary role\2\ to alter or create election 
laws only in the extreme cases of invasion, legislative 
neglect, or obstinate refusal to pass election laws. As do 
other aspects of our federal system, this division of 
sovereignty continues to serve to protect one of Americans' 
most precious freedoms, the right to vote.\3\
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    \1\U.S. Const. art. I, Sec. 4, cl. 1 (``[t]he Times, Places and 
Manner of holding Elections for Senators and Representatives, shall be 
prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof; but the Congress 
may at any time by Law make or alter such Regulations . . .'').
    \2\Although the text of the Elections Clause, read literally and 
without context, might suggest Congress has unlimited authority in this 
space, an examination of an examination of history, precedent, the 
Framers' words, debates concerning ratification, the Supreme Court, and 
the Constitution itself provide that this is not the case. See Report: 
The Elections Clause: States' Primary Constitutional Authority Over 
Elections, Comm. on H. Admin. (Republicans) (Aug. 12, 2021), https://
republicanscha.house.gov/sites/republicans.cha.house.gov/files/ 
documents/Report _The%20Elections%20Clause_ 
States%20Primary%20Constitutional%20Authority%20over
%20Elections%20%28Aug%2011%202021%29.pdf.
    \3\Id.
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    The Elections Clause instructs that States are primary 
actors in running and overseeing elections for federal, State, 
and local offices. Many States, in turn, empower local 
jurisdictions to help administer elections. One result of this 
is there is no singular federal agency tasked with overseeing 
American elections, and relatively few federal election laws. 
Federal agencies like the Federal Election Commission enforce 
federal civil campaign finance law, the Election Assistance 
Commission oversees the administration of the Help America Vote 
Act of 2002 (``HAVA''), and the Department of Justice enforces 
the National Voter Registration Act (``NVRA''), the Uniformed 
and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, and other 
statutes.\4\ As a result, there are no federal election workers 
or officials--they are all employees or volunteers of State or 
local governments.
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    \4\The Department of Justice also enforces, among other statutes, 
the Civil Rights Act, the Voting Rights Act, criminal violations of 
federal campaign finance law, and the Military and Overseas Voter 
Empowerment Act.
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    Each State has a Chief Election Officer (``CEO''), often 
the Secretary of State, that is legally tasked with overseeing 
and managing elections across the State.\5\ In most States, 
this official is elected in a State-wide election, in others, 
the official is appointed by the legislature or by the state 
board or commission of elections.\6\ While the specific 
authorities and responsibilities each CEO is tasked with varies 
by State, each office employs staff that helps administer 
elections.
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    \5\For a list of each State's Chief Election Officer, see Roster of 
Secretaries of State/Lieutenant Governors, National Association of 
Secretaries of State, https://www.nass.org/memberships/secretaries-
statelieutenant-governors.
    \6\Id.
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    Federal law imposes some requirements on each State's CEO. 
Under the NVRA, each State must designate a CEO that is 
responsible for coordinating its responsibilities under the 
act.\7\ When an individual is convicted of a felony in federal 
district court, the U.S. attorney responsible for the 
conviction is required to give that individual's information to 
the State's CEO so, if the State has a process of removing 
felons from its voter rolls, it can do so.\8\ Under HAVA, each 
State's CEO is the official tasked with receiving, 
administering, and overseeing how HAVA funds are spent, 
including funds to train election officials, poll workers, and 
election volunteers.\9\ HAVA also requires CEO's to implement a 
single, uniform, official, centralized, interactive 
computerized statewide voter registration list that contains 
the name and registration information of every legally 
registered voter in the State.\10\
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    \7\52 U.S.C. Sec. 20509.
