1828 
SEC. 1003. DEFINITION OF APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL 
COMMITTEES. 
(a) PANDEMIC RESPONSE ACCOUNTABILITY COM-
MITTEE.—Section 15010(a)(2) of the CARES Act (Public 
Law 116–136) is amended— 
(1) 
by 
redesignating 
subparagraphs 
(B) 
through (D) as subparagraphs (D) through (F), re-
spectively; and 
(2) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(B) the Committee on Banking, Housing, 
and Urban Affairs of the Senate; 
‘‘(C) the Committee on Financial Services 
of the House of Representatives;’’. 
(b) OVERSIGHT AND AUDIT AUTHORITY.—Section 
19010(a)(1) of the CARES Act (Public Law 116–136) is 
amended— 
(1) 
by 
redesignating 
subparagraphs 
(B) 
through (G) as subparagraphs (D) through (I), re-
spectively; and 
(2) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(B) the Committee on Banking, Housing, 
and Urban Affairs of the Senate; 
‘‘(C) the Committee on Financial Services 
of the House of Representatives;’’. 
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SEC. 1004. ADDITIONAL REPORTING ON FUNDING FOR DI-
VERSE-OWNED BUSINESSES. 
Section 15010(d)(2) of the CARES Act (Public Law 
116–136) is amended— 
(1) by redesignating subparagraph (C) as sub-
paragraph (D); and 
(2) by inserting after subparagraph (B) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(C) The Committee shall submit to Congress, 
including the appropriate congressional committees, 
quarterly reports that include an analysis of Federal 
funds provided during the pandemic that have been 
used to support communities of color, including mi-
nority-owned businesses and minority depository in-
stitutions, broken down by race and ethnicity.’’; and 
SEC. 1005. REPORTING BY INSPECTORS GENERAL. 
(a) DEFINITION OF COVERED AGENCY.—In this sec-
tion, the term ‘‘covered agency’’ means— 
(1) the Department of the Treasury; 
(2) the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation; 
(3) the Office of the Comptroller of the Cur-
rency; 
(4) the Board of Governors of the Federal Re-
serve System; 
(5) the National Credit Union Administration; 
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(6) the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protec-
tion; 
(7) the Department of Housing and Urban De-
velopment; 
(8) the Department of Agriculture, Rural Hous-
ing Service; 
(9) the Securities and Exchange Commission; 
and 
(10) the Federal Housing Finance Agency. 
(b) REPORT.—The Inspector General of each covered 
agency shall include in each semiannual report submitted 
by the Inspector General the findings of the Inspector 
General on the effectiveness of— 
(1) rulemaking by the covered agency related to 
COVID–19; and 
(2) supervision and oversight by the covered 
agency of institutions and entities that participate in 
COVID–19-related relief, funding, lending, or other 
programs of the covered agency. 
(c) SUBMISSION.—The Inspector General of each cov-
ered agency shall submit the information required to be 
included in each semiannual report under subsection (b) 
to— 
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(1) the Special Inspector General for Pandemic 
Recovery appointed under section 4018 of division A 
of the CARES Act (Public Law 116–136); 
(2) the Pandemic Response Accountability 
Committee established under section 15010 of divi-
sion B of the CARES Act (Public Law 116–136); 
and 
(3) the Congressional Oversight Commission es-
tablished under section 4020 of division A of the 
CARES Act (Public Law 116–136). 
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1832 
DIVISION P—ACCESS ACT 
SEC. 101. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘American Coronavirus/ 
COVID–19 Election Safety and Security Act’’ or the ‘‘AC-
CESS Act’’. 
SEC. 102. REQUIREMENTS FOR FEDERAL ELECTION CON-
TINGENCY PLANS IN RESPONSE TO NATURAL 
DISASTERS AND EMERGENCIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.— 
(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 90 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, each 
State and each jurisdiction in a State which is re-
sponsible for administering elections for Federal of-
fice shall establish and make publicly available a 
contingency plan to enable individuals to vote in 
elections for Federal office during a state of emer-
gency, public health emergency, or national emer-
gency which has been declared for reasons includ-
ing— 
(A) a natural disaster; or 
(B) an infectious disease. 
(2) UPDATING.—Each State and jurisdiction 
shall update the contingency plan established under 
this subsection not less frequently than every 5 
years. 
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(b) REQUIREMENTS RELATING
TO SAFETY.—The 
contingency plan established under subsection (a) shall in-
clude initiatives to provide equipment and resources need-
ed to protect the health and safety of poll workers and 
voters when voting in person. 
(c) REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO RECRUITMENT OF 
POLL
WORKERS.—The contingency plan established 
under subsection (a) shall include initiatives by the chief 
State election official and local election officials to recruit 
poll workers from resilient or unaffected populations, 
which may include— 
(1) employees of other State and local govern-
ment offices; and 
(2) in the case in which an infectious disease 
poses significant increased health risks to elderly in-
dividuals, students of secondary schools and institu-
tions of higher education in the State. 
(d) ENFORCEMENT.— 
(1) ATTORNEY GENERAL.—The Attorney Gen-
eral may bring a civil action against any State or ju-
risdiction in an appropriate United States District 
Court for such declaratory and injunctive relief (in-
cluding a temporary restraining order, a permanent 
or temporary injunction, or other order) as may be 
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necessary to carry out the requirements of this sec-
tion. 
(2) PRIVATE RIGHT OF ACTION.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—In the case of a viola-
tion of this section, any person who is aggrieved 
by such violation may provide written notice of 
the violation to the chief election official of the 
State involved. 
(B) RELIEF.—If the violation is not cor-
rected within 20 days after receipt of a notice 
under subparagraph (A), or within 5 days after 
receipt of the notice if the violation occurred 
within 120 days before the date of an election 
for Federal office, the aggrieved person may, in 
a civil action, obtain declaratory or injunctive 
relief with respect to the violation. 
(C) SPECIAL RULE.—If the violation oc-
curred within 5 days before the date of an elec-
tion for Federal office, the aggrieved person 
need not provide notice to the chief election of-
ficial of the State involved under subparagraph 
(A) before bringing a civil action under sub-
paragraph (B). 
(e) DEFINITIONS.— 
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(1) ELECTION
FOR
FEDERAL
OFFICE.—For 
purposes of this section, the term ‘‘election for Fed-
eral office’’ means a general, special, primary, or 
runoff election for the office of President or Vice 
President, or of Senator or Representative in, or 
Delegate or Resident Commissioner to, the Con-
gress. 
(2) STATE.—For purposes of this section, the 
term ‘‘State’’ includes the District of Columbia, the 
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American 
Samoa, the United States Virgin Islands, and the 
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. 
(f) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section shall apply with 
respect to the regularly scheduled general election for Fed-
eral office held in November 2020 and each succeeding 
election for Federal office. 
SEC. 103. EARLY VOTING AND VOTING BY MAIL. 
(a) REQUIREMENTS.—Title III of the Help America 
Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21081 et seq.) is amended 
by adding at the end the following new subtitle: 
‘‘Subtitle C—Other Requirements 
‘‘SEC. 321. EARLY VOTING. 
‘‘(a) REQUIRING ALLOWING VOTING PRIOR TO DATE 
OF ELECTION.— 
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‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Each State shall allow indi-
viduals to vote in an election for Federal office dur-
ing an early voting period which occurs prior to the 
date of the election, in the same manner as voting 
is allowed on such date. 
‘‘(2) LENGTH
OF
PERIOD.—The early voting 
period required under this subsection with respect to 
an election shall consist of a period of consecutive 
days (including weekends) which begins on the 15th 
day before the date of the election (or, at the option 
of the State, on a day prior to the 15th day before 
the date of the election) and ends on the date of the 
election. 
‘‘(b) MINIMUM EARLY VOTING REQUIREMENTS.— 
Each polling place which allows voting during an early vot-
ing period under subsection (a) shall— 
‘‘(1) allow such voting for no less than 10 hours 
on each day; 
‘‘(2) have uniform hours each day for which 
such voting occurs; and 
‘‘(3) allow such voting to be held for some pe-
riod of time prior to 9:00 a.m (local time) and some 
period of time after 5:00 p.m. (local time). 
‘‘(c) LOCATION OF POLLING PLACES.— 
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‘‘(1) 
PROXIMITY
TO
PUBLIC
TRANSPOR-
TATION.—To the greatest extent practicable, a State 
shall ensure that each polling place which allows vot-
ing during an early voting period under subsection 
(a) is located within walking distance of a stop on 
a public transportation route. 
‘‘(2) AVAILABILITY
IN
RURAL
AREAS.—The 
State shall ensure that polling places which allow 
voting during an early voting period under sub-
section (a) will be located in rural areas of the State, 
and shall ensure that such polling places are located 
in communities which will provide the greatest op-
portunity for residents of rural areas to vote during 
the early voting period. 
‘‘(d) STANDARDS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall issue 
standards for the administration of voting prior to 
the day scheduled for a Federal election. Such 
standards shall include the nondiscriminatory geo-
graphic placement of polling places at which such 
voting occurs. 
‘‘(2) DEVIATION.—The standards described in 
paragraph (1) shall permit States, upon providing 
adequate public notice, to deviate from any require-
ment in the case of unforeseen circumstances such 
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as a natural disaster, terrorist attack, or a change 
in voter turnout. 
‘‘(e) BALLOT PROCESSING AND SCANNING REQUIRE-
MENTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The State shall begin proc-
essing and scanning ballots cast during early voting 
for tabulation at least 14 days prior to the date of 
the election involved. 
‘‘(2) LIMITATION.—Nothing in this subsection 
shall be construed to permit a State to tabulate bal-
lots in an election before the closing of the polls on 
the date of the election. 
‘‘(f) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section shall apply 
with respect to the regularly scheduled general election for 
Federal office held in November 2020 and each succeeding 
election for Federal office. 
‘‘SEC. 322. PROMOTING ABILITY OF VOTERS TO VOTE BY 
MAIL. 
‘‘(a) UNIFORM AVAILABILITY OF ABSENTEE VOTING 
TO ALL VOTERS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—If an individual in a State 
is eligible to cast a vote in an election for Federal 
office, the State may not impose any additional con-
ditions or requirements on the eligibility of the indi-
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vidual to cast the vote in such election by absentee 
ballot by mail. 
‘‘(2) ADMINISTRATION OF VOTING BY MAIL.— 
‘‘(A) PROHIBITING
IDENTIFICATION
RE-
QUIREMENT AS CONDITION OF OBTAINING BAL-
LOT.—A State may not require an individual to 
provide any form of identification as a condition 
of obtaining an absentee ballot, except that 
nothing in this paragraph may be construed to 
prevent a State from requiring a signature of 
the individual or similar affirmation as a condi-
tion of obtaining an absentee ballot. 
‘‘(B) PROHIBITING REQUIREMENT TO PRO-
VIDE
NOTARIZATION
OR
WITNESS
SIGNATURE 
AS CONDITION OF OBTAINING OR CASTING BAL-
LOT.—A State may not require notarization or 
witness signature or other formal authentica-
tion (other than voter attestation) as a condi-
tion of obtaining or casting an absentee ballot. 
‘‘(C) DEADLINE
FOR
RETURNING
BAL-
LOT.—A State may impose a deadline for re-
questing the absentee ballot and related voting 
materials from the appropriate State or local 
election official and for returning the ballot to 
the appropriate State or local election official. 
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‘‘(3) APPLICATION
FOR
ALL
FUTURE
ELEC-
TIONS.—At the option of an individual, a State shall 
treat the individual’s application to vote by absentee 
ballot by mail in an election for Federal office as an 
application to vote by absentee ballot by mail in all 
subsequent Federal elections held in the State. 
‘‘(b) DUE PROCESS REQUIREMENTS
FOR STATES 
REQUIRING SIGNATURE VERIFICATION.— 
‘‘(1) REQUIREMENT.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—A State may not im-
pose a signature verification requirement as a 
condition of accepting and counting an absentee 
ballot submitted by any individual with respect 
to an election for Federal office unless the 
State meets the due process requirements de-
scribed in paragraph (2). 
‘‘(B) SIGNATURE VERIFICATION REQUIRE-
MENT DESCRIBED.—In this subsection, a ‘sig-
nature verification requirement’ is a require-
ment that an election official verify the identi-
fication of an individual by comparing the indi-
vidual’s signature on the absentee ballot with 
the individual’s signature on the official list of 
registered voters in the State or another official 
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record or other document used by the State to 
verify the signatures of voters. 
‘‘(2) DUE PROCESS REQUIREMENTS.— 
‘‘(A) NOTICE AND OPPORTUNITY TO CURE 
DISCREPANCY.—If an individual submits an ab-
sentee ballot and the appropriate State or local 
election official determines that a discrepancy 
exists between the signature on such ballot and 
the signature of such individual on the official 
list of registered voters in the State or other of-
ficial record or document used by the State to 
verify the signatures of voters, such election of-
ficial, prior to making a final determination as 
to the validity of such ballot, shall— 
‘‘(i) make a good faith effort to imme-
diately notify the individual by mail, tele-
phone, and (if available) electronic mail 
that— 
‘‘(I) a discrepancy exists between 
the signature on such ballot and the 
signature of the individual on the offi-
cial list of registered voters in the 
State, and 
‘‘(II) if such discrepancy is not 
cured prior to the expiration of the 
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10-day period which begins on the 
date the official notifies the individual 
of the discrepancy, such ballot will not 
be counted; and 
‘‘(ii) cure such discrepancy and count 
the ballot if, prior to the expiration of the 
10-day period described in clause (i)(II), 
the individual provides the official with in-
formation to cure such discrepancy, either 
in person, by telephone, or by electronic 
methods. 
‘‘(B) NOTICE AND OPPORTUNITY TO PRO-
VIDE
MISSING
SIGNATURE.—If an individual 
submits an absentee ballot without a signature, 
the appropriate State or local election official, 
prior to making a final determination as to the 
validity of the ballot, shall— 
‘‘(i) make a good faith effort to imme-
diately notify the individual by mail, tele-
phone, and (if available) electronic mail 
that— 
‘‘(I) the ballot did not include a 
signature, and 
‘‘(II) if the individual does not 
provide the missing signature prior to 
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1843 
the expiration of the 10-day period 
which begins on the date the official 
notifies the individual that the ballot 
did not include a signature, such bal-
lot will not be counted; and 
‘‘(ii) count the ballot if, prior to the 
expiration of the 10-day period described 
in clause (i)(II), the individual provides the 
official with the missing signature on a 
form proscribed by the State. 
‘‘(C) OTHER REQUIREMENTS.—An election 
official may not make a determination that a 
discrepancy exists between the signature on an 
absentee ballot and the signature of the indi-
vidual who submits the ballot on the official list 
of registered voters in the State or other official 
record or other document used by the State to 
verify the signatures of voters unless— 
‘‘(i) at least 2 election officials make 
the determination; and 
‘‘(ii) each official who makes the de-
termination has received training in proce-
dures used to verify signatures. 
‘‘(3) REPORT.— 
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1844 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 120 
days after the end of a Federal election cycle, 
each chief State election official shall submit to 
Congress a report containing the following in-
formation for the applicable Federal election 
cycle in the State: 
‘‘(i) The number of ballots invalidated 
due to a discrepancy under this subsection. 
‘‘(ii) Description of attempts to con-
tact voters to provide notice as required by 
this subsection. 
‘‘(iii) Description of the cure process 
developed by such State pursuant to this 
subsection, including the number of ballots 
determined valid as a result of such proc-
ess. 
‘‘(B) FEDERAL
ELECTION
CYCLE
DE-
FINED.—For purposes of this subsection, the 
term ‘Federal election cycle’ means the period 
beginning on January 1 of any odd numbered 
year and ending on December 31 of the fol-
lowing year. 
