I
107TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 430
To establish a bipartisan commission to study the accuracy, integrity, and
efficiency of Federal election procedures and develop standards for the
conduct of Federal elections, and to authorize grants and technical assist-
ance to the States to assist them in implementing such standards.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
FEBRUARY 6, 2001
Mr. DELAHUNT (for himself, Mr. GRAHAM, Mr. LARSON of Connecticut, Mr.
DEAL of Georgia, Mr. FROST, Mr. GREENWOOD, Ms. MILLENDER-
MCDONALD, Mr. SCARBOROUGH, Mrs. JONES of Ohio, Mr. DUNCAN, Ms.
RIVERS, Mr. COOKSEY, Mr. HOLDEN, and Mr. MCGOVERN) introduced
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on House Admin-
istration
A BILL
To establish a bipartisan commission to study the accuracy,
integrity, and efficiency of Federal election procedures
and develop standards for the conduct of Federal elec-
tions, and to authorize grants and technical assistance
to the States to assist them in implementing such stand-
ards.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Federal Election
Standards Act of 2001’’.
TITLE 
I—ESTABLISHMENT 
OF
NATIONAL 
ADVISORY 
COM-
MISSION ON FEDERAL ELEC-
TION STANDARDS.
SEC. 101. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION; MEMBERSHIP.
(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION.—There is es-
tablished a commission to be known as the National Advi-
sory Commission on Federal Election Standards (here-
after in this Act referred to as the ‘‘Commission’’).
(b) MEMBERSHIP.—The Commission shall be com-
posed of 24 voting and 2 nonvoting members, who shall
serve for the life of the Commission and shall be appointed
as follows:
(1) 3 members appointed by the Majority Lead-
er of the Senate.
(2) 3 members appointed by the Minority Lead-
er of the Senate.
(3) 3 members appointed by the Speaker of the
House of Representatives.
(4) 3 members appointed by the Minority Lead-
er of the House of Representatives.
(5) 3 members appointed by the National Asso-
ciation of Secretaries of State, of whom no more
than 2 shall represent States with large populations,
no more than 2 shall represent States with small
populations, and no more than 2 shall be from the
same political party or geographic region.
(6) 3 members appointed by the National Asso-
ciation of State Election Directors, of whom no more
than 2 shall represent States with large populations,
no more than 2 shall represent States with small
populations, and no more than 2 shall be from the
same political party or geographic region.
(7) 6 members who shall be local election offi-
cials and who shall be appointed as follows:
(A) 2 shall be appointed by the Election
Center.
(B) 2 shall be appointed by the Inter-
national Association of Clerks, Recorders, Elec-
tion Officials and Treasurers.
(C) 2 shall be appointed by the National
Association of County Recorders, Election Offi-
cials and Clerks.
(8) The Attorney General and the Chair of the
Federal Election Commission (or their respective
designees), who shall be nonvoting members of the
Commission.
(b) APPOINTMENTS; INITIAL MEETING.—Appoint-
ments to the Commission shall be made not later than 45
days after the date of the enactment of this Act. The Com-
mission shall hold its initial meeting not later than 30
days after the date on which all members of the Commis-
sion have been appointed, and at such meeting shall select
a chair from among the members of the Commission.
(c) VACANCIES.—Any vacancy in the Commission
shall not affect its powers, but shall be filled in the same
manner as the original appointment.
(d) RULES OF THE COMMISSION.—
(1) QUORUM.—A majority of the members of
the Commission shall constitute a quorum for the
transaction of business.
(2) MEETINGS.—Meetings shall be held at the
call of the chair upon at least 14 days written no-
tice. All meetings shall be open to the public.
(3) VOTING.—All actions of the Commission
shall be by majority vote of those present and vot-
ing.
(4) TESTIMONY.—The Commission shall pro-
vide opportunities for representatives of the general
public, civic groups, consumer groups, and State and
local government officials to testify.
(5) ADDITIONAL RULES.—The Commission may
adopt additional rules as needed.
SEC. 102. DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION.
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall—
(1) examine and report to the President, the
Congress, and the chief election official of each State
regarding the accuracy, integrity, and efficiency of
Federal election procedures in the States;
(2) develop standards for the conduct of Fed-
eral elections and make recommendations with re-
spect to the periodic review and updating of such
standards; and
(3) make additional recommendations to Con-
gress with respect to procedural and administrative
aspects of Federal elections over which Congress
may exercise legislative authority under the Con-
stitution of the United States.
(b) SPECIFIC CONSIDERATION OF CERTAIN ISSUES
IN DEVELOPMENT OF STANDARDS.—In developing stand-
ards under subsection (a)(2) for the conduct of Federal
elections, the Commission shall give specific consideration
to the following:
(1) Procedures for voter registration and main-
tenance of lists of registered voters.
SEC. 103. REPORTS.
(a) REPORT ON CURRENT PROCEDURES AND REC-
OMMENDED STANDARDS.—Not later than 12 months after
the date of the initial meeting of the Commission, the
Commission shall submit to the President, the Congress,
the chair of the Federal Election Commission, and the
chief election official of each State a report which
includes—
(1) the findings and conclusions of the Commis-
sion on the accuracy, integrity, and efficiency of
Federal election procedures in the States made
under section 102(a)(1), together with other findings
and conclusions of the Commission; and
(2) the recommended standards for the conduct
of 
Federal 
elections 
developed 
under 
section
102(a)(2).
(b) REPORT ON ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS.—
Not later than 12 months after the date of the initial
meeting of the Commission, the Commission shall submit
to Congress the additional recommendations prepared
under section 102(a)(3).
(c) SEPARATE VIEWS.—Any member of the Commis-
sion may submit additional findings and recommendations
to be made a part of the reports submitted under this sec-
tion.