    \8\Id. at Sec. Sec. 20507(g), 20507(a)(3)(B).
    \9\Id. at. Sec. Sec. 20901, 21003.
    \10\Id. at Sec. 21083.
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    While no State administers elections exactly the same, in 
every State, local officials also play an important role in 
running and administering elections. Their duties can range 
from, among other things, designing and printing ballots, 
recruiting and training poll workers, transporting voting 
equipment, preparing polling locations, and counting, 
canvassing, and reporting election results.\11\ Importantly, 
their efforts help State CEO's finalize and certify election 
results in a timely manner. Without the work of local election 
officials, there would be far fewer polling places, leading to 
longer lines and fewer staff and resources to assist voters 
when they encounter a problem while registering to vote or 
casting a ballot. It is not an overstatement to say that 
hardworking, nonpartisan local election officials can be the 
deciding factor as to whether an election runs smoothly or not.
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    \11\Karen L. Shanton, The State and Local Role in Election 
Administration: Duties and Structures, Congressional Research Service 
(Mar. 4, 2019), https://sgp.fas.org/crs/misc/R45549.pdf.
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    Local jurisdictions often face challenges in recruiting and 
retaining competent and trustworthy election workers. These 
workers play a crucial role in ensuring that elections are 
administered fairly, transparently, and without bias. Given the 
complexities and pressures of election day operations, there is 
a need for individuals who can handle these challenges with 
integrity, discipline, and diligence.
    In recognition of their service, federal law provides a 
hiring preference for veterans and disabled veterans for 
competitive appointments in federal civil service jobs.\12\ 
Some form of a hiring preference has been extended to veterans 
of the Armed Forces since the Civil War.\13\ For certain jobs 
in the U.S. Department of Defense, military spouses can also 
receive certain preferences.\14\ Finally, some States and 
localities also provide a hiring preference for veterans and 
disabled Americans.\15\
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    \12\5 U.S.C Sec. 2108a.
    \13\Vet Guide for HR Professionals, U.S. Office of Personnel 
Management, available at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/
veterans-services/vet-guide-for-hr-professionals/.
    \14\Understanding the Military Spouse Preference Program, Military 
on Source (Sept. 29, 2021), https://www.militaryonesource.mil/
education-employment/seco/understanding-military-spouse-preference-
overseas/.
    \15\See Va. Code Ann. Sec. 15.2-1509.; MD. Labor and Employment 
Code Sec. 3-714; D.C. Code Sec. 1-607.03. In addition, Federal agencies 
can use the Schedule A Hiring Authority to hire an individual with a 
disability. See Individuals with disabilities, USA Jobs, available at 
https://www.usajobs.gov/help/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/
individuals-with-disabilities/.
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    In the 117th Congress, former Ranking Member on the 
Committee on House Administration, Representative Rodney Davis 
(IL-13), introduced H.R. 8528, the American Confidence in 
Elections Act,\16\ which would have also allowed State and 
local governments to give a hiring preference to veterans or 
individuals with a disability when hiring election workers.
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    \16\H.R. 8528--117th Congress (2021-2022): ACE Act, H.R. 8528, 
117th Cong. (2022), https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-
bill/8528.
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    In the 118th Congress, Representative Bryan Steil (WI-01), 
introduced H.R. 4563, an updated version of the American 
Confidence in Elections Act,\17\ which includes Rep. Garcia's 
H.R. 4486, the Hiring Preference for Veterans and Americans 
With Disabilities Act.
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    \17\H.R. 4563--118th Congress (2023-2024): American Confidence in 
Elections Act, H.R. 4563, 118th Cong. (2023), https://www.congress.gov/
bill/118th-congress/house-bill/4563.
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                          NEED FOR LEGISLATION

    Representative Mike Garcia's (CA-27) H.R. 4486, the Hiring 
Preference for Veterans and Americans With Disabilities Act 
allows State and local governments to provide a hiring 
preference to veterans or individuals with a disability when 
hiring election workers to help administer an election. As we 
approach a presidential election this November, State and local 
governments might need to hire additional election workers to 
help them smoothly administer a handful of elections at the 
federal, State, and local levels. This legislation offers State 
and local governments the opportunity to provide a hiring 
preference; it does not require them to utilize it.
    The Committee on House Administration holds sincerely that 
every eligible American who wants to register to vote should be 
afforded the opportunity to do so, and the Committee encourages 
all eligible Americans to exercise their fundamental right to 
vote according to their conscience. By allowing States and 
localities to give a hiring preference to veterans and disabled 
Americans, there is a higher likelihood that citizens in these 
groups will also show up to the polls this November. 
Unfortunately, in the 2020 election, only 61.8% of disabled 
Americans and only 47% of military voters\18\ voted in the 
Presidential election, compared with 67.5% turnout in non-
disabled Americans.\19\ One way to help close both gaps are to 
invite disabled Americans and veterans to participate in the 
process. This bill offers a targeted solution, leveraging the 
unique skills and experiences of these groups.
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    \18\State of the Military Voter, Federal Voting Assistance Program, 
available at https://www.fvap.gov/info/reports-surveys/
StateoftheMilitaryVoter.
    \19\U.S. Election Assistance Commission, Fact Sheet: Disability and 
Voter Turnout in the 2020 Elections (2021).
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    Importantly, this legislation also provides a hiring 
preference to nonresident military spouses or dependents that 
are absent from their place or residence.\20\ This preference 
ensures that these individuals can still serve as election 
workers across the United States despite the fact they are not 
domiciled in the jurisdiction in which they currently reside. 
In turn, the legislation also prevents State and local 
governments from refusing to hire these individuals solely on 
the basis that they are not domiciled in the jurisdiction. As 
such, nonresident military spouses or dependents that come with 
their own unique skillsets, some in the election space, can 
bring their valuable experiences to a new community to ensure 
that their elections are run smoothly.
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    \20\The Uniformed and Overseas Citizen Absentee Voting Act defines 
these individuals as ``a spouse or dependent of a member referred to in 
subparagraph (A) or (B) who, by reason of the active duty or service of 
the member, is absent from the place of residence where the spouse or 
dependent is otherwise qualified to vote.'' See 52 U.S.C. 
Sec. 20310(1)(C).
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    Committee Democrats support H.R. 4486 but added their own 
views that are largely recycled from an amendment offered by 
Ranking Member Representative Joe Morelle (NY-25) that was 
rejected by committee vote. Committee Republicans were prepared 
to support the entirety of Ranking Member Morelle's amendment, 
except for the last finding that called on Congress to 
appropriate more funds for certain polling locations as that 
finding in the amendment was likely not germane to the 
committee's jurisdiction nor the subject of the bill.\21\ When 
Committee Republicans offered a compromise to accept the entire 
amendment except the appropriation finding, Committee Democrats 
refused. Committee Republicans are pleased that Committee 
Democrats also support this legislation, but hope they 
recognize its chance of becoming law with Ranking Member 
Morelle's amendment in its entirety was likely impossible in 
the current Congress. As such, Committee Republicans rejected 
Ranking Member Morelle's amendment.
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    \21\Christopher M. Davis, Elizabeth Rybicki, The Committee Markup 
Process in the House of Representatives, Congressional Research Service 
(Feb. 8, 2023), https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/RL/RL30244.
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                            Committee Action


                       INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL

    On July 6, 2023, Representative Mike Garcia (CA-27) 
introduced H.R. 4486, the Hiring Preference for Veterans and 
Americans With Disabilities Act. The bill was referred to the 
U.S. House of Representatives Committee on House 
Administration.

                                HEARINGS

    For the purposes of clause 3(c)(6)(A) of House rule XIII, 
in the 118th Congress, the Committee held two full committee 
hearings and one subcommittee hearing to develop H.R. 4486.
    1. On April 27, 2023, the Committee held a full committee 
hearing titled, ``American Confidence in Elections: State Tools 
to Promote Voter Confidence.'' The hearing focused on Title I 
of H.R. 4563, the American Confidence in Elections Act, what 
tools States need to boost voter integrity and strengthen voter 
confidence, and how the federal government can provide States 
with access to the information needed to accomplish these 
goals. Witnesses included: The Honorable Ken Cuccinelli, 
Chairman, Election Transparency Initiative, The Honorable Hans 
von Spakovsky, Manager, Election Law Reform Initiative and 
Senior Legal Fellow, on behalf of The Heritage Foundation, The 
Honorable Mac Warner, West Virginia Secretary of State, The 
Honorable Donald Palmer, Commissioner, U.S. Election Assistance 
Commission, and Mr. Joseph Paul Gloria, Chief Executive Officer 
for Operations, Election Center.\22\
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    \22\American Confidence in Elections: State Tools to Promote Voter 
Confidence: Hearing Before the H. Comm. On Admin., 118th Cong. (2023).
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    2. On May 24, 2023, the Committee on House Administration 
Subcommittee on Elections held a subcommittee hearing titled, 
``American Confidence in Elections: Ensuring Every Eligible 
American has the Opportunity to Vote--and for their Vote to 
Count According to Law.'' The hearing highlighted the strong 
election integrity reforms that have passed throughout several 
States and how important it is for States to learn from other 
States' successes in the election arena. Witnesses included: 
Mr. Joseph Burns, Lawyer, Law Office of Joseph T. Burns, PLLC, 
Ms. Lisa Dixon, Executive Director, Lawyers Democracy Fund, Mr. 
Thor Hearne, Founding Partner, True North Law, LLC, The 
Honorable Scot Turner, Executive Director, Eternal Vigilance 
Action Inc., and Mr. Deuel Ross, Deputy Director of Litigation, 
NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc.\23\
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    \23\American Confidence in Elections: Ensuring Every Eligible 
American has the Opportunity to Vote--and for their Vote to Count 
According to Law: Hearing Before the Subcomm. On Elections of the H. 
Comm. On Admin., 118th Cong. (2023).
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    3. On July 10, 2023, the Committee held a full committee 
field hearing titled, ``American Confidence in Elections: The 
Path to Election Integrity Across America.'' The hearing 
outlined the newly introduced H.R. 4563, the American 
Confidence in Elections Act, and highlighted the successes of 
S.B. 202, 2021. Witnesses included: The Honorable Hans von 
Spakovsky, Manager, Election Law Reform Initiative and Senior 
Legal Fellow, The Heritage Foundation, Dr. Kathleen Ruth, 
Former Vice Chair, Fulton County Board of Registration and 
Elections, Mrs. Vernetta Keith Nuriddin, Elections Consultant, 
City of Milton, and Ms. Cathy Woolard, Chair, Fulton County 
Board of Registration and Elections.\24\
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    \24\ American Confidence in Elections: The Path to Election 
Integrity Across America: Hearing Before the H. Comm. On Admin., 118th 
Cong. (2023).
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                        Committee Consideration

    On February 14, 2024, the U.S. House Committee on House 
Administration met in open session and ordered the bill, H.R. 
4486, the Hiring Preference for Veterans and Americans With 
Disabilities Act, favorably reported to the House of 
Representatives, as amended, a quorum being present.

                            Committee Votes

    In compliance with clause 3(b) of House rule XIII, the 
following votes occurred during the Committee's consideration 
of H.R. 4486:
    1. Vote on an amendment to H.R. 4486, offered by Mr. 
Morelle, failed by a recorded vote of 6 noes and 3 ayes. Noes: 
Steil, B., Loudermilk, B., Griffith, M., Bice, S., Carey, M., 
D'Esposito, A. Ayes: Morelle, J., Sewell, T., Kilmer, D.
    2. Vote on an amendment in the nature of a substitute to 
H.R. 4486 offered by Mr. Steil, adopted by voice vote.
    3. Vote to report H.R. 4486 favorably, as amended, to the 
House of Representatives, passed by voice vote.

                 Statement of Constitutional Authority

    Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
to the following:
           Article I, Section 4, Clause 1--``The Times, 
        Places and Manner of holding Elections for Senators and 
        Representatives, shall be prescribed in each State by 
        the Legislature thereof . . .''\25\ This clause, 
        consistent with contemporary thought and context, 
        informs Congress that the primary authority to set 
        election law and to administer federal elections rests 
        with the States and not with Congress.
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    \25\U.S. Const. art. I, Sec. 4, cl. 1.
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           Article I, Section 8, Clause 1--``To lay and 
        collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the 
        Debts and provide for the common Defence and general 
        Welfare of the United States . . .''\26\
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    \26\U.S. Const. Art. I, Sec. 8, cl. 1.
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           Article I, Section 8, Clause 18--``To make 
        all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for 
        carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all 
        other Powers vested by this Constitution in the 
        Government of the United States, or in any Department 
        or Officer thereof.\27\
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    \27\U.S. Const. Art. I, Sec. 8, cl. 18.
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                      Committee Oversight Findings

    In compliance with clause 3(c)(1) of House rule XIII, the 
Committee advises that the findings and recommendations of the 
Committee, based on oversight activities under clause 2(b)(1) 
of rule X of the Rules of the House of Representatives, are 
incorporated in the descriptive portions of this report.

            Statement of Budget Authority and Related Items

    Pursuant to clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 
House of Representatives and section 308(a)(I) of the 
Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Committee provides the 
following opinion and estimate with respect to new budget 
authority, entitlement authority, and tax expenditures. The 
Committee believes that there will be no additional costs 
attributable to H.R. 4486.

                  Congressional Budget Office Estimate

    With respect to the requirement of clause 3(c)(3) of rule 
XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, a cost 
estimate provided by the Congressional Budget Office pursuant 
to section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 was not 
made available to the Committee in time for the filing of this 
report. The Chairman of the Committee shall cause such an 
estimate to be printed in the Congressional Record if it is 
received by the Committee.

                    Performance Goals and Objectives

    The performance goals and objectives of H.R. 4486 are to 
allow State and local governments to provide a hiring 
preference to veterans or individuals with a disability when 
hiring election workers to help administer an election. With a 
presidential election this November, States and localities will 
need to hire more election workers to ensure their elections 
run smoothly. This legislation allows them to provide a hiring 
preference to individuals often overlooked in society, but that 
have unique skillsets and experiences to give voters confidence 
that their elections are run in a free and fair manner.

                    Duplication of Federal Programs

    Pursuant to clause 3(c)(5) of House rule XIII, no provision 
of H.R. 4486 establishes or reauthorizes a program of the 
federal government known to be duplicative of another federal 
program.

                          Advisory on Earmarks

    In accordance with clause 9 of House rule XXI, H.R. 4486 
does not contain any congressional earmarks, limited tax 
benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined in clauses 
9(d), 9(e), or 9(f) of House rule XXI.

                       Federal Mandates Statement

    An estimate of federal mandates prepared by the Director of 
the Congressional Budget Office pursuant to section 423 of the 
Unfunded Mandates Reform Act was not made available to the 
Committee in time for the filing of this report. The Chairman 
of the Committee shall cause such an estimate to be printed in 
the Congressional Record if it is received by the Committee.

                      Advisory Committee Statement

    H.R. 4486 does not establish or authorize any new advisory 
committees.

                  Applicability to Legislative Branch

    The Committee finds that the legislation does not relate to 
the terms and conditions of employment or access to public 
services or accommodations within the meaning of section 
102(b)(3) of the Congressional Accountability Act.

                      Section-by-Section Analysis


Section 1. Short title

    The section provides the short title of the bill, the 
Hiring Preference for Veterans and Americans With Disabilities 
Act.

Section 2. Clarification of rules with respect to hiring of election 
        workers

    Section 2(a)(1) allows State or local jurisdictions to 
provide a preference to individuals who are veterans or 
individuals with a disability in hiring election works to 
administer an election.
    Next, section 2(a)(2) defines an individual with a 
disability as an individual with an impairment that 
substantially limits any major life activities.
    Section 2(b)(1)(a) also allows State's or local 
jurisdictions hiring election workers to administer an election 
to give a preference to an individual who is a nonresident 
military spouse or dependent.
    Section 2(b)(1)(b) prohibits State's or local jurisdictions 
hiring election workers to administer an election from refusing 
to hire an individual as an election worker solely on the 
grounds that the individual does not maintain a place in the 
State or local jurisdiction
    Section 2(b)(2) gives a definition of nonresident military 
spouse or dependent. It is defined as an individual who is an 
absent uniformed services voter under section 107(1)(3) of the 
Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, currently 
codified at 52 U.S.C. 20310(1)(C).
    Finally, section 2(c) provides the legislation becomes 
effectively immediately upon passage.

                  Changes in Existing Law as Reported


                            DEMOCRATIC VIEWS

    H.R. 4486 would establish that state and local election 
officials may give preference, when hiring poll workers, to 
veterans and persons with disabilities. The bill would also 
prohibit jurisdictions from refusing to hire the spouses or 
dependents of servicemembers solely on the grounds that the 
spouse or dependent does not maintain a place of residence in 
the state or local jurisdiction. Committee Democrats support 
this important effort.
    It is also vitally important that Congress does everything 
it can to ensure that people with disabilities are able to 
freely exercise their right to vote. Far too many people with 
disabilities continue to face significant barriers to the 
ballot box. An estimated 30 million eligible voters in the 
United States have disabilities, but according to a 2022 United 
States Election Assistance Commission report (the ``Report''), 
one in five voters with disabilities either needed assistance 
or had difficulty voting in 2022.\1\ According to the Report, 
people with disabilities have a 20 percent likelihood of having 
difficulties voting in-person, compared to 6 percent for people 
without disabilities. This is unacceptable.
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    \1\Disability and Voting Accessibility in the 2022 Elections, 
Election Assistance Comm'n & Rutgers Univ. (July 2023), https://
www.eac.gov/sites/default/files/2023-07/
EAC_2023_Rutgers_Report_FINAL.pdf.
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    This problem is nationwide. Last year, the United States 
Department of Justice (``DOJ'') filed a lawsuit against Los 
Angeles County, California, alleging that the County 
discriminated against voters with disabilities by failing to 
comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. 
According to the DOJ, one voter that relied on a wheelchair had 
difficulty casting her ballot during the August 2019 special 
election at a senior facility in Chatsworth, California\2\--a 
town now represented by this bill's Republican sponsor.
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    \2\Alanna Mayham, Feds sue LA County over disenfranchised disabled 
voters, Courthouse News Service (Jun. 29, 2023), https://
www.courthousenews.com/feds-sue-la-county-over-disenfranchised-
disabled-voters/.
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    House Democrats have long sought to make voting access 
easier for voters with disabilities, including through the 
Freedom to Vote Act, which was opposed by every House 
Republican. To that end, Committee Democrats offered an 
amendment to H.R. 4486, which would have added a sense of 
Congress to this bill, clarifying that Congress has a duty to 
fully fund accessibility at voting locations to ensure that 
every American, regardless of whether they have disabilities, 
is able to access and cast a ballot. Committee Republicans 
rejected this amendment.
    Despite the majority's rejection of Committee Democrats' 
amendment, and their refusal to acknowledge the persistent 
barriers that voters with disabilities face, Committee 
Democrats support H.R. 4486. It would help ensure that 
veterans, persons with disabilities, and military spouses are 
all able to do the important work of supporting elections free 
from discrimination or other obstacles. Further, H.R. 4486 
would help reduce the nation-wide poll worker shortage that 
threatens the safe and secure administration of elections in 
the United States.
                                         Joseph D. Morelle,
                                                    Ranking Member.