‘‘(c) METHODS AND TIMING FOR TRANSMISSION OF 
BALLOTS AND BALLOTING MATERIALS TO VOTERS.— 
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‘‘(1) METHOD FOR REQUESTING BALLOT.—In 
addition to such other methods as the State may es-
tablish for an individual to request an absentee bal-
lot, the State shall permit an individual to submit a 
request for an absentee ballot online. The State shall 
be considered to meet the requirements of this para-
graph if the website of the appropriate State or local 
election official allows an absentee ballot request ap-
plication to be completed and submitted online and 
if the website permits the individual— 
‘‘(A) to print the application so that the 
individual may complete the application and re-
turn it to the official; or 
‘‘(B) request that a paper copy of the ap-
plication be transmitted to the individual by 
mail or electronic mail so that the individual 
may complete the application and return it to 
the official. 
‘‘(2) ENSURING
DELIVERY
PRIOR
TO
ELEC-
TION.—If an individual requests to vote by absentee 
ballot in an election for Federal office, the appro-
priate State or local election official shall ensure 
that the ballot and relating voting materials are re-
ceived by the individual prior to the date of the elec-
tion so long as the individual’s request is received by 
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the official not later than 5 days (excluding Satur-
days, Sundays, and legal public holidays) before the 
date of the election, except that nothing in this para-
graph shall preclude a State or local jurisdiction 
from allowing for the acceptance and processing of 
ballot requests submitted or received after such re-
quired period. 
‘‘(d) ACCESSIBILITY FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DIS-
ABILITIES.—The State shall ensure that all absentee bal-
lots and related voting materials in elections for Federal 
office are accessible to individuals with disabilities in a 
manner that provides the same opportunity for access and 
participation (including with privacy and independence) as 
for other voters. 
‘‘(e) UNIFORM DEADLINE
FOR ACCEPTANCE
OF 
MAILED BALLOTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—A State may not refuse to 
accept or process a ballot submitted by an individual 
by mail with respect to an election for Federal office 
in the State on the grounds that the individual did 
not meet a deadline for returning the ballot to the 
appropriate State or local election official if— 
‘‘(A) the ballot is postmarked, signed, or 
otherwise indicated by the United States Postal 
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1847 
Service to have been mailed on or before the 
date of the election; and 
‘‘(B) the ballot is received by the appro-
priate election official prior to the expiration of 
the 10-day period which begins on the date of 
the election. 
‘‘(2) RULE
OF
CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in 
this subsection shall be construed to prohibit a State 
from having a law that allows for counting of ballots 
in an election for Federal office that are received 
through the mail after the date that is 10 days after 
the date of the election. 
‘‘(f) ALTERNATIVE METHODS OF RETURNING BAL-
LOTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—In addition to permitting 
an individual to whom a ballot in an election was 
provided under this section to return the ballot to an 
election official by mail, the State shall permit the 
individual to cast the ballot by delivering the ballot 
at such times and to such locations as the State may 
establish, including— 
‘‘(A) permitting the individual to deliver 
the ballot to a polling place on any date on 
which voting in the election is held at the poll-
ing place; and 
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1848 
‘‘(B) permitting the individual to deliver 
the ballot to a designated ballot drop-off loca-
tion. 
‘‘(2) PERMITTING
VOTERS
TO
DESIGNATE 
OTHER PERSON TO RETURN BALLOT.—The State— 
‘‘(A) shall permit a voter to designate any 
person to return a voted and sealed absentee 
ballot to the post office, a ballot drop-off loca-
tion, tribally designated building, or election of-
fice so long as the person designated to return 
the ballot does not receive any form of com-
pensation based on the number of ballots that 
the person has returned and no individual, 
group, or organization provides compensation 
on this basis; and 
‘‘(B) may not put any limit on how many 
voted and sealed absentee ballots any des-
ignated person can return to the post office, a 
ballot drop off location, tribally designated 
building, or election office. 
‘‘(g) BALLOT PROCESSING AND SCANNING REQUIRE-
MENTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The State shall begin proc-
essing and scanning ballots cast by mail for tabula-
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1849 
tion at least 14 days prior to the date of the election 
involved. 
‘‘(2) LIMITATION.—Nothing in this subsection 
shall be construed to permit a State to tabulate bal-
lots in an election before the closing of the polls on 
the date of the election. 
‘‘(h) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this sec-
tion shall be construed to affect the authority of States 
to conduct elections for Federal office through the use of 
polling places at which individuals cast ballots. 
‘‘(i) NO EFFECT ON BALLOTS SUBMITTED BY AB-
SENT MILITARY AND OVERSEAS VOTERS.—Nothing in 
this section may be construed to affect the treatment of 
any ballot submitted by an individual who is entitled to 
vote by absentee ballot under the Uniformed and Overseas 
Citizens Absentee Voting Act (52 U.S.C. 20301 et seq.). 
‘‘(j) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section shall apply 
with respect to the regularly scheduled general election for 
Federal office held in November 2020 and each succeeding 
election for Federal office. 
‘‘SEC. 323. ABSENTEE BALLOT TRACKING PROGRAM. 
‘‘(a) REQUIREMENT.—Each State shall carry out a 
program to track and confirm the receipt of absentee bal-
lots in an election for Federal office under which the State 
or local election official responsible for the receipt of voted 
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absentee ballots in the election carries out procedures to 
track and confirm the receipt of such ballots, and makes 
information on the receipt of such ballots available to the 
individual who cast the ballot, by means of online access 
using the Internet site of the official’s office. 
‘‘(b) INFORMATION
ON
WHETHER
VOTE
WAS 
COUNTED.—The information referred to under subsection 
(a) with respect to the receipt of an absentee ballot shall 
include information regarding whether the vote cast on the 
ballot was counted, and, in the case of a vote which was 
not counted, the reasons therefor. 
‘‘(c) USE OF TOLL-FREE TELEPHONE NUMBER BY 
OFFICIALS WITHOUT INTERNET SITE.—A program estab-
lished by a State or local election official whose office does 
not have an Internet site may meet the requirements of 
subsection (a) if the official has established a toll-free tele-
phone number that may be used by an individual who cast 
an absentee ballot to obtain the information on the receipt 
of the voted absentee ballot as provided under such sub-
section. 
‘‘(d) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section shall begin to 
apply on that date that is 90 days after the date of the 
enactment of this section. 
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‘‘SEC. 324. RULES FOR COUNTING PROVISIONAL BALLOTS. 
‘‘(a) STATEWIDE COUNTING OF PROVISIONAL BAL-
LOTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—For purposes of section 
302(a)(4), notwithstanding the precinct or polling 
place at which a provisional ballot is cast within the 
State, the appropriate election official shall count 
each vote on such ballot for each election in which 
the individual who cast such ballot is eligible to vote. 
‘‘(2) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This subsection shall 
apply with respect to the regularly scheduled general 
election for Federal office held in November 2020 
and each succeeding election for Federal office. 
‘‘(b) UNIFORM
AND NONDISCRIMINATORY STAND-
ARDS.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—Consistent with the re-
quirements of section 302, each State shall establish 
uniform and nondiscriminatory standards for the 
issuance, handling, and counting of provisional bal-
lots. 
‘‘(2) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This subsection shall 
apply with respect to the regularly scheduled general 
election for Federal office held in November 2020 
and each succeeding election for Federal office. 
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‘‘SEC. 325. COVERAGE OF COMMONWEALTH OF NORTHERN 
MARIANA ISLANDS. 
‘‘In this subtitle, the term ‘State’ includes the Com-
monwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. 
‘‘SEC. 326. MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR EXPANDING 
ABILITY OF INDIVIDUALS TO VOTE. 
‘‘The requirements of this subtitle are minimum re-
quirements, and nothing in this subtitle may be construed 
to prevent a State from establishing standards which pro-
mote the ability of individuals to vote in elections for Fed-
eral office, so long as such standards are not inconsistent 
with the requirements of this subtitle or other Federal 
laws.’’. 
(b) 
CONFORMING
AMENDMENT
RELATING
TO 
ISSUANCE OF VOLUNTARY GUIDANCE BY ELECTION AS-
SISTANCE COMMISSION.—Section 311(b) of such Act (52 
U.S.C. 21101(b)) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of paragraph 
(2); 
(2) by striking the period at the end of para-
graph (3) and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph: 
‘‘(4) in the case of the recommendations with 
respect to subtitle C, June 30, 2020.’’. 
(c) ENFORCEMENT.— 
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(1) COVERAGE
UNDER
EXISTING
ENFORCE-
MENT PROVISIONS.—Section 401 of such Act (52 
U.S.C. 21111) is amended by striking ‘‘and 303’’ 
and inserting ‘‘303, and subtitle C of title III’’. 
(2) AVAILABILITY OF PRIVATE RIGHT OF AC-
TION.—Title IV of such (52 U.S.C. 21111 et seq.) 
is amended by adding at the end the following new 
section: 
‘‘SEC. 403. PRIVATE RIGHT OF ACTION FOR VIOLATIONS OF 
CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—In the case of a violation of sub-
title C of title III, section 402 shall not apply and any 
person who is aggrieved by such violation may provide 
written notice of the violation to the chief election official 
of the State involved. 
‘‘(b) RELIEF.—If the violation is not corrected within 
20 days after receipt of a notice under subsection (a), or 
within 5 days after receipt of the notice if the violation 
occurred within 120 days before the date of an election 
for Federal office, the aggrieved person may, in a civil ac-
tion, obtain declaratory or injunctive relief with respect 
to the violation. 
‘‘(c) SPECIAL RULE.—If the violation occurred within 
5 days before the date of an election for Federal office, 
the aggrieved person need not provide notice to the chief 
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election official of the State involved under subsection (a) 
before bringing a civil action under subsection (b).’’. 
(d) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of contents 
of such Act is amended— 
(1) by adding at the end of the items relating 
to title III the following: 
‘‘Subtitle C—Other Requirements 
‘‘Sec. 321. Early voting. 
‘‘Sec. 322. Promoting ability of voters to vote by mail. 
‘‘Sec. 323. Absentee ballot tracking program. 
‘‘Sec. 324. Rules for counting provisional ballots. 
‘‘Sec. 325. Coverage of Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands. 
‘‘Sec. 326. Minimum requirements for expanding ability of individuals to vote.’’; 
and 
(2) by adding at the end of the items relating 
to title IV the following new item: 
‘‘Sec. 403. Private right of action for violations of certain requirements.’’. 
SEC. 104. PERMITTING USE OF SWORN WRITTEN STATE-
MENT TO MEET IDENTIFICATION REQUIRE-
MENTS FOR VOTING. 
(a) PERMITTING USE OF STATEMENT.—Subtitle C of 
title III of the Help America Vote Act of 2002, as added 
by section 160003(a), is amended— 
(1) by redesignating sections 325 and 326 as 
sections 326 and 327; and 
(2) by inserting after section 324 the following 
new section: 
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‘‘SEC. 325. PERMITTING USE OF SWORN WRITTEN STATE-
MENT TO MEET IDENTIFICATION REQUIRE-
MENTS. 
‘‘(a) USE OF STATEMENT.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in sub-
section (c), if a State has in effect a requirement 
that an individual present identification as a condi-
tion of casting a ballot in an election for Federal of-
fice, the State shall permit the individual to meet 
the requirement— 
‘‘(A) in the case of an individual who de-
sires to vote in person, by presenting the appro-
priate State or local election official with a 
sworn written statement, signed by the indi-
vidual under penalty of perjury, attesting to the 
individual’s identity and attesting that the indi-
vidual is eligible to vote in the election; or 
‘‘(B) in the case of an individual who de-
sires to vote by mail, by submitting with the 
ballot the statement described in subparagraph 
(A). 
‘‘(2) DEVELOPMENT OF PRE-PRINTED VERSION 
OF STATEMENT BY COMMISSION.—The Commission 
shall develop a pre-printed version of the statement 
described in paragraph (1)(A) which includes a 
blank space for an individual to provide a name and 
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signature for use by election officials in States which 
are subject to paragraph (1). 
‘‘(3) PROVIDING PRE-PRINTED COPY OF STATE-
MENT.—A State which is subject to paragraph (1) 
shall— 
‘‘(A) make copies of the pre-printed 
version of the statement described in paragraph 
(1)(A) which is prepared by the Commission 
available at polling places for election officials 
to distribute to individuals who desire to vote in 
person; and 
‘‘(B) include a copy of such pre-printed 
version of the statement with each blank absen-
tee or other ballot transmitted to an individual 
who desires to vote by mail. 
‘‘(b) REQUIRING USE OF BALLOT IN SAME MANNER 
AS INDIVIDUALS PRESENTING IDENTIFICATION.—An in-
dividual who presents or submits a sworn written state-
ment in accordance with subsection (a)(1) shall be per-
mitted to cast a ballot in the election in the same manner 
as an individual who presents identification. 
‘‘(c) EXCEPTION
FOR FIRST-TIME VOTERS REG-
ISTERING BY MAIL.—Subsections (a) and (b) do not apply 
with respect to any individual described in paragraph (1) 
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of section 303(b) who is required to meet the requirements 
of paragraph (2) of such section.’’. 
(b) REQUIRING STATES TO INCLUDE INFORMATION 
ON USE OF SWORN WRITTEN STATEMENT IN VOTING IN-
FORMATION MATERIAL POSTED AT POLLING PLACES.— 
Section 302(b)(2) of such Act (52 U.S.C. 21082(b)(2)), 
is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of subpara-
graph (E); 
(2) by striking the period at the end of sub-
paragraph (F) and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following new sub-
paragraph: 
‘‘(G) in the case of a State that has in ef-
fect a requirement that an individual present 
identification as a condition of casting a ballot 
in an election for Federal office, information on 
how an individual may meet such requirement 
by presenting a sworn written statement in ac-
cordance with section 303A.’’. 
(c) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of contents 
of such Act, as amended by section 160003, is amended— 
(1) by redesignating the items relating to sec-
tions 325 and 326 as relating to sections 326 and 
327; and 
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(2) by inserting after the item relating to sec-
tion 324 the following new item: 
‘‘Sec. 325. Permitting use of sworn written statement to meet identification re-
quirements.’’. 
(d) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 
this section shall apply with respect to elections occurring 
on or after the date of the enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 105. VOTING MATERIALS POSTAGE. 
(a) PREPAYMENT OF POSTAGE ON RETURN ENVE-
LOPES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Subtitle C of title III of the 
Help America Vote Act of 2002, as added by section 
160003(a) and as amended by section 160004(a), is 
further amended— 
(A) by redesignating sections 326 and 327 
as sections 327 and 328; and 
(B) by inserting after section 325 the fol-
lowing new section: 
‘‘SEC. 326. PREPAYMENT OF POSTAGE ON RETURN ENVE-
LOPES FOR VOTING MATERIALS. 
‘‘(a) PROVISION OF RETURN ENVELOPES.—The ap-
propriate State or local election official shall provide a 
self-sealing return envelope with— 
‘‘(1) any voter registration application form 
transmitted to a registrant by mail; 
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‘‘(2) any application for an absentee ballot 
transmitted to an applicant by mail; and 
‘‘(3) any blank absentee ballot transmitted to a 
voter by mail. 
‘‘(b) PREPAYMENT OF POSTAGE.—Consistent with 
regulations of the United States Postal Service, the State 
or the unit of local government responsible for the admin-
istration of the election involved shall prepay the postage 
on any envelope provided under subsection (a). 
‘‘(c) NO EFFECT ON BALLOTS OR BALLOTING MATE-
RIALS TRANSMITTED TO ABSENT MILITARY AND OVER-
SEAS VOTERS.—Nothing in this section may be construed 
to affect the treatment of any ballot or balloting materials 
transmitted to an individual who is entitled to vote by ab-
sentee ballot under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens 
Absentee Voting Act (52 U.S.C. 20301 et seq.). 
‘‘(d) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section shall take ef-
fect on the date that is 90 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this section, except that— 
‘‘(1) State and local jurisdictions shall make ar-
rangements with the United States Postal Service to 
pay for all postage costs that such jurisdictions 
would be required to pay under this section if this 
section took effect on the date of enactment; and 
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‘‘(2) States shall take all reasonable efforts to 
provide self-sealing return envelopes as provided in 
this section.’’. 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of con-
tents of such Act, as amended by section 160004(c), 
is amended— 
(A) by redesignating the items relating to 
sections 326 and 327 as relating to sections 
327 and 328; and 
(B) by inserting after the item relating to 
section 325 the following new item: 
‘‘Sec. 326. Prepayment of postage on return envelopes for voting materials’’. 
(b) ROLE OF UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Chapter 34 of title 39, 
United States Code, is amended by adding after sec-
tion 3406 the following: 
‘‘§ 3407. Voting materials 
‘‘(a) Any voter registration application, absentee bal-
lot application, or absentee ballot with respect to any elec-
tion for Federal office shall be carried expeditiously, with 
postage on the return envelope prepaid by the State or 
unit of local government responsible for the administration 
of the election. 
‘‘(b) As used in this section— 
‘‘(1) the term ‘absentee ballot’ means any ballot 
transmitted by a voter by mail in an election for 
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Federal office, but does not include any ballot cov-
ered by section 3406; and 
‘‘(2) the term ‘election for Federal office’ means 
a general, special, primary, or runoff election for the 
office of President or Vice President, or of Senator 
or Representative in, or Delegate or Resident Com-
missioner to, the Congress. 
‘‘(c) Nothing in this section may be construed to af-
fect the treatment of any ballot or balloting materials 
transmitted to an individual who is entitled to vote by ab-
sentee ballot under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens 
Absentee Voting Act (52 U.S.C. 20301 et seq.).’’. 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec-
tions for chapter 34 of such title is amended by in-
serting after the item relating to section 3406 the 
following: 
‘‘3407. Voting materials.’’. 
SEC. 106. REQUIRING TRANSMISSION OF BLANK ABSENTEE 
BALLOTS UNDER UOCAVA TO CERTAIN VOT-
ERS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Uniformed and Overseas 
Citizens Absentee Voting Act (52 U.S.C. 20301 et seq.) 
is amended by inserting after section 103B the following 
new section: 
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‘‘SEC. 103C. TRANSMISSION OF BLANK ABSENTEE BALLOTS 
TO CERTAIN OTHER VOTERS. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.— 
‘‘(1) STATE RESPONSIBILITIES.—Subject to the 
provisions of this section, each State shall transmit 
blank absentee ballots electronically to qualified indi-
viduals who request such ballots in the same manner 
and under the same terms and conditions under 
which the State transmits such ballots electronically 
to absent uniformed services voters and overseas vot-
ers under the provisions of section 102(f), except 
that no such marked ballots shall be returned elec-
tronically. 
‘‘(2) REQUIREMENTS.—Any blank absentee bal-
lot transmitted to a qualified individual under this 
section— 
‘‘(A) must comply with the language re-
quirements under section 203 of the Voting 
Rights Act of 1965 (52 U.S.C. 10503); and 
‘‘(B) must comply with the disability re-
quirements under section 508 of the Rehabilita-
tion Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794d). 
‘‘(3) AFFIRMATION.—The State may not trans-
mit a ballot to a qualified individual under this sec-
tion unless the individual provides the State with a 
signed affirmation in electronic form that— 
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‘‘(A) the individual is a qualified individual 
(as defined in subsection (b)); 
‘‘(B) the individual has not and will not 
cast another ballot with respect to the election; 
and 
‘‘(C) 
acknowledges 
that 
a 
material 
misstatement of fact in completing the ballot 
may constitute grounds for conviction of per-
jury. 
‘‘(4) CLARIFICATION REGARDING FREE POST-
AGE.—An absentee ballot obtained by a qualified in-
dividual under this section shall be considered bal-
loting materials as defined in section 107 for pur-
poses of section 3406 of title 39, United States 
Code. 
‘‘(5) PROHIBITING REFUSAL TO ACCEPT BAL-
LOT
FOR
FAILURE
TO
MEET
CERTAIN
REQUIRE-
MENTS.—A State shall not refuse to accept and 
process any otherwise valid blank absentee ballot 
which was transmitted to a qualified individual 
under this section and used by the individual to vote 
in the election solely on the basis of the following: 
‘‘(A) Notarization or witness signature re-
quirements. 
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‘‘(B) Restrictions on paper type, including 
weight and size. 
‘‘(C) Restrictions on envelope type, includ-
ing weight and size. 
‘‘(b) QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—In this section, except as 
provided in paragraph (2), the term ‘qualified indi-
vidual’ means any individual who is otherwise quali-
fied to vote in an election for Federal office and who 
meets any of the following requirements: 
‘‘(A) The individual— 
‘‘(i) has previously requested an ab-
sentee ballot from the State or jurisdiction 
in which such individual is registered to 
vote; and 
‘‘(ii) has not received such absentee 
ballot at least 2 days before the date of the 
election. 
‘‘(B) The individual— 
‘‘(i) resides in an area of a State with 
respect to which an emergency or public 
health emergency has been declared by the 
chief executive of the State or of the area 
involved within 5 days of the date of the 
election under the laws of the State due to 
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reasons including a natural disaster, in-
cluding severe weather, or an infectious 
disease; and 
‘‘(ii) has not previously requested an 
absentee ballot. 
‘‘(C) The individual expects to be absent 
from such individual’s jurisdiction on the date 
of the election due to professional or volunteer 
service in response to a natural disaster or 
emergency as described in subparagraph (B). 
‘‘(D) The individual is hospitalized or ex-
pects to be hospitalized on the date of the elec-
tion. 
‘‘(E) The individual is an individual with a 
disability (as defined in section 3 of the Ameri-
cans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 
12102)) and resides in a State which does not 
offer voters the ability to use secure and acces-
sible remote ballot marking. For purposes of 
this subparagraph, a State shall permit an indi-
vidual to self-certify that the individual is an in-
dividual with a disability. 
‘‘(2) EXCLUSION OF ABSENT UNIFORMED SERV-
ICES AND OVERSEAS VOTERS.—The term ‘qualified 
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individual’ shall not include an absent uniformed 
services voter or an overseas voter. 
‘‘(c) STATE.—For purposes of this section, the term 
‘State’ includes the District of Columbia, the Common-
wealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the 
United States Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of 
the Northern Mariana Islands. 
‘‘(d) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section shall apply 
with respect to the regularly scheduled general election for 
Federal office held in November 2020 and each succeeding 
election for Federal office.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 102(a) of 
such Act (52 U.S.C. 20302(a)) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of paragraph 
(10); 
(2) by striking the period at the end of para-
graph (11) and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph: 
‘‘(12) meet the requirements of section 103C 
with respect to the provision of blank absentee bal-
lots for the use of qualified individuals described in 
such section.’’. 
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(c) CLERICAL AMENDMENTS.—The table of contents 
of such Act is amended by inserting the following after 
section 103: 
‘‘Sec. 103A. Procedures for collection and delivery of marked absentee ballots 
of absent overseas uniformed services voters. 
‘‘Sec. 103B. Federal voting assistance program improvements. 
‘‘Sec. 103C. Transmission of blank absentee ballots to certain other voters.’’. 
SEC. 107. VOTER REGISTRATION. 
(a) REQUIRING AVAILABILITY
OF INTERNET
FOR 
VOTER REGISTRATION.— 
(1) REQUIRING
AVAILABILITY
OF
INTERNET 
FOR REGISTRATION.—The National Voter Registra-
tion Act of 1993 (52 U.S.C. 20501 et seq.) is 
amended by inserting after section 6 the following 
new section: 
‘‘SEC. 6A. INTERNET REGISTRATION. 
‘‘(a) REQUIRING AVAILABILITY OF INTERNET FOR 
ONLINE REGISTRATION.— 
‘‘(1) AVAILABILITY OF ONLINE REGISTRATION 
AND CORRECTION OF EXISTING REGISTRATION IN-
FORMATION.—Each State, acting through the chief 
State election official, shall ensure that the following 
services are available to the public at any time on 
the official public websites of the appropriate State 
and local election officials in the State, in the same 
manner and subject to the same terms and condi-
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tions as the services provided by voter registration 
agencies under section 7(a): 
‘‘(A) Online application for voter registra-
tion. 
‘‘(B) Online assistance to applicants in ap-
plying to register to vote. 
‘‘(C) Online completion and submission by 
applicants of the mail voter registration applica-
tion form prescribed by the Election Assistance 
Commission pursuant to section 9(a)(2), includ-
ing assistance with providing a signature as re-
quired under subsection (c). 
‘‘(D) Online receipt of completed voter reg-
istration applications. 
‘‘(b) ACCEPTANCE OF COMPLETED APPLICATIONS.— 
A State shall accept an online voter registration applica-
tion provided by an individual under this section, and en-
sure that the individual is registered to vote in the State, 
if— 
‘‘(1) the individual meets the same voter reg-
istration requirements applicable to individuals who 
register to vote by mail in accordance with section 
6(a)(1) using the mail voter registration application 
form prescribed by the Election Assistance Commis-
sion pursuant to section 9(a)(2); and 
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‘‘(2) the individual meets the requirements of 
subsection (c) to provide a signature in electronic 
form (but only in the case of applications submitted 
during or after the second year in which this section 
is in effect in the State). 
‘‘(c) SIGNATURE REQUIREMENTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—For purposes of this sec-
tion, an individual meets the requirements of this 
subsection as follows: 
‘‘(A) In the case of an individual who has 
a signature on file with a State agency, includ-
ing the State motor vehicle authority, that is 
required to provide voter registration services 
under this Act or any other law, the individual 
consents to the transfer of that electronic signa-
ture. 
‘‘(B) If subparagraph (A) does not apply, 
the individual submits with the application an 
electronic copy of the individual’s handwritten 
signature through electronic means. 
‘‘(C) If subparagraph (A) and subpara-
graph (B) do not apply, the individual executes 
a computerized mark in the signature field on 
an online voter registration application, in ac-
cordance with reasonable security measures es-
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tablished by the State, but only if the State ac-
cepts such mark from the individual. 
‘‘(2) TREATMENT OF INDIVIDUALS UNABLE TO 
MEET REQUIREMENT.—If an individual is unable to 
meet the requirements of paragraph (1), the State 
shall— 
‘‘(A) permit the individual to complete all 
other elements of the online voter registration 
application; 
‘‘(B) permit the individual to provide a sig-
nature at the time the individual requests a bal-
lot in an election (whether the individual re-
quests the ballot at a polling place or requests 
the ballot by mail); and 
‘‘(C) if the individual carries out the steps 
described in subparagraph (A) and subpara-
graph (B), ensure that the individual is reg-
istered to vote in the State. 
‘‘(3) NOTICE.—The State shall ensure that in-
dividuals applying to register to vote online are noti-
fied of the requirements of paragraph (1) and of the 
treatment of individuals unable to meet such re-
quirements, as described in paragraph (2). 
‘‘(d) CONFIRMATION AND DISPOSITION.— 
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‘‘(1) CONFIRMATION OF RECEIPT.—Upon the 
online submission of a completed voter registration 
application by an individual under this section, the 
appropriate State or local election official shall send 
the individual a notice confirming the State’s receipt 
of the application and providing instructions on how 
the individual may check the status of the applica-
tion. 
‘‘(2) NOTICE OF DISPOSITION.—Not later than 
7 days after the appropriate State or local election 
official has approved or rejected an application sub-
mitted by an individual under this section, the offi-
cial shall send the individual a notice of the disposi-
tion of the application. 
‘‘(3) METHOD OF NOTIFICATION.—The appro-
priate State or local election official shall send the 
notices required under this subsection by regular 
mail and— 
‘‘(A) in the case of an individual who has 
provided the official with an electronic mail ad-
dress, by electronic mail; and 
‘‘(B) at the option of an individual, by text 
message. 
‘‘(e) PROVISION
OF SERVICES
IN NONPARTISAN 
MANNER.—The services made available under subsection 
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(a) shall be provided in a manner that ensures that, con-
sistent with section 7(a)(5)— 
‘‘(1) the online application does not seek to in-
fluence an applicant’s political preference or party 
registration; and 
‘‘(2) there is no display on the website pro-
moting any political preference or party allegiance, 
except that nothing in this paragraph may be con-
strued to prohibit an applicant from registering to 
vote as a member of a political party. 
‘‘(f) PROTECTION OF SECURITY OF INFORMATION.— 
In meeting the requirements of this section, the State shall 
establish appropriate technological security measures to 
prevent to the greatest extent practicable any unauthor-
ized access to information provided by individuals using 
the services made available under subsection (a). 
‘‘(g) ACCESSIBILITY OF SERVICES.—A state shall en-
sure that the services made available under this section 
are made available to individuals with disabilities to the 
same extent as services are made available to all other in-
dividuals. 
‘‘(h) USE OF ADDITIONAL TELEPHONE-BASED SYS-
TEM.—A State shall make the services made available on-
line under subsection (a) available through the use of an 
automated telephone-based system, subject to the same 
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terms and conditions applicable under this section to the 
services made available online, in addition to making the 
services available online in accordance with the require-
ments of this section. 
‘‘(i) NONDISCRIMINATION AMONG REGISTERED VOT-
ERS USING MAIL AND ONLINE REGISTRATION.—In car-
rying out this Act, the Help America Vote Act of 2002, 
or any other Federal, State, or local law governing the 
treatment of registered voters in the State or the adminis-
tration of elections for public office in the State, a State 
shall treat a registered voter who registered to vote online 
in accordance with this section in the same manner as the 
State treats a registered voter who registered to vote by 
mail.’’. 
(2) SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS FOR INDIVIDUALS 
USING ONLINE REGISTRATION.— 
(A) TREATMENT
AS
INDIVIDUALS
REG-
ISTERING TO VOTE BY MAIL FOR PURPOSES OF 
FIRST-TIME VOTER IDENTIFICATION REQUIRE-
MENTS.—Section 303(b)(1)(A) of the Help 
America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 
21083(b)(1)(A)) is amended by striking ‘‘by 
mail’’ and inserting ‘‘by mail or online under 
section 6A of the National Voter Registration 
Act of 1993’’. 
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(B) REQUIRING
SIGNATURE
FOR
FIRST- 
TIME
VOTERS
IN
JURISDICTION.—Section 
303(b) of such Act (52 U.S.C. 21083(b)) is 
amended— 
(i) by redesignating paragraph (5) as 
paragraph (6); and 
(ii) by inserting after paragraph (4) 
the following new paragraph: 
‘‘(5) SIGNATURE
REQUIREMENTS
FOR
FIRST- 
TIME VOTERS USING ONLINE REGISTRATION.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—A State shall, in a 
uniform and nondiscriminatory manner, require 
an individual to meet the requirements of sub-
paragraph (B) if— 
‘‘(i) the individual registered to vote 
in the State online under section 6A of the 
National Voter Registration Act of 1993; 
and 
‘‘(ii) the individual has not previously 
voted in an election for Federal office in 
the State. 
‘‘(B) 
REQUIREMENTS.—An 
individual 
meets the requirements of this subparagraph 
if— 
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‘‘(i) in the case of an individual who 
votes in person, the individual provides the 
appropriate State or local election official 
with a handwritten signature; or 
‘‘(ii) in the case of an individual who 
votes by mail, the individual submits with 
the ballot a handwritten signature. 
‘‘(C) 
INAPPLICABILITY.—Subparagraph 
(A) does not apply in the case of an individual 
who is— 
‘‘(i) entitled to vote by absentee ballot 
under the Uniformed and Overseas Citi-
zens Absentee Voting Act (52 U.S.C. 
20302 et seq.); 
‘‘(ii) provided the right to vote other-
wise 
than 
in 
person 
under 
section 
3(b)(2)(B)(ii) of the Voting Accessibility 
for the Elderly and Handicapped Act (52 
U.S.C. 20102(b)(2)(B)(ii)); or 
‘‘(iii) entitled to vote otherwise than 
in person under any other Federal law.’’. 
(C) CONFORMING AMENDMENT RELATING 
TO EFFECTIVE DATE.—Section 303(d)(2)(A) of 
such Act (52 U.S.C. 21083(d)(2)(A)) is amend-
ed by striking ‘‘Each State’’ and inserting ‘‘Ex-
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cept as provided in subsection (b)(5), each 
State’’. 
(3) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 
(A) TIMING
OF
REGISTRATION.—Section 
8(a)(1) of the National Voter Registration Act 
of 1993 (52 U.S.C. 20507(a)(1)) is amended— 
(i) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of 
subparagraph (C); 
(ii) by redesignating subparagraph 
(D) as subparagraph (E); and 
(iii) by inserting after subparagraph 
(C) the following new subparagraph: 
‘‘(D) in the case of online registration 
through the official public website of an election 
official under section 6A, if the valid voter reg-
istration application is submitted online not 
later than the lesser of 28 days, or the period 
provided by State law, before the date of the 
election (as determined by treating the date on 
which the application is sent electronically as 
the date on which it is submitted); and’’. 
(B) INFORMING
APPLICANTS
OF
ELIGI-
BILITY REQUIREMENTS AND PENALTIES.—Sec-
tion 
8(a)(5) 
of 
such 
Act 
(52 
U.S.C. 
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20507(a)(5)) is amended by striking ‘‘and 7’’ 
and inserting ‘‘6A, and 7’’. 
(4) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made 
by this subsection shall take effect on the date that 
is 90 days after the date of the enactment of this 
subsection. 
(b) USE OF INTERNET TO UPDATE REGISTRATION 
INFORMATION.— 
(1) UPDATES TO INFORMATION CONTAINED ON 
COMPUTERIZED
STATEWIDE
VOTER
REGISTRATION 
LIST.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Section 303(a) of the 
Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 
21083(a)) is amended by adding at the end the 
following new paragraph: 
‘‘(6) USE OF INTERNET BY REGISTERED VOT-
ERS TO UPDATE INFORMATION.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The appropriate State 
or local election official shall ensure that any 
registered voter on the computerized list may at 
any time update the voter’s registration infor-
mation, including the voter’s address and elec-
tronic mail address, online through the official 
public website of the election official responsible 
for the maintenance of the list, so long as the 
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voter attests to the contents of the update by 
providing a signature in electronic form in the 
same manner required under section 6A(c) of 
the National Voter Registration Act of 1993. 
‘‘(B) PROCESSING OF UPDATED INFORMA-
TION BY ELECTION OFFICIALS.—If a registered 
voter updates registration information under 
subparagraph (A), the appropriate State or 
local election official shall— 
‘‘(i) revise any information on the 
computerized list to reflect the update 
made by the voter; and 
‘‘(ii) if the updated registration infor-
mation affects the voter’s eligibility to vote 
in an election for Federal office, ensure 
that the information is processed with re-
spect to the election if the voter updates 
the information not later than the lesser of 
7 days, or the period provided by State 
law, before the date of the election. 
‘‘(C) CONFIRMATION AND DISPOSITION.— 
‘‘(i) CONFIRMATION
OF
RECEIPT.— 
Upon the online submission of updated 
registration information by an individual 
under this paragraph, the appropriate 
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State or local election official shall send 
the individual a notice confirming the 
State’s receipt of the updated information 
and providing instructions on how the indi-
vidual may check the status of the update. 
‘‘(ii) NOTICE
OF
DISPOSITION.—Not 
later than 7 days after the appropriate 
State or local election official has accepted 
or rejected updated information submitted 
by an individual under this paragraph, the 
official shall send the individual a notice of 
the disposition of the update. 
‘‘(iii) METHOD
OF
NOTIFICATION.— 
The appropriate State or local election offi-
cial shall send the notices required under 
this subparagraph by regular mail and— 
‘‘(I) in the case of an individual 
who has requested that the State pro-
vide voter registration and voting in-
formation through electronic mail, by 
electronic mail; and 
‘‘(II) at the option of an indi-
vidual, by text message.’’. 
(B) CONFORMING AMENDMENT RELATING 
TO EFFECTIVE DATE.—Section 303(d)(1)(A) of 
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1880 
such Act (52 U.S.C. 21083(d)(1)(A)) is amend-
ed by striking ‘‘subparagraph (B),’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘subparagraph (B) and subsection (a)(6),’’. 
(2) ABILITY OF REGISTRANT TO USE ONLINE 
UPDATE
TO
PROVIDE
INFORMATION
ON
RESI-
DENCE.—Section 8(d)(2)(A) of the National Voter 
Registration 
Act 
of 
1993 
(52 
U.S.C. 
20507(d)(2)(A)) is amended— 
(A) in the first sentence, by inserting after 
‘‘return the card’’ the following: ‘‘or update the 
registrant’s information on the computerized 
Statewide voter registration list using the online 
method provided under section 303(a)(6) of the 
Help America Vote Act of 2002’’; and 
(B) in the second sentence, by striking 
‘‘returned,’’ and inserting the following: ‘‘re-
turned or if the registrant does not update the 
registrant’s information on the computerized 
Statewide voter registration list using such on-
line method,’’. 
(c) SAME DAY REGISTRATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Subtitle C of title III of the 
Help America Vote Act of 2002, as added by section 
160003(a) and as amended by sections 160004(a) 
and 160005(a), is further amended— 
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(A) by redesignating sections 327 and 328 
as sections 328 and 329; and 
(B) by inserting after section 326 the fol-
lowing new section: 
‘‘SEC. 327. SAME DAY REGISTRATION. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.— 
‘‘(1) REGISTRATION.—Each State shall permit 
any eligible individual on the day of a Federal elec-
tion and on any day when voting, including early 
voting, is permitted for a Federal election— 
‘‘(A) to register to vote in such election at 
the polling place using a form that meets the 
requirements under section 9(b) of the National 
Voter Registration Act of 1993 (or, if the indi-
vidual is already registered to vote, to revise 
any of the individual’s voter registration infor-
mation); and 
‘‘(B) to cast a vote in such election. 
‘‘(2) EXCEPTION.—The requirements under 
paragraph (1) shall not apply to a State in which, 
under a State law in effect continuously on and after 
the date of the enactment of this section, there is no 
voter registration requirement for individuals in the 
State with respect to elections for Federal office. 
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‘‘(b) ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUAL.—For purposes of this 
section, the term ‘eligible individual’ means, with respect 
to any election for Federal office, an individual who is oth-
erwise qualified to vote in that election. 
‘‘(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—Each State shall be re-
quired to comply with the requirements of subsection (a) 
for the regularly scheduled general election for Federal of-
fice occurring in November 2020 and for any subsequent 
election for Federal office.’’. 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of con-
tents of such Act, as added by section 160003 and 
as amended by sections 160004 and 160005, is fur-
ther amended— 
(A) by redesignating the items relating to 
sections 327 and 328 as relating to sections 
328 and 329; and 
(B) by inserting after the item relating to 
section 326 the following new item: 
‘‘Sec. 327. Same day registration.’’. 
(d) PROHIBITING STATE FROM REQUIRING APPLI-
CANTS TO PROVIDE MORE THAN LAST 4 DIGITS OF SO-
CIAL SECURITY NUMBER.— 
(1) FORM INCLUDED WITH APPLICATION FOR 
MOTOR
VEHICLE
DRIVER’S
LICENSE.—Section 
5(c)(2)(B)(ii) of the National Voter Registration Act 
of 1993 (52 U.S.C. 20504(c)(2)(B)(ii)) is amended 
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1883 
by striking the semicolon at the end and inserting 
the following: ‘‘, and to the extent that the applica-
tion requires the applicant to provide a Social Secu-
rity number, may not require the applicant to pro-
vide more than the last 4 digits of such number;’’. 
(2) NATIONAL
MAIL
VOTER
REGISTRATION 
FORM.—Section 9(b)(1) of such Act (52 U.S.C. 
20508(b)(1)) is amended by striking the semicolon 
at the end and inserting the following: ‘‘, and to the 
extent that the form requires the applicant to pro-
vide a Social Security number, the form may not re-
quire the applicant to provide more than the last 4 
digits of such number;’’. 
(3) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made 
by this subsection shall apply with respect to the 
regularly scheduled general election for Federal of-
fice held in November 2020 and each succeeding 
election for Federal office. 
SEC. 108. ACCOMMODATIONS FOR VOTERS RESIDING IN IN-
DIAN LANDS. 
(a) ACCOMMODATIONS DESCRIBED.— 
(1) DESIGNATION OF BALLOT PICKUP AND COL-
LECTION LOCATIONS.—Given the widespread lack of 
residential mail delivery in Indian Country, an In-
dian Tribe may designate buildings as ballot pickup 
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and collection locations with respect to an election 
for Federal office at no cost to the Indian Tribe. An 
Indian Tribe may designate one building per pre-
cinct located within Indian lands. The applicable 
State or political subdivision shall collect ballots 
from those locations. The applicable State or polit-
ical subdivision shall provide the Indian Tribe with 
accurate precinct maps for all precincts located with-
in Indian lands 60 days before the election. 
(2) PROVISION
OF
MAIL-IN
AND
ABSENTEE 
BALLOTS.—The State or political subdivision shall 
provide mail-in and absentee ballots with respect to 
an election for Federal office to each individual who 
is registered to vote in the election who resides on 
Indian lands in the State or political subdivision in-
volved without requiring a residential address or a 
mail-in or absentee ballot request. 
(3) USE OF DESIGNATED BUILDING AS RESI-
DENTIAL AND MAILING ADDRESS.—The address of a 
designated building that is a ballot pickup and col-
lection location with respect to an election for Fed-
eral office may serve as the residential address and 
mailing address for voters living on Indian lands if 
the tribally designated building is in the same pre-
cinct as that voter. If there is no tribally designated 
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1885 
building within a voter’s precinct, the voter may use 
another tribally designated building within the In-
dian lands where the voter is located. Voters using 
a tribally designated building outside of the voter’s 
precinct may use the tribally designated building as 
a mailing address and may separately designate the 
voter’s appropriate precinct through a description of 
the 
voter’s 
address, 
as 
specified 
in 
section 
9428.4(a)(2) of title 11, Code of Federal Regula-
tions. 
(4) LANGUAGE ACCESSIBILITY.—In the case of 
a State or political subdivision that is a covered 
State or political subdivision under section 203 of 
the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (52 U.S.C. 10503), 
that State or political subdivision shall provide ab-
sentee or mail-in voting materials with respect to an 
election for Federal office in the language of the ap-
plicable minority group as well as in the English lan-
guage, bilingual election voting assistance, and writ-
ten translations of all voting materials in the lan-
guage of the applicable minority group, as required 
by section 203 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (52 
U.S.C. 10503), as amended by subsection (b). 
(5) CLARIFICATION.—Nothing in this section 
alters the ability of an individual voter residing on 
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1886 
Indian lands to request a ballot in a manner avail-
able to all other voters in the State. 
(6) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(A) ELECTION
FOR
FEDERAL
OFFICE.— 
The term ‘‘election for Federal office’’ means a 
general, special, primary or runoff election for 
the office of President or Vice President, or of 
Senator or Representative in, or Delegate or 
Resident Commissioner to, the Congress. 
(B) INDIAN.—The term ‘‘Indian’’ has the 
meaning given the term in section 4 of the In-
dian Self-Determination and Education Assist-
ance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304). 
(C) INDIAN
LANDS.—The term ‘‘Indian 
lands’’ includes— 
(i) any Indian country of an Indian 
Tribe, as defined under section 1151 of 
title 18, United States Code; 
(ii) any land in Alaska owned, pursu-
ant to the Alaska Native Claims Settle-
ment Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.), by an 
Indian Tribe that is a Native village (as 
defined in section 3 of that Act (43 U.S.C. 
1602)) or by a Village Corporation that is 
associated with an Indian Tribe (as de-
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1887 
fined in section 3 of that Act (43 U.S.C. 
1602)); 
(iii) any land on which the seat of the 
Tribal Government is located; and 
(iv) any land that is part or all of a 
Tribal designated statistical area associ-
ated with an Indian Tribe, or is part or all 
of an Alaska Native village statistical area 
associated with an Indian Tribe, as defined 
by the Census Bureau for the purposes of 
the most recent decennial census. 
(D) INDIAN
TRIBE.—The term ‘‘Indian 
Tribe’’ has the meaning given the term ‘‘Indian 
tribe’’ in section 4 of the Indian Self-Deter-
mination and Education Assistance Act (25 
U.S.C. 5304). 
(E) TRIBAL
GOVERNMENT.—The term 
‘‘Tribal Government’’ means the recognized 
governing body of an Indian Tribe. 
(7) ENFORCEMENT.— 
(A) ATTORNEY GENERAL.—The Attorney 
General may bring a civil action in an appro-
priate district court for such declaratory or in-
junctive relief as is necessary to carry out this 
subsection. 
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(B) PRIVATE RIGHT OF ACTION.— 
(i) A person or Tribal Government 
who is aggrieved by a violation of this sub-
section may provide written notice of the 
violation to the chief election official of the 
State involved. 
(ii) An aggrieved person or Tribal 
Government may bring a civil action in an 
appropriate district court for declaratory 
or injunctive relief with respect to a viola-
tion of this subsection, if— 
(I) that person or Tribal Govern-
ment provides the notice described in 
clause (i); and 
(II)(aa) in the case of a violation 
that occurs more than 120 days be-
fore the date of an election for Fed-
eral office, the violation remains and 
90 days or more have passed since the 
date on which the chief election offi-
cial of the State receives the notice 
under clause (i); or 
(bb) in the case of a violation 
that occurs 120 days or less before 
the date of an election for Federal of-
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1889 
fice, the violation remains and 20 
days or more have passed since the 
date on which the chief election offi-
cial of the State receives the notice 
under clause (i). 
(iii) In the case of a violation of this 
section that occurs 30 days or less before 
the date of an election for Federal office, 
an aggrieved person or Tribal Government 
may bring a civil action in an appropriate 
district court for declaratory or injunctive 
relief with respect to the violation without 
providing notice to the chief election offi-
cial of the State under clause (i). 
(b) BILINGUAL ELECTION REQUIREMENTS.—Section 
203 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (52 U.S.C. 10503) 
is amended— 
(1) in subsection (b)(3)(C), by striking ‘‘1990’’ 
and inserting ‘‘2010’’; and 
(2) by striking subsection (c) and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(c) PROVISION OF VOTING MATERIALS IN THE LAN-
GUAGE OF A MINORITY GROUP.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Whenever any State or po-
litical subdivision subject to the prohibition of sub-
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section (b) of this section provides any registration 
or voting notices, forms, instructions, assistance, or 
other materials or information relating to the elec-
toral process, including ballots, it shall provide them 
in the language of the applicable minority group as 
well as in the English language. 
‘‘(2) EXCEPTIONS.— 
‘‘(A) In the case of a minority group that 
is not American Indian or Alaska Native and 
the language of that minority group is oral or 
unwritten, the State or political subdivision 
shall only be required to furnish, in the covered 
language, oral instructions, assistance, trans-
lation of voting materials, or other information 
relating to registration and voting. 
‘‘(B) In the case of a minority group that 
is American Indian or Alaska Native, the State 
or political subdivision shall only be required to 
furnish in the covered language oral instruc-
tions, assistance, or other information relating 
to registration and voting, including all voting 
materials, if the Tribal Government of that mi-
nority group has certified that the language of 
the applicable American Indian or Alaska Na-
tive language is presently unwritten or the 
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Tribal Government does not want written trans-
lations in the minority language. 
‘‘(3) WRITTEN TRANSLATIONS FOR ELECTION 
WORKERS.—Notwithstanding paragraph (2), the 
State or political division may be required to provide 
written translations of voting materials, with the 
consent of any applicable Indian Tribe, to election 
workers to ensure that the translations from English 
to the language of a minority group are complete, 
accurate, and uniform.’’. 
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section and the amend-
ments made by this section shall apply with respect to the 
regularly scheduled general election for Federal office held 
in November 2020 and each succeeding election for Fed-
eral office. 
SEC. 109. PAYMENTS BY ELECTION ASSISTANCE COMMIS-
SION TO STATES TO ASSIST WITH COSTS OF 
COMPLIANCE. 
(a) AVAILABILITY OF GRANTS.—Subtitle D of title 
II of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 
21001 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing new part: 
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‘‘PART 7—PAYMENTS TO ASSIST WITH COSTS OF 
COMPLIANCE WITH ACCESS ACT 
‘‘SEC. 297. PAYMENTS TO ASSIST WITH COSTS OF COMPLI-
ANCE WITH ACCESS ACT. 
‘‘(a) AVAILABILITY AND USE OF PAYMENTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Commission shall 
make a payment to each eligible State to assist the 
State with the costs of complying with the American 
Coronavirus/COVID–19 Election Safety and Secu-
rity Act and the amendments made by such Act, in-
cluding the provisions of such Act and such amend-
ments which require States to pre-pay the postage 
on absentee ballots and balloting materials. 
‘‘(2) PUBLIC
EDUCATION
CAMPAIGNS.—For 
purposes of this part, the costs incurred by a State 
in carrying out a campaign to educate the public 
about 
the 
requirements 
of 
the 
American 
Coronavirus/COVID–19 Election Safety and Secu-
rity Act and the amendments made by such Act 
shall be included as the costs of complying with such 
Act and such amendments. 
‘‘(b) PRIMARY ELECTIONS.— 
‘‘(1) PAYMENTS
TO
STATES.—In addition to 
any payments under subsection (a), the Commission 
shall make a payment to each eligible State to assist 
the State with the costs incurred in voluntarily elect-
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ing to comply with the American Coronavirus/ 
COVID–19 Election Safety and Security Act and 
the amendments made by such Act with respect to 
primary elections for Federal office held in the State 
in 2020. 
‘‘(2) STATE PARTY-RUN PRIMARIES.—In addi-
tion to any payments under paragraph (1), the Com-
mission shall make payments to each eligible polit-
ical party of the State for costs incurred by such 
parties to send absentee ballots and return envelopes 
with prepaid postage to eligible voters participating 
in such primaries during 2020. 
‘‘(c) PASS-THROUGH OF FUNDS TO LOCAL JURISDIC-
TIONS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—If a State receives a pay-
ment under this part for costs that include costs in-
curred by a local jurisdiction or Tribal government 
within the State, the State shall pass through to 
such local jurisdiction or Tribal government a por-
tion of such payment that is equal to the amount of 
the costs incurred by such local jurisdiction or Trib-
al government. 
‘‘(2) TRIBAL GOVERNMENT DEFINED.—In this 
subsection, the term ‘Tribal Government’ means the 
recognized governing body of an Indian tribe (as de-
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fined in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination 
and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304). 
‘‘(d) SCHEDULE OF PAYMENTS.—As soon as prac-
ticable after the date of the enactment of this part and 
not less frequently than once each calendar year there-
after, the Commission shall make payments under this 
part. 
‘‘(e) COVERAGE OF COMMONWEALTH OF NORTHERN 
MARIANA ISLANDS.—In this part, the term ‘State’ in-
cludes the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Is-
lands. 
‘‘(f) LIMITATION.—No funds may be provided to a 
State under this part for costs attributable to the elec-
tronic return of marked ballots by any voter. 
‘‘SEC. 297A. AMOUNT OF PAYMENT. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The amount of a payment made 
to an eligible State for a year under this part shall be 
determined by the Commission. 
‘‘(b) CONTINUING AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS AFTER 
APPROPRIATION.—A payment made to an eligible State 
or eligible unit of local government under this part shall 
be available without fiscal year limitation. 
‘‘SEC. 297B. REQUIREMENTS FOR ELIGIBILITY. 
‘‘(a) APPLICATION.—Each State that desires to re-
ceive a payment under this part for a fiscal year, and each 
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political party of a State that desires to receive a payment 
under section 297(b)(2), shall submit an application for 
the payment to the Commission at such time and in such 
manner and containing such information as the Commis-
sion shall require. 
‘‘(b) CONTENTS OF APPLICATION.—Each application 
submitted under subsection (a) shall— 
‘‘(1) describe the activities for which assistance 
under this part is sought; and 
‘‘(2) provide such additional information and 
certifications as the Commission determines to be es-
sential to ensure compliance with the requirements 
of this part. 
‘‘SEC. 297C. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
‘‘There are authorized to be appropriated for pay-
ments under this part such sums as may be necessary for 
fiscal year 2021. 
‘‘SEC. 297D. REPORTS. 
‘‘(a) REPORTS BY RECIPIENTS.—Not later than 6 
months after the end of each fiscal year for which an eligi-
ble State received a payment under this part, the State 
shall submit a report to the Commission on the activities 
conducted with the funds provided during the year. 
‘‘(b) REPORTS BY COMMISSION TO COMMITTEES.— 
With respect to each fiscal year for which the Commission 
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makes payments under this part, the Commission shall 
submit a report on the activities carried out under this 
part to the Committee on House Administration of the 
House of Representatives and the Committee on Rules 
and Administration of the Senate.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of contents 
of such Act is amended by adding at the end of the items 
relating to subtitle D of title II the following: 
‘‘PART 7—PAYMENTS TO ASSIST WITH COSTS OF COMPLIANCE WITH 
ACCESS ACT 
‘‘Sec. 297. Payments to assist with costs of compliance with Access Act. 
‘‘Sec. 297A. Amount of payment. 
‘‘Sec. 297B. Requirements for eligibility. 
‘‘Sec. 297C. Authorization of appropriations. 
‘‘Sec. 297D. Reports.’’. 
SEC. 110. GRANTS TO STATES FOR CONDUCTING RISK-LIM-
ITING AUDITS OF RESULTS OF ELECTIONS. 
(a) AVAILABILITY OF GRANTS.—Subtitle D of title 
II of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 
21001 et seq.), as amended by section 160009(a), is fur-
ther amended by adding at the end the following new part: 
‘‘PART 8—GRANTS FOR CONDUCTING RISK- 
LIMITING AUDITS OF RESULTS OF ELECTIONS 
‘‘SEC. 298. GRANTS FOR CONDUCTING RISK-LIMITING AU-
DITS OF RESULTS OF ELECTIONS. 
‘‘(a) AVAILABILITY OF GRANTS.—The Commission 
shall make a grant to each eligible State to conduct risk- 
limiting audits as described in subsection (b) with respect 
to the regularly scheduled general elections for Federal of-
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fice held in November 2020 and each succeeding election 
for Federal office. 
‘‘(b) RISK-LIMITING AUDITS DESCRIBED.—In this 
part, a ‘risk-limiting audit’ is a post-election process— 
‘‘(1) which is conducted in accordance with 
rules and procedures established by the chief State 
election official of the State which meet the require-
ments of subsection (c); and 
‘‘(2) under which, if the reported outcome of 
the election is incorrect, there is at least a predeter-
mined percentage chance that the audit will replace 
the incorrect outcome with the correct outcome as 
determined by a full, hand-to-eye tabulation of all 
votes validly cast in that election that ascertains 
voter intent manually and directly from voter- 
verifiable paper records. 
‘‘(c) REQUIREMENTS
FOR
RULES
AND
PROCE-
DURES.—The rules and procedures established for con-
ducting a risk-limiting audit shall include the following 
elements: 
‘‘(1) Rules for ensuring the security of ballots 
and documenting that prescribed procedures were 
followed. 
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‘‘(2) Rules and procedures for ensuring the ac-
curacy of ballot manifests produced by election agen-
cies. 
‘‘(3) Rules and procedures for governing the 
format of ballot manifests, cast vote records, and 
other data involved in the audit. 
‘‘(4) Methods to ensure that any cast vote 
records used in the audit are those used by the vot-
ing system to tally the election results sent to the 
chief State election official and made public. 
‘‘(5) Procedures for the random selection of 
ballots to be inspected manually during each audit. 
‘‘(6) Rules for the calculations and other meth-
ods to be used in the audit and to determine wheth-
er and when the audit of an election is complete. 
‘‘(7) Procedures and requirements for testing 
any software used to conduct risk-limiting audits. 
‘‘(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this part, the following defi-
nitions apply: 
‘‘(1) The term ‘ballot manifest’ means a record 
maintained by each election agency that meets each 
of the following requirements: 
‘‘(A) The record is created without reliance 
on any part of the voting system used to tab-
ulate votes. 
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‘‘(B) The record functions as a sampling 
frame for conducting a risk-limiting audit. 
‘‘(C) The record contains the following in-
formation with respect to the ballots cast and 
counted in the election: 
‘‘(i) The total number of ballots cast 
and counted by the agency (including 
undervotes, overvotes, and other invalid 
votes). 
‘‘(ii) The total number of ballots cast 
in each election administered by the agency 
(including undervotes, overvotes, and other 
invalid votes). 
‘‘(iii) A precise description of the 
manner in which the ballots are physically 
stored, including the total number of phys-
ical groups of ballots, the numbering sys-
tem for each group, a unique label for each 
group, and the number of ballots in each 
such group. 
‘‘(2) The term ‘incorrect outcome’ means an 
outcome that differs from the outcome that would be 
determined by a full tabulation of all votes validly 
cast in the election, determining voter intent manu-
ally, directly from voter-verifiable paper records. 
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‘‘(3) The term ‘outcome’ means the winner of 
an election, whether a candidate or a position. 
‘‘(4) The term ‘reported outcome’ means the 
outcome of an election which is determined accord-
ing to the canvass and which will become the official, 
certified outcome unless it is revised by an audit, re-
count, or other legal process. 
‘‘SEC. 298A. ELIGIBILITY OF STATES. 
‘‘A State is eligible to receive a grant under this part 
if the State submits to the Commission, at such time and 
in such form as the Commission may require, an applica-
tion containing— 
‘‘(1) a certification that, not later than 5 years 
after receiving the grant, the State will conduct risk- 
limiting audits of the results of elections for Federal 
office held in the State as described in section 298; 
‘‘(2) a certification that, not later than one year 
after the date of the enactment of this section, the 
chief State election official of the State has estab-
lished or will establish the rules and procedures for 
conducting the audits which meet the requirements 
of section 298(c); 
‘‘(3) a certification that the audit shall be com-
pleted not later than the date on which the State 
certifies the results of the election; 
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‘‘(4) a certification that, after completing the 
audit, the State shall publish a report on the results 
of the audit, together with such information as nec-
essary to confirm that the audit was conducted prop-
erly; 
‘‘(5) a certification that, if a risk-limiting audit 
conducted under this part leads to a full manual 
tally of an election, State law requires that the State 
or election agency shall use the results of the full 
manual tally as the official results of the election; 
and 
‘‘(6) such other information and assurances as 
the Commission may require. 
‘‘SEC. 298B. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
‘‘There are authorized to be appropriated for grants 
under this part $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2021, to re-
main available until expended.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of contents 
of such Act, as amended by section 160009(b), is further 
amended by adding at the end of the items relating to 
subtitle D of title II the following: 
‘‘PART 8—GRANTS FOR CONDUCTING RISK-LIMITING AUDITS OF RESULTS 
OF ELECTIONS 
‘‘Sec. 298. Grants for conducting risk-limiting audits of results of elec-
tions. 
‘‘Sec. 298A. Eligibility of States. 
‘‘Sec. 298B. Authorization of appropriations. 
(c) GAO ANALYSIS OF EFFECTS OF AUDITS.— 
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(1) ANALYSIS.—Not later than 6 months after 
the first election for Federal office is held after 
grants are first awarded to States for conducting 
risk-limiting audits under part 8 of subtitle D of 
title II of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (as 
added by subsection (a)) for conducting risk-limiting 
audits of elections for Federal office, the Comp-
troller General of the United States shall conduct an 
analysis of the extent to which such audits have im-
proved the administration of such elections and the 
security of election infrastructure in the States re-
ceiving such grants. 
(2) REPORT.—The Comptroller General of the 
United States shall submit a report on the analysis 
conducted under subsection (a) to the appropriate 
congressional committees. 
SEC. 111. ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE ELEC-
TION ASSISTANCE COMMISSION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—In addition to any funds other-
wise appropriated to the Election Assistance Commission 
for fiscal year 2021, there is authorized to be appropriated 
$3,000,000 for fiscal year 2021 in order for the Commis-
sion to provide additional assistance and resources to 
States for improving the administration of elections. 
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(b) AVAILABILITY
OF
FUNDS.—Amounts appro-
priated pursuant to the authorization under this sub-
section shall remain available without fiscal year limita-
tion. 
SEC. 112. DEFINITION. 
(a) DEFINITION OF ELECTION FOR FEDERAL OF-
FICE .—Title IX of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 
(52 U.S.C. 21141 et seq.) is amended by adding at the 
end the following new section: 
‘‘SEC. 907. ELECTION FOR FEDERAL OFFICE DEFINED. 
‘‘For purposes of titles I through III, the term ‘elec-
tion for Federal office’ means a general, special, primary, 
or runoff election for the office of President or Vice Presi-
dent, or of Senator or Representative in, or Delegate or 
Resident Commissioner to, the Congress.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of contents 
of such Act is amended by adding at the end of the items 
relating to title IX the following new item: 
‘‘Sec. 907. Election for Federal office defined.’’. 
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DIVISION Q—TRANSPORTATION 
AND INFRASTRUCTURE 
TITLE I—AVIATION 
SECTION 101. SHORT TITLE. 
This title may be cited as the ‘‘Payroll Support Pro-
gram Extension Act’’. 
SEC. 102. DEFINITIONS. 
Unless otherwise specified, the definitions in section 
40102(a) of title 49, United States Code, shall apply to 
this title, except that— 
(1) the term ‘‘airline catering employee’’ means 
an employee who performs airline catering services; 
(2) the term ‘‘airline catering services″’’ means 
preparation, assembly, or both, of food, beverages, 
provisions and related supplies for delivery, and the 
delivery of such items, directly to aircraft or to a lo-
cation on or near airport property for subsequent 
delivery to aircraft; 
(3) the term ‘‘contractor’’ means— 
(A) a person that performs, under contract 
with a passenger air carrier conducting oper-
ations under part 121 of title 14, Code of Fed-
eral Regulations— 
(i) catering functions; or 
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(ii) functions on the property of an 
airport that are directly related to the air 
transportation of persons, property, or 
mail, including but not limited to the load-
ing and unloading of property on aircraft; 
assistance to passengers under part 382 of 
title 14, Code of Federal Regulations; se-
curity; airport ticketing and check-in func-
tions; ground-handling of aircraft; or air-
craft cleaning and sanitization functions 
and waste removal; or 
(B) a subcontractor that performs such 
functions; 
(4) the term ‘‘employee’’ means an individual, 
other than a corporate officer, who is employed by 
an air carrier or a contractor; and 
(5) the term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary 
of the Treasury. 
SEC. 103. PANDEMIC RELIEF FOR AVIATION WORKERS. 
(a) FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR EMPLOYEE WAGES, 
SALARIES, AND BENEFITS.—Notwithstanding any other 
provision of law, to preserve aviation jobs and compensate 
air carrier industry workers, the Secretary shall provide 
financial assistance that shall exclusively be used for the 
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continuation of payment of employee wages, salaries, and 
benefits to— 
(1) passenger air carriers, in an aggregate 
amount up to $25,000,000,000; 
(2) cargo air carriers, in an aggregate amount 
up to $300,000,000; and 
(3) contractors, in an aggregate amount up to 
$3,000,000,000. 
(b) ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES.—Notwithstanding 
any other provision of law, the Secretary may use funds 
made available under section 4112(b) of the CARES Act 
(15 U.S.C. 9072(b)) for costs and administrative expenses 
associated with providing financial assistance under this 
title. 
SEC. 104. PROCEDURES FOR PROVIDING PAYROLL SUP-
PORT. 
(a) AWARDABLE AMOUNTS.—The Secretary shall 
provide financial assistance under this title— 
(1) to an air carrier required to file reports pur-
suant to part 241 of title 14, Code of Federal Regu-
lations, as of March 27, 2020, in an amount equal 
to— 
(A) the amount such air carrier received 
under section 4113 of the CARES Act (15 
U.S.C. 9073); or 
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(B) at the request of such air carrier, or 
in the event such an air carrier did not receive 
assistance under section 4113 of the CARES 
Act (15 U.S.C. 9073), the amount of the sala-
ries and benefits reported by the air carrier to 
the Department of Transportation pursuant to 
such part 241, for the period from October 1, 
2019, through March 31, 2020; 
(2) to an air carrier that did not transmit re-
ports under such part 241, as of March 27, 2020, 
in an amount equal to— 
(A) the amount such air carrier received 
under section 4113 of the CARES Act (15 
U.S.C. 9073), plus an additional 15 percent of 
such amount; or 
(B) at the request of such air carrier, or 
in the event such an air carrier did not receive 
assistance under section 4113 of the CARES 
Act (15 U.S.C. 9073), an amount that such an 
air carrier certifies, using sworn financial state-
ments or other appropriate data, as the amount 
of total salaries and related fringe benefits that 
such air carrier incurred and would be required 
to be reported to the Department of Transpor-
tation pursuant to such part 241, if the air car-
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rier were required to transmit such information 
during the period from October 1, 2019, 
through March 31, 2020; and 
(3) to a contractor in an amount equal to— 
(A) the amount such contractor received 
under section 4113 of the CARES Act (15 
U.S.C. 9073); or 
(B) or in the event such contractor did not 
receive assistance under section 4113 of the 
CARES Act (15 U.S.C. 9073), an amount that 
the contractor certifies, using sworn financial 
statements or other appropriate data, as the 
amount of wages, salaries, benefits, and other 
compensation that such contractor paid the em-
ployees of such contractor during the period 
from October 1, 2019, through March 31, 
2020. 
(b) DEADLINES AND PROCEDURES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.— 
(A) FORMS; TERMS AND CONDITIONS.—Fi-
nancial assistance provided to an air carrier or 
contractor under this title shall— 
(i) be in such form, on such terms 
and conditions (including requirements for 
audits and the clawback of any financial 
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assistance provided upon failure by a pas-
senger air carrier, cargo air carrier, or con-
tractor to honor the assurances specified in 
section 105 of this division), as agreed to 
by the Secretary and the recipient for as-
sistance received under section 4113 of the 
CARES Act (15 U.S.C. 9073), except 
where inconsistent with this title; or 
(ii) in the event such an air carrier or 
contractor did not receive assistance under 
section 4113 of the CARES Act (15 
U.S.C. 9073), be in such form, on such 
terms and conditions (including require-
ments for audits and the clawback of any 
financial assistance provided upon failure 
by a passenger air carrier, cargo air car-
rier, or contractor to honor the assurances 
specified in section 105 of this division), as 
the Secretary determines appropriate. 
(B) PROCEDURES.—The Secretary shall 
publish streamlined and expedited procedures 
not later than 5 days after the date of enact-
ment of this title for air carriers and contrac-
tors to submit requests for financial assistance 
under this title. 
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(2) DEADLINE FOR IMMEDIATE PAYROLL AS-
SISTANCE.—Not later than 10 days after the date of 
enactment of this title, the Secretary shall make ini-
tial payments to air carriers and contractors that 
submit requests for financial assistance approved by 
to the Secretary. 
(d) PRO RATA REDUCTIONS.—The amounts under 
subsections (a)(1)(B) and (a)(2)(B) shall, to the max-
imum extent practicable, be subject to the same pro rata 
reduction applied by the Secretary to air carriers or con-
tractors, as applicable, that received assistance under sec-
tion 4113 of the CARES Act (15 U.S.C. 9073). 
(e) AUDITS.—The Inspector General of the Depart-
ment of the Treasury shall audit certifications made under 
subsection (a). 
SEC. 105. REQUIRED ASSURANCES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—To be eligible for financial assist-
ance under this title, an air carrier or contractor shall 
enter into an agreement with the Secretary, or otherwise 
certify in such form and manner as the Secretary shall 
prescribe, that the air carrier or contractor shall— 
(1) refrain from conducting involuntary fur-
loughs or reducing pay rates and benefits until— 
(A) with respect to air carriers, March 31, 
2021; or 
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(B) with respect to contractors, March 31, 
2021, or the date on which the contractor ex-
hausts such financial assistance, whichever is 
later; 
(2) ensure that neither the air carrier or con-
tractor nor any affiliate of the air carrier or con-
tractor may, in any transaction, purchase an equity 
security of the air carrier or contractor or the parent 
company of the air carrier or contractor that is list-
ed on a national securities exchange through— 
(A) with respect to air carriers, March 31, 
2022; or 
(B) with respect to contractors, March 31, 
2022, or the date on which the contractor ex-
hausts such financial assistance, whichever is 
later; 
(3) ensure that the air carrier or contractor 
shall not pay dividends, or make other capital dis-
tributions, with respect to common stock (or equiva-
lent interest) of the air carrier or contractor 
through— 
(A) with respect to air carriers, March 31, 
2022; or 
(B) with respect to contractors, March 31, 
2022, or the date on which the contractor ex-
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hausts such financial assistance, whichever is 
later; 
(4) meet the requirements of sections 106 and 
107 of this division; and 
(5) affirm that the air carrier or contractor has 
not conducted involuntary furloughs or reduced pay 
rates and benefits between— 
(A) the date the air carrier or contractor 
entered into an agreement with the Secretary 
for loans, loan guarantees, other investments, 
or financial assistance under title IV of the 
CARES Act (Public Law 116–136) and the 
date the air carrier or contractor enters into an 
agreement with the Secretary for financial as-
sistance under this title; or 
(B) in the case of an air carrier or con-
tractor that did not receive loans, loan guaran-
tees, other investments, or financial assistance 
under title IV of the CARES Act, the date of 
enactment of this title and the date the air car-
rier or contractor enters into an agreement with 
the Secretary for funding under this title. 
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SEC. 
106. 
PROTECTION 
OF 
COLLECTIVE 
BARGAINING 
AGREEMENTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Neither the Secretary, nor any 
other actor, department, or agency of the Federal Govern-
ment, shall condition the issuance of financial assistance 
under this title on an air carrier’s or contractor’s imple-
mentation of measures to enter into negotiations with the 
certified bargaining representative of a craft or class of 
employees of the air carrier or contractor under the Rail-
way Labor Act (45 U.S.C. 151 et seq.) or the National 
Labor Relations Act (29 U.S.C. 151 et seq.), regarding 
pay or other terms and conditions of employment. 
(b) AIR CARRIER PERIOD OF EFFECT.—With respect 
to any air carrier to which financial assistance is provided 
under this title, this section shall be in effect with respect 
to the air carrier beginning on the date on which the air 
carrier is first issued such financial assistance and ending 
on March 31, 2021. 
(c) CONTRACTOR PERIOD OF EFFECT.—With respect 
to any contractor to which financial assistance is provided 
under this title, this section shall be in effect with respect 
to contractor beginning on the date on which the con-
tractor is first issued such financial assistance and ending 
on March 31, 2021, or until the date on which all funds 
are expended, whichever is later. 
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SEC. 107. LIMITATION ON CERTAIN EMPLOYEE COMPENSA-
TION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may only provide 
financial assistance under this title to an air carrier or 
contractor after such carrier or contractor enters into an 
agreement with the Secretary which provides that, during 
the 2-year period beginning October 1, 2020, and ending 
October 1, 2022, no officer or employee of the air carrier 
or 
contractor 
whose 
total 
compensation 
exceeded 
$425,000 in calendar year 2019 (other than an employee 
whose compensation is determined through an existing col-
lective bargaining agreement entered into prior to enact-
ment of this title)— 
(1) will receive from the air carrier or con-
tractor total compensation which exceeds, during 
any 12 consecutive months of such 2-year period, 
the total compensation received by the officer or em-
ployee from the air carrier or contractor in calendar 
year 2019; 
(2) will receive from the air carrier or con-
tractor severance pay or other benefits upon termi-
nation of employment with the air carrier or con-
tractor which exceeds twice the maximum total com-
pensation received by the officer or employee from 
the air carrier or contractor in calendar year 2019; 
and 
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(3) no officer or employee of the air carrier or 
contractor 
whose 
total 
compensation 
exceeded 
$3,000,000 in calendar year 2019 may receive dur-
ing any 12 consecutive months of such period total 
compensation in excess of the sum of— 
(A) $3,000,000; and 
(B) 50 percent of the excess over 
$3,000,000 of the total compensation received 
by the officer or employee from the air carrier 
or contractor in calendar year 2019. 
(b) TOTAL COMPENSATION DEFINED.—In this sec-
tion, the term ‘‘total compensation’’ includes salary, bo-
nuses, awards of stock, and other financial benefits pro-
vided by an air carrier or contractor to an officer or em-
ployee of the air carrier or contractor. 
SEC. 108. MINIMUM AIR SERVICE GUARANTEES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Transportation 
is authorized to require, to the extent reasonable and prac-
ticable, an air carrier provided financial assistance under 
this title to maintain scheduled air transportation, as the 
Secretary of Transportation determines necessary, to en-
sure services to any point served by that air carrier before 
March 1, 2020, continues to receive a basic level of air 
service. 
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(b) REQUIRED CONSIDERATIONS.—When considering 
whether to exercise the authority provided by this section, 
the Secretary of Transportation shall take into consider-
ation the air transportation needs of small and remote 
communities, the need to maintain well-functioning health 
care supply chains, including medical devices and supplies, 
and pharmaceutical supply chains, and such other matters 
as the public interest requires. 
(c) SUNSET.—The authority provided under this sec-
tion shall terminate on September 1, 2022, and any re-
quirements issued by the Secretary of Transportation 
under this section shall cease to apply after that date. 
SEC. 109. TAX PAYER PROTECTION. 
(a) CARES ACT ASSISTANCE RECIPIENTS.—With re-
spect to a recipient of assistance under section 4113 of 
the CARES Act (15 U.S.C. 9073) that receives assistance 
under this title, the Secretary may receive warrants, op-
tions, preferred stock, debt securities, notes, or other fi-
nancial instruments issued by such recipient in the same 
form and amount, and under the same terms and condi-
tions, as agreed to by the Secretary and the recipient for 
assistance received under such section 4113 to provide ap-
propriate compensation to the Federal Government for the 
provision of the financial assistance under this title. 
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(b) OTHER APPLICANTS.—With respect to an appli-
cant that did not receive assistance under such section 
4113, the Secretary may receive warrants, options, pre-
ferred stock, debt securities, notes, or other financial in-
struments issued by an applicant that receives assistance 
under this title in a form and amount that are, to the 
maximum extent practicable, the same as the terms and 
conditions as agreed to by the Secretary and similarly situ-
ated recipients of assistance under such section 4113 to 
provide appropriate compensation to the Federal Govern-
ment for the provision of the financial assistance under 
this title. 
SEC. 110. REPORTS. 
(a) REPORT.—Not later than May 1, 2021, the Sec-
retary shall update and submit to the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure and the Committee on 
Financial Services of the House of Representatives and 
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 
and the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Af-
fairs of the Senate a report on the financial assistance 
provided to air carriers and contractors under this title, 
which includes— 
(1) a description of any financial assistance 
provided to air carrier and contractors under this 
title; 
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(2) any audits of air carriers or contractors re-
ceiving financial assistance under this title; 
(3) any reports filed by air carriers or contrac-
tors receiving financial assistance under this title; 
(4) any non-compliances by air carriers or con-
tractors receiving financial assistance under this title 
with the terms and conditions of this title or agree-
ments entered into with the Secretary to receive 
such financial assistance; and 
(5) information relating to any clawback of any 
financial assistance provided to air carriers or con-
tractors under this title. 
(b) INTERNET UPDATES.—The Secretary shall up-
date the website of the Department of the Treasury on 
a daily basis as necessary to reflect new or revised dis-
tributions of financial assistance under this title with re-
spect to each air carrier or contractor that receives such 
assistance, the identification of any applicant that applied 
for financial assistance under this title, and the date of 
application. 
(c) SUPPLEMENTAL UPDATE.—Not later than the 
last day of the 1-year period following the date of enact-
ment of this title, the Secretary shall update and submit 
to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
and the Committee on Financial Services of the House of 
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Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation and the Committee on Bank-
ing, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate, the report 
submitted under subsection (a). 
SEC. 111. COORDINATION. 
In implementing this title, the Secretary shall coordi-
nate with the Secretary of Transportation. 
SEC. 112. DIRECT APPROPRIATION. 
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, there is 
appropriated, out of amounts in the Treasury not other-
wise appropriated, $28,300,000,000 to carry out this title. 
SEC. 113. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS AND CLARIFICATION. 
(a) Section 4003(c)(1)(B) of the CARES Act (15 
U.S.C. 9042(c)(1)(B)) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘As soon’’ and inserting the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—Subject to clause 
(ii), as soon’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(ii) REQUIREMENT.—The procedures 
and any related guidance issued under 
clause (i) shall not prohibit any air carrier 
from applying for or receiving a loan or 
loan guarantee under paragraph (1), (2), 
or (3) of subsection (b) based on the 
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amount of the loan or loan guarantee re-
quested.’’; and 
(b) Section 4113(c) of the CARES Act (15 U.S.C. 
9073(c)) is amended by striking ‘‘ section 4112’’ and in-
serting ‘‘subsection (a)’’. 
(c) Section 4114 of the CARES Act (15 U.S.C. 9074) 
is amended by adding at the end the following new sub-
sections: 
‘‘(c) CONTINUED APPLICATION.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—If, after September 30, 
2020, a contractor expends funds made available 
pursuant to section 4112 and distributed pursuant 
to section 4113, the assurances under this section 
shall continue to apply until all funds are expended, 
notwithstanding the time limits included in para-
graphs (1) through (3) of subsection (a), or section 
4115 or 4116. 
‘‘(2) SPECIAL RULE.—Not later than January 
5, 2021, each contractor that has received funds 
pursuant to such section 4112 shall report to the 
Secretary on the amount of such funds that the con-
tractor has expended through December 31, 2020. If 
the contractor has expended an amount that is less 
than 50 percent of the total amount of funds the 
contractor received under such section, the Secretary 
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shall initiate an action to recover any funds that re-
main unexpended as of January 31, 2021. 
‘‘(d) CLAWBACK OF ASSISTANCE.—Any contractor 
that conducted involuntary furloughs or reduced pay rates 
and benefits, between March 27, 2020, and the date on 
which the contractor entered into an agreement with the 
Secretary related to financial assistance under this sub-
title, shall attempt in good faith to rehire employees who 
were involuntary furloughed, or the Secretary shall claw 
back such financial assistance, as necessary.’’. 
SEC. 114. NATIONAL AVIATION PREPAREDNESS PLAN. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of this section, the Secretary of Trans-
portation, in coordination with the Secretary of Health 
and Human Services, the Secretary of Homeland Security, 
and the heads of such other Federal departments or agen-
cies as the Secretary considers appropriate, shall develop 
and regularly update a national aviation preparedness 
plan to ensure the aviation system is prepared to respond 
to epidemics and pandemics of infectious diseases. 
(b) CONTENTS OF PLAN.—A plan developed under 
subsection (a) shall, at a minimum— 
(1) provide airports and air carriers with an 
adaptable and scalable framework with which to 
align the individual plans of such airports and air 
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carriers and provide appropriate guidance as to each 
individual plan; 
(2) improve coordination among airports, air 
carriers, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, other 
appropriate Federal entities, and State and local 
governments or health agencies on developing poli-
cies that increase the effectiveness of screening, 
quarantining, and contact-tracing with respect to in-
bound international passengers; 
(3) ensure that at-risk employees are equipped 
with appropriate personal protective equipment to 
reduce the likelihood of exposure to pathogens in the 
event of a pandemic; 
(4) ensure aircraft and enclosed facilities 
owned, operated, or used by an air carrier or airport 
are cleaned, disinfected, and sanitized frequently in 
accordance with Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention guidance; and 
(5) incorporate all elements referenced in the 
recommendation of the Comptroller General of the 
United States to the Secretary of Transportation 
contained in the report titled ‘‘Air Travel and Com-
municable Diseases: Comprehensive Federal Plan 
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Needed for U.S. Aviation System’s Preparedness’’ 
issued in December 2015 (GAO–16–127). 
(c) CONSULTATION.—When developing a plan under 
subsection (a), the Secretary of Transportation shall con-
sult with aviation industry and labor stakeholders, includ-
ing representatives of— 
(1) air carriers; 
(2) small, medium, and large hub airports; 
(3) labor organizations that represent airline pi-
lots, flight attendants, air carrier airport customer 
service representatives, and air carrier maintenance, 
repair, and overhaul workers; 
(4) the labor organization certified under sec-
tion 7111 of title 5, United States Code, as the ex-
clusive bargaining representative of air traffic con-
trollers of the Federal Aviation Administration; 
(5) the labor organization certified under such 
section as the exclusive bargaining representative of 
airway transportation systems specialists and avia-
tion safety inspectors of the Federal Aviation Ad-
ministration; and 
(6) such other stakeholders as the Secretary 
considers appropriate. 
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(d) REPORT.—Not later than 30 days after the plan 
is developed under subsection (a), the Secretary shall sub-
mit to the appropriate committees of Congress such plan. 
(e) DEFINITION OF AT-RISK EMPLOYEES.—In this 
section, the term ‘‘at-risk employees’’ means— 
(1) individuals whose job duties require inter-
action with air carrier passengers on a regular and 
continuing basis that are employees of— 
(A) air carriers; 
(B) air carrier contractors; 
(C) airports; and 
(D) Federal departments or agencies; and 
(2) air traffic controllers and systems safety 
specialists of the Federal Aviation Administration. 
TITLE II—FEDERAL EMERGENCY 
MANAGEMENT AGENCY 
SEC. 201. COST SHARE. 
(a) 
TEMPORARY
FEDERAL
SHARE.—Notwith-
standing sections 403(b), 403(c)(4), 404(a), 406(b), 
408(d), 408(g)(2), 428(e)(2)(B), and 503(a) of the Robert 
T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act 
(42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.), for any emergency or major dis-
aster declared by the President under such Act during the 
period beginning on January 1, 2020 and ending on De-
cember 31, 2020, the Federal share of assistance provided 
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under such sections shall be not less than 90 percent of 
the eligible cost of such assistance. 
(b) COST SHARE UNDER COVID EMERGENCY DEC-
LARATION.—Notwithstanding subsection (a), assistance 
provided under the emergency declaration issued by the 
President on March 13, 2020, pursuant to section 501(b) 
of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5191(b)), and under any subse-
quent major disaster declaration under section 401 of such 
Act (42 U.S.C. 5170) that supersedes such emergency 
declaration, shall be at a 100 percent Federal cost share. 
SEC. 202. CLARIFICATION OF ASSISTANCE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—For the emergency declared on 
March 13, 2020 by the President under section 501 of 
the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency As-
sistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5191), the President may provide 
assistance for activities, costs, and purchases of States, 
Indian tribal governments, or local governments, includ-
ing— 
(1) activities eligible for assistance under sec-
tions 301, 415, 416, and 426 of the Robert T. Staf-
ford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act 
(42 U.S.C. 5141, 5182, 5183, 5189d); 
(2) backfill costs for first responders and other 
essential employees who are ill or quarantined; 
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(3) increased operating costs for essential gov-
ernment services due to such emergency, including 
costs for implementing continuity plans, and shel-
tering or housing for first responders, emergency 
managers, health providers and other essential em-
ployees; 
(4) costs of providing guidance and information 
to the public and for call centers to disseminate such 
guidance and information, including private non-
profit organizations; 
(5) costs associated with establishing and oper-
ating virtual services; 
(6) costs for establishing and operating remote 
test sites, including comprehensive community based 
testing; 
(7) training provided specifically in anticipation 
of or in response to the event on which such emer-
gency declaration is predicated; 
(8) personal protective equipment and other 
critical supplies and services for first responders and 
other essential employees, including individuals 
working in public schools, courthouses, and public 
transit systems; 
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(9) medical equipment, regardless of whether 
such equipment is used for emergency or inpatient 
care; 
(10) public health costs, including provision and 
distribution of medicine and medical supplies; 
(11) costs associated with maintaining alternate 
care facilities or related facilities currently inactive 
but related to future needs tied to the ongoing pan-
demic event; 
(12) costs of establishing and operating shelters 
and providing services, including transportation, that 
help alleviate the need of individuals for shelter; and 
(13) costs, including costs incurred by private 
nonprofit organizations, of procuring and distrib-
uting food to individuals affected by the pandemic 
through networks established by State, local, or 
Tribal governments, or other organizations, includ-
ing restaurants and farms, and for the purchase of 
food directly from food producers and farmers. 
(b) APPLICATION
TO SUBSEQUENT MAJOR DIS-
ASTER.—The activities described in subsection (a) may 
also be eligible for assistance under any major disaster de-
clared by the President under section 401 of such Act (42 
U.S.C. 5170) that supersedes the emergency declaration 
described in such subsection. 
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(c) FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
FOR FUNERAL EX-
PENSES.—For any emergency or major disaster described 
in subsection (a) or (b), the President shall provide finan-
cial assistance to an individual or household to meet dis-
aster-related funeral expenses under section 408(e)(1) of 
such Act (42 U.S.C. 5174(e)). 
(d) ADVANCED ASSISTANCE.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—In order to facilitate activities 
under this section, the President, acting through the Ad-
ministrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agen-
cy, may provide assistance in advance to an eligible appli-
cant if a failure to do so would prevent the applicant from 
carrying out such activities. 
(2) ANNUAL REPORT.—The Administrator shall sub-
mit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastruc-
ture of the House of Representatives and the Committee 
on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the 
Senate a report on assistance provided in advance pursu-
ant to paragraph (1). 
(e) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this sec-
tion shall be construed to make ineligible any assistance 
that would otherwise be eligible under section 403, 408, 
or 502 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 5170b, 5192). 
(f) STATE; INDIAN TRIBAL GOVERNMENT; LOCAL 
GOVERNMENT DEFINED.—In this section, the terms 
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‘‘State’’, ‘‘Indian tribal government’’, and ‘‘local govern-
ment’’ have the meanings given such terms in section 102 
of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5122). 
SEC. 203. HAZARD MITIGATION APPROVAL. 
For all States or Indian tribal governments, as such 
terms are defined in section 102 of the Robert T. Stafford 
Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 
5122), receiving an emergency declaration on March 13, 
2020 by the President under section 501 of the Robert 
T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act 
(42 U.S.C. 5191), and a major disaster declared by the 
President under section 401 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 5170) 
that supersedes such emergency declaration, the President 
shall approve the availability of hazard mitigation assist-
ance pursuant to section 404 of the Robert T. Stafford 
Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 
5170c) as part of such major disaster declarations, if re-
quested, and the President may contribute up to 100 per-
cent of hazard mitigation measures authorized under sec-
tion 404(a) of such Act. 
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TITLE III—OTHER MATTERS 
SEC. 301. REQUIREMENTS FOR OWNERS AND OPERATORS 
OF EQUIPMENT OR FACILITIES USED BY PAS-
SENGER OR FREIGHT TRANSPORTATION EM-
PLOYERS. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) AT-RISK
EMPLOYEE.—The term ‘‘at-risk 
employee’’ means an employee (including a Federal 
employee) or contractor of a passenger or freight 
transportation employer— 
(A) whose job responsibilities involve inter-
action with— 
(i) passengers; 
(ii) the public; or 
(iii) coworkers who interact with the 
public; 
(B) who handles items which are handled 
or will be handled by the public; or 
(C) who works in locations where social 
distancing and other preventative measures 
with respect to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 
(COVID–19) are not possible. 
(2) PASSENGER OR FREIGHT TRANSPORTATION 
EMPLOYER.—The term ‘‘passenger or freight trans-
portation employer’’ includes— 
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(A) the owner, charterer, managing oper-
ator, master, or other individual in charge of a 
passenger vessel (as defined in section 2101 of 
title 46, United States Code); 
(B) an air carrier (as defined in section 
40102 of title 49, United States Code); 
(C) a commuter authority (as defined in 
section 24102 of title 49, United State Code); 
(D) an entity that provides intercity rail 
passenger transportation (as defined in section 
24102 of title 49, United States Code); 
(E) a rail carrier (as defined in section 
10102 of title 49, United States Code); 
(F) a regional transportation authority (as 
defined in section 24102 of title 49, United 
States Code); 
(G) a provider of public transportation (as 
defined in section 5302 of title 49, United 
States Code); 
(H) a provider of motorcoach services (as 
defined in section 32702 of the Motorcoach En-
hanced Safety Act of 2012 (49 U.S.C. 31136 
note; Public Law 112–141)); 
(I) a motor carrier that owns or operates 
more than 100 motor vehicles (as those terms 
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1932 
are defined in section 390.5 of title 49, Code of 
Federal Regulations (or successor regulations)); 
(J) a sponsor, owner, or operator of a pub-
lic-use airport (as defined in section 47102 of 
title 49, United States Code); 
(K) a marine terminal operator (as defined 
in section 40102 of title 46, United States 
Code) and the relevant authority or operator of 
a port or harbor; 
(L) the Transportation Security Adminis-
tration, exclusively with respect to Transpor-
tation Security Officers; and 
(M) a marine terminal operator (as defined 
in section 40102 of title 46, United States 
Code) and the relevant authority or operator of 
a port or harbor, or any other employer of indi-
viduals covered under section 2(3) of the 
Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation 
Act (33 U.S.C. 902(3)). 
(b) REQUIREMENTS.—For the purposes of respond-
ing to, or for purposes relating to operations during the 
national emergency declared by the President under the 
National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.) re-
lated to the pandemic of SARS–4CoV–2 or coronavirus 
disease 2019 (COVID–19), the Secretary shall require— 
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1933 
(1) the owners or operators of equipment, sta-
tions, or facilities used by passenger or freight 
transportation employers, as applicable— 
(A) to clean, disinfect, and sanitize, in ac-
cordance with guidance issued by the Centers 
for Disease Control and Prevention or the safe-
ty alert for operators issued by the Federal 
Aviation Administration on May 11, 2020, 
numbered SAFO 20009 (including any similar 
successor safety alert or applicable guidance), 
the equipment and facilities, including, as appli-
cable— 
(i) buses and transit vehicles; 
(ii) commercial motor vehicles; 
(iii) freight and passenger rail loco-
motives; 
(iv) freight and passenger rail cars; 
(v) vessels; 
(vi) airports; 
(vii) fleet vehicles used for the trans-
portation of workers to job sites; 
(viii) aircraft, including the cockpit 
and the cabin; and 
(ix) other equipment and facilities; 
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1934 
(B) to ensure that stations and facilities, 
including enclosed facilities, owned, operated, 
and used by passenger or freight transportation 
employers, including facilities used for employee 
training or the performance of indoor or out-
door maintenance, repair, or overhaul work, are 
disinfected and sanitized frequently in accord-
ance with guidance issued by the Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention or the safety 
alert for operators issued by the Federal Avia-
tion Administration on May 11, 2020, num-
bered SAFO 20009 (including any similar suc-
cessor safety alert or applicable guidance); 
(C) to provide to at-risk employees— 
(i) masks or protective face coverings; 
(ii) gloves; 
(iii) hand sanitizer; 
(iv) sanitizing wipes with sufficient al-
cohol content; and 
(v) training on the proper use of per-
sonal protective equipment and sanitizing 
equipment; 
(D) to ensure that employees whose job re-
sponsibilities include the cleaning, disinfecting, 
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1935 
or sanitizing described in subparagraph (A) or 
(B) are provided— 
(i) masks or protective face coverings; 
(ii) gloves; 
(iii) hand sanitizer; and 
(iv) sanitizing wipes with sufficient al-
cohol content; 
(E) to establish guidelines, or adhere to 
any existing applicable guidelines, including the 
safety alert for operators issued by the Federal 
Aviation Administration on May 11, 2020, 
numbered SAFO 20009 (including any similar 
successor safety alert or applicable guidance), 
for notifying an employee of the owner or oper-
ator 
of 
a 
confirmed 
diagnosis 
of 
the 
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID–19) with 
respect to any other employee of the owner or 
operator with whom the notified employee had 
physical contact or a physical interaction during 
the 48-hour period preceding the time at which 
the diagnosed employee developed symptoms; 
(F) to require the wearing of masks or 
protective face coverings, subject to the require-
ments of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 
1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.), section 41705 
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1936 
of title 49, United States Code, (commonly 
known as the ‘‘Air Carrier Access Act of 
1986’’), and section 501 of the Rehabilitation 
Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 791), as applicable, 
by— 
(i) passengers traveling on transpor-
tation provided by a passenger or freight 
transportation employer; and 
(ii) employees of passenger or freight 
transportation employers when— 
(I) interacting with passengers, 
the public, or coworkers who interact 
with the public; or 
(II) working in locations where 
social distancing and other preventa-
tive measures with respect to the 
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID– 
19) are not possible; 
(G) to require each flight crew member to 
wear a mask or protective face covering while 
on board an aircraft and outside the flight 
deck; and 
(H) ensure that each contractor of an 
owner or operator identified under this para-
graph provides masks or protective face cov-
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1937 
erings, gloves, hand sanitizer, and sanitizing 
wipes with sufficient alcohol content, to employ-
ees of such contractor whose job responsibilities 
include the cleaning, disinfecting, or sanitizing 
described in subparagraph (A) or (B); and 
(2) an air carrier to submit to the Adminis-
trator of the Federal Aviation Administration a pro-
posal to permit flight crew members to wear masks 
or protective face coverings in the flight deck, in-
cluding a safety risk assessment with respect to that 
proposal. 
(c) 
MARKET
UNAVAILABILITY
OF
NECESSARY 
ITEMS.— 
(1) NOTICE OF MARKET UNAVAILABILITY.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—If an owner or operator 
described in paragraph (1) of subsection (b) is 
unable to acquire 1 or more items necessary to 
comply with the requirements prescribed under 
that paragraph due to market unavailability of 
the items, the owner or operator shall— 
(i) not later than 7 days after the 
date on which the owner or operator is un-
able to acquire each applicable item, sub-
mit to the Secretary a written notice ex-
plaining the efforts made and obstacles 
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1938 
faced by the owner or operator to acquire 
that item; and 
(ii) continue making efforts to acquire 
that item until the item is acquired. 
(B) UPDATED NOTICE WITH RESPECT TO 
THE SAME ITEM.—If an owner or operator is 
unable to acquire an item described in a notice 
submitted under subparagraph (A) by the date 
described in paragraph (4)(B)(ii) with respect 
to the notice, the owner or operator may submit 
an updated notice with respect to that item. 
(2) REASONABLE EFFORT DETERMINATION.— 
With respect to each notice submitted under para-
graph (1), the Secretary shall determine whether the 
owner or operator submitting the notice has made 
reasonable efforts to acquire the item described in 
the notice. 
(3) NOTICE OF COMPLIANCE.—Not later than 7 
days after the date on which an owner or operator 
acquires an item described in a notice submitted by 
that owner or operator under paragraph (1) in a 
quantity sufficient to comply with the requirements 
prescribed under subsection (b)(1), the owner or op-
erator shall submit to the Secretary a written notice 
of compliance with those requirements. 
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1939 
(4) LISTS OF OWNERS AND OPERATORS MAKING 
REASONABLE EFFORTS TO ACQUIRE UNAVAILABLE 
ITEMS.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary shall 
publish on a public website of the Department 
of Transportation a list that, with respect to 
each notice submitted to the Secretary under 
paragraph (1) for which the Secretary has 
made a positive determination under paragraph 
(2)— 
(i) identifies the owner or operator 
that submitted the notice; 
(ii) identifies the item that the owner 
or operator was unable to acquire; and 
(iii) describes the reasonable efforts 
made by the owner or operator to acquire 
that item. 
(B) REMOVAL FROM LIST.—The Secretary 
shall remove each entry on the list described in 
subparagraph (A) on the earlier of— 
(i) the date on which the applicable 
owner or operator submits to the Secretary 
a notice of compliance under paragraph (3) 
with respect to the item that is the subject 
of the entry; and 
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1940 
(ii) the date that is 90 days after the 
date on which the entry was added to the 
list. 
(d) PROTECTION OF CERTAIN FEDERAL AVIATION 
ADMINISTRATION EMPLOYEES.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—For the purposes of re-
sponding to, or for purposes relating to operations 
during the national emergency declared by the Presi-
dent under the National Emergencies Act (50 
U.S.C. 1601 et seq.) related to the pandemic of 
SARS–4CoV–2 
or 
coronavirus 
disease 
2019 
(COVID–19), in order to maintain the safe and effi-
cient operation of the air traffic control system, the 
Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administra-
tion shall— 
(A) provide any air traffic controller and 
airway transportation systems specialist of the 
Federal Aviation Administration with masks or 
protective face coverings, gloves, and hand sani-
tizer and wipes of sufficient alcohol content, 
and provide training on the proper use of per-
sonal protective equipment and sanitizing 
equipment; 
(B) ensure that each air traffic control fa-
cility is cleaned, disinfected, and sanitized fre-
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1941 
quently in accordance with Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention guidance; and 
(C) provide any employee of the Federal 
Aviation Administration whose job responsibil-
ities involve cleaning, disinfecting, and sani-
tizing a facility described in subparagraph (B) 
with masks or protective face coverings and 
gloves, and ensure that each contractor of the 
Federal Aviation Administration provides any 
employee of the contractor with those materials. 
(2) SOURCE
OF
EQUIPMENT.—The items de-
scribed in paragraph (1)(A) may be procured or pro-
vided under that paragraph through any source 
available to the Administrator of the Federal Avia-
tion Administration. 
SEC. 302. PROPERTY DISPOSITION FOR AFFORDABLE 
HOUSING. 
Section 5334(h)(1) of title 49, United States Code, 
is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—If a recipient of assistance 
under this chapter decides an asset acquired under 
this chapter at least in part with that assistance is 
no longer needed for the purpose for which such 
asset was acquired, the Secretary may authorize the 
recipient to transfer such asset to— 
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1942 
‘‘(A) a local governmental authority to be 
used for a public purpose with no further obli-
gation to the Government if the Secretary de-
cides— 
‘‘(i) the asset will remain in public use 
for at least 5 years after the date the asset 
is transferred; 
‘‘(ii) there is no purpose eligible for 
assistance under this chapter for which the 
asset should be used; 
‘‘(iii) the overall benefit of allowing 
the transfer is greater than the interest of 
the Government in liquidation and return 
of the financial interest of the Government 
in the asset, after considering fair market 
value and other factors; and 
‘‘(iv) through an appropriate screen-
ing or survey process, that there is no in-
terest in acquiring the asset for Govern-
ment use if the asset is a facility or land; 
or 
‘‘(B) a local governmental authority, non-
profit organization, or other third party entity 
to be used for the purpose of transit-oriented 
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1943 
development with no further obligation to the 
Government if the Secretary decides— 
‘‘(i) the asset is a necessary compo-
nent of a proposed transit-oriented devel-
opment project; 
‘‘(ii) the transit-oriented development 
project will increase transit ridership; 
‘‘(iii) at least 40 percent of the hous-
ing units offered in the transit-oriented de-
velopment , including housing units owned 
by nongovernmental entities, are legally 
binding affordability restricted to tenants 
with incomes at or below 60 percent of the 
area median income and/or owners with in-
comes at or below 60 percent the area me-
dian income; 
‘‘(iv) the asset will remain in use as 
described in this section for at least 30 
years after the date the asset is trans-
ferred; and 
‘‘(v) with respect to a transfer to a 
third party entity— 
‘‘(I) a local government authority 
or nonprofit organization is unable to 
receive the property; 
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1944 
‘‘(II) the overall benefit of allow-
ing the transfer is greater than the in-
terest of the Government in liquida-
tion and return of the financial inter-
est of the Government in the asset, 
after considering fair market value 
and other factors; and 
‘‘(III) the third party has dem-
onstrated a satisfactory history of 
construction or operating an afford-
able housing development.’’. 
SEC. 303. TREATMENT OF PAYMENTS FROM THE RAILROAD 
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE ACCOUNT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 256(i)(1) of the Balanced 
Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (2 
U.S.C. 906(i)(1)) is amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘and’’ at 
the end; 
(2) in subparagraph (C), by inserting ‘‘and’’ at 
the end; and 
(3) by inserting after subparagraph (C) the fol-
lowing new subparagraph: 
‘‘(D) any payment made from the Railroad Un-
employment Insurance Account (established by sec-
tion 10 of the Railroad Unemployment Insurance 
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1945 
Act) for the purpose of carrying out the Railroad 
Unemployment Insurance Act, and funds appro-
priated or transferred to or otherwise deposited in 
such Account,’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The treatment of payments 
made from the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Ac-
count pursuant to the amendment made by subsection (a) 
shall take effect 7 days after the date of enactment of this 
Act and shall apply only to obligations incurred on or after 
such effective date for such payments. 
SEC. 304. CLARIFICATION OF OVERSIGHT AND IMPLEMEN-
TATION OF RELIEF FOR WORKERS AFFECTED 
BY CORONAVIRUS ACT. 
(a) AUDITS, INVESTIGATIONS, AND OVERSIGHT.— 
Notwithstanding section 2115 of the Relief for Workers 
Affected by Coronavirus Act (subtitle A of title II of divi-
sion A of Public Law 116–136), the authority of the In-
spector General of the Department of Labor to carry out 
audits, investigations, and other oversight activities that 
are related to the provisions of such Act shall not extend 
to any activities related to sections 2112, 2113, or 2114 
of such Act. Such authority with respect to such sections 
shall belong to the Inspector General of the Railroad Re-
tirement Board. 
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1946 
(b) OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
OR OTHER GUID-
ANCE.—Notwithstanding section 2116(b) of the Relief for 
Workers Affected by Coronavirus Act (subtitle A of title 
II of division A of Public Law 116–136), the authority 
of the Secretary of Labor to issue any operating instruc-
tions or other guidance necessary to carry out the provi-
sions of such Act shall not extend to any activities related 
to sections 2112, 2113, or 2114 of such Act. Such author-
ity with respect to such sections shall belong to the Rail-
road Retirement Board. 
SEC. 305. EXTENSION OF WAIVER OF THE 7-DAY WAITING 
PERIOD FOR BENEFITS UNDER THE RAIL-
ROAD UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE ACT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 2112(a) of the CARES 
Act (15 U.S.C. 9030) is amended by striking ‘‘December 
31, 2020’’ and inserting ‘‘January 31, 2021’’. 
(b) 
OPERATING
INSTRUCTIONS
AND
REGULA-
TIONS.—The Railroad Retirement Board may prescribe 
any operating instructions or regulations necessary to 
carry out this section. 
(c) 
CLARIFICATION
ON
AUTHORITY
TO
USE 
FUNDS.—Funds appropriated under section 2112(c) of 
the CARES Act shall be available to cover the cost of addi-
tional benefits payable due to section 2112(a) of the 
CARES Act by reason of the amendments made by sub-
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1947 
section (a) as well as to cover the cost of such benefits 
payable due to section 2112(a) of the CARES Act as in 
effect on the day before the date of enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 306. EXTENDED UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS UNDER 
THE RAILROAD UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE 
ACT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 2(c)(2)(D)(iii) of the 
Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act (45 U.S.C. 
352(c)(2)(D)(iii) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘June 30, 2020’’ and inserting 
‘‘June 30, 2021’’; and 
(2) by striking ‘‘no extended benefit period 
under this paragraph shall begin after December 31, 
2020’’ and inserting ‘‘the provisions of clauses (i) 
and (ii) shall not apply to any employee with respect 
to any registration period beginning on or after Feb-
ruary 1, 2021’’. 
(b) CLARIFICATION ON AUTHORITY TO USE FUND.— 
Funds appropriated under either the first or second sen-
tence of clause (iv) of section 2(c)(2)(D) of the Railroad 
Unemployment Insurance Act shall be available to cover 
the cost of additional extended unemployment benefits 
provided under such section 2(c)(2)(D) by reason of the 
amendments made by subsection (a) as well as to cover 
the cost of such benefits provided under such section 
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1948 
2(c)(2)(D) as in effect on the day before the date of enact-
ment of this Act. 
SEC. 307. ADDITIONAL ENHANCED BENEFITS UNDER THE 
RAILROAD UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE ACT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 2(a)(5)(A) of the Railroad 
Unemployment Insurance Act (45 U.S.C. 352(a)(5)(A) is 
amended— 
(1) by inserting ‘‘for registration periods begin-
ning on or after September 6, 2020, but on or be-
fore January 31, 2021, and for any registration pe-
riods during a period of continuing unemployment 
which began on or before January 31, 2021,’’ after 
‘‘July 31, 2020,’’; 
(2) by striking ‘‘July 1, 2019’’ and inserting 
‘‘July 1, 2019, or July 1, 2020’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end ‘‘No recovery benefit 
under this section shall be payable for any registra-
tion period beginning on or after April 1, 2021. For 
registration periods beginning on or after February 
1, 2021, a recovery benefit under this section shall 
only be payable to a qualified employee with respect 
to any registration period in which the employee re-
ceived normal unemployment benefits as defined in 
paragraph (c)(1), but shall not be payable to a 
qualified employee who did not receive unemploy-
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1949 
ment benefits or who received extended benefits as 
defined in paragraph (c)(2) for such registration pe-
riod.’’ 
(b) 
ADDITIONAL
APPROPRIATIONS.—Section 
2(a)(5)(B) of the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act 
(45 U.S.C. 352(a)(5)(B) is amended by adding at the end 
the following: 
‘‘In addition to the amount appropriated by the pre-
ceding sentence, out of any funds in the Treasury not oth-
erwise appropriated, there are appropriated $300,000,000 
to cover the cost of recovery benefits provided under sub-
paragraph (A), to remain available until expended.’’. 
(c) DISREGARD OF RECOVERY BENEFITS FOR PUR-
POSES
OF ALL FEDERAL
AND FEDERALLY ASSISTED 
PROGRAMS.—Section 2(a)(5) of the Railroad Unemploy-
ment Insurance Act (45 U.S.C. 352(a)(5)) is amended by 
adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(C) A recovery benefit payable under subparagraph 
(A) shall not be regarded as income and shall not be re-
garded as a resource for the month of receipt and the fol-
lowing 9 months, for purposes of determining the eligi-
bility of the recipient (or the recipient’s spouse or family) 
for benefits or assistance, or the amount or extent of bene-
fits or assistance, under any Federal program or under 
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any State or local program financed in whole or in part 
with Federal funds.’’. 
(d) 
CLARIFICATION
ON
AUTHORITY
TO
USE 
FUNDS.—Funds appropriated under either the first or 
second sentence of subparagraph (B) of section 2(a)(5) 
of the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act shall be 
available to cover the cost of recovery benefits provided 
under such section 2(a)(5) by reason of the amendments 
made by subsection (a) as well as to cover the cost of such 
benefits provided under such section 2(a)(5) as in effect 
on the day before the date of enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 308. OFFICE OF DISASTER RECOVERY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Title V of the Public Works and 
Economic Development Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3191 et 
seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘SEC. 508. OFFICE OF DISASTER RECOVERY. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall create an 
Office of Disaster Recovery to direct and implement the 
Agency’s post-disaster economic recovery responsibilities 
pursuant to sections 209(c)(2) and 703. 
‘‘(b) AUTHORIZATION.—The Secretary is authorized 
to appoint and fix the compensation of such temporary 
personnel as may be necessary to implement disaster re-
covery measures, without regard to the provisions of title 
5, United States Code, governing appointments in the 
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1951 
competitive service. The Secretary is authorized to appoint 
such temporary personnel, after serving continuously for 
2 years, to positions in the Economic Development Admin-
istration in the same manner that competitive service em-
ployees with competitive status are considered for trans-
fer, reassignment, or promotion to such positions. An indi-
vidual appointed under the preceding sentence shall be-
come a career-conditional employee, unless the employee 
has already completed the service requirements for career 
tenure.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of contents 
for the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 
1965 is amended by inserting after the item relating to 
section 507 the following new item: 
‘‘508. Office of Disaster Recovery.’’. 
SEC. 309. GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS FOR THE UNITED 
STATES MERCHANT MARINE ACADEMY AND 
STATE MARITIME ACADEMIES. 
(a) UNITED STATES MERCHANT MARINE ACAD-
EMY.— 
(1) Notwithstanding section 51309(a)(1)(B) of 
title 46, United States Code, and subject to such 
terms and conditions as set forth in this subsection 
and other conditions as the Secretary may deter-
mine, the Superintendent of the United States Mer-
chant Marine Academy may confer degrees on indi-
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1952 
viduals scheduled to receive such degrees from the 
United States Merchant Marine Academy in cal-
endar year 2020. 
(2) With respect to an individual described in 
paragraph (1), the Secretary of Transportation 
may— 
(A) defer until not later than December 
31, 
2021, 
the 
requirements 
of 
section 
51306(a)(2) of title 46, United States Code, 
and relevant regulations; 
(B) defer until not later than December 
31, 2021, and modify as necessary, require-
ments under paragraphs (3) through (5) of sec-
tion 51306(a) of title 46, United States Code, 
and relevant regulations; and 
(C) conditionally waive requirements under 
paragraphs (2) through (5) of section 51306(a) 
of title 46, United States Code, and relevant 
regulations, for an individual who— 
(i) within 3 months of receiving a de-
gree has accepted a commission as an offi-
cer on active duty in an armed force of the 
United States or a commission as an offi-
cer of the National Oceanic and Atmos-
pheric Administration or the Public Health 
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Service, pursuant to section 51306(e) of 
title 46, United States Code; and 
(ii) serves for the 5-year period fol-
lowing commissioning as an officer on ac-
tive duty as described in clause (i). 
(3) An individual upon whom the United States 
Merchant Marine Academy confers a degree pursu-
ant to paragraph (1) shall— 
(A) fulfill the requirements under section 
51306(a)(2) of title 46, United States Code, 
and relevant regulations, by the date set by the 
Secretary, which shall be not later than Decem-
ber 31, 2021; or 
(B) for the 5-year period following gradua-
tion from the Academy as described in para-
graph (2)(C)(i), serve as a commissioned officer 
on active duty in an armed force of the United 
States or as a commissioned officer of the Na-
tional Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
or the Public Health Service, pursuant to sec-
tion 51306(e) of title 46, United States Code. 
(4) If the