SEC. 104. POWERS.
(a) HEARINGS.—The Commission may hold such
hearings, sit and act at such places and times, take such
testimony, and receive such evidence as the Commission
deems necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act,
except that in holding hearings the Commission shall se-
lect locations for the hearings in a manner which reflects
a balance among various geographic regions of the United
States.
(b) ACCESS TO FEDERAL INFORMATION.—The Com-
mission may secure directly from any department or agen-
cy of the United States information necessary to enable
it to carry out this Act. Upon request of the chair of the
Commission, the head of that department or agency shall
furnish that information to the Commission.
(c) USE OF MAILS.—The Commission may use the
United States mails in the same manner and under the
same conditions as other departments and agencies of the
Federal Government.
SEC. 105. COMPENSATION AND PERSONNEL.
(a) COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS.—Members of the
Commission shall serve without pay, but shall receive trav-
el expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, as
authorized by law for persons serving intermittently in
Government service under subchapter I of chapter 57 of
title 5, United States Code, while away from their homes
and places of business in the performance of services for
the Commission.
(b) PERSONNEL.—The chair of the Commission may
appoint staff of the Commission, request the detail of Fed-
eral employees, and accept temporary and intermittent
services in accordance with section 3161 of title 5, United
States Code, except that the rate of pay of any staff may
not exceed the annual rate payable for level V of the Exec-
utive Schedule under section 5316 of title 5, United States
Code.
SEC. 106. SUPPORT SERVICES.
The Administrator of General Services shall provide
to the Commission on a reimbursable basis such adminis-
trative support services as the Commission may request.
SEC. 107. TERMINATION.
The Commission shall terminate not later than the
date that is 30 days after the date the Commission sub-
mits the reports required under section 103.
SEC. 108. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated $10,000,000
to the Commission to carry out this title.
TITLE 
II—FEDERAL 
ELECTION
STANDARDS 
IMPLEMENTA-
TION GRANTS
SEC. 201. GRANT AUTHORIZATION.
(a) IN GENERAL.—
(1) ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM.—Not later
than 60 days after the National Advisory Commis-
sion on Federal Election Standards submits the re-
port containing its recommended standards for the
conduct of Federal elections under section 103(a),
the Federal Election Commission shall establish a
program to make grants to qualifying States to im-
prove the accuracy, integrity, and efficiency of Fed-
eral election procedures by carrying out programs,
projects, and other activities to bring the conduct of
Federal elections into conformity with such stand-
ards.
(2) SOLICITATION
OF
APPLICATIONS.—Not
later than 30 days after establishing the program
under this section, the Federal Election Commission
shall begin soliciting applications from States for
grants under the program.
(b) QUALIFYING STATE DEFINED.—In this section,
a ‘‘qualifying State’’ is a State which has submitted an
application for a grant under the program under this sec-
tion (at such time and in such form and manner as the
Federal Election Commission may require) containing
such information and assurances as the Federal Election
Commission may require.
(c) PERMITTED USES.—Grants made under the pro-
gram under this section may be used by States, either di-
rectly or through units of local government, Indian tribal
governments, other public and private entities, and multi-
jurisdictional or regional consortia, for activities which
may include the following:
(1) The hiring of employees or consultants to
design and implement systems and procedures which
meet the standards referred to in subsection (a).
(2) The procurement of equipment, technology,
and administrative and managerial support systems
which meet such standards.
(3) The provision of training or retraining to
election officials, employees, and volunteers in the
proper use and maintenance of new systems and
procedures which meet such standards.
(4) Activities to enhance public confidence and
participation in the electoral process by increasing
knowledge and awareness of new systems and proce-
dures which meet such standards.
(5) The evaluation of the effectiveness of new
systems and procedures put in place using funds
provided under this title.
(d) MATCHING FUNDS.—The portion of the costs of
a program, project, or activity provided by a grant under
the program under this section may not exceed 75 percent
of the total costs of the program, project, or activity, ex-
cept that the Federal Election Commission may waive this
requirement in whole or in part under such terms and con-
ditions as the Federal Election Commission considers ap-
propriate.
(e) MINIMUM AMOUNT.—Unless all applications sub-
mitted by all qualifying States for grants under the pro-
gram under this section have been funded, the amount re-
ceived under this section for any fiscal year by each quali-
fying State, together with grantees within the State, may
not be less than 0.5 percent of the total amount appro-
priated for such grants for the fiscal year.
SEC. 202. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Federal Election Commission
may provide technical assistance to States, units of local
government, Indian tribal governments, and other public
and private entities, in furtherance of the purposes of this
title.
(b) TRAINING CENTERS AND FACILITIES.—The tech-
nical assistance provided by the Federal Election Commis-
sion under this section may include the establishment and
operation of training centers or facilities, either directly
or by contracting or cooperative arrangements. The func-
tions of such centers or facilities may include instruction
and seminars for election officials, employees, trainers,
and such others as the Federal Election Commission con-
siders appropriate to meet the objectives of this title.
SEC. 203. REPORTS TO CONGRESS.
Not later than 60 days after each fiscal year for
which grants are made under this title, the Federal Elec-
tion Commission shall submit a report to Congress on the
programs carried out under this title during the year, and
may include in the report any recommendations of the
Federal Election Commission for amendments to this title
and related provisions of law.
SEC. 204. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out
this title $250,000,000 for each of the first 3 fiscal years
beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act, and
such sums as may be necessary for each succeeding fiscal
year.
TITLE III—STATE DEFINED
SEC. 301. STATE DEFINED.
In this Act, the term ‘‘State’’ means a State of the
United States, the District of Columbia, the Common-
wealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands, and
American Samoa.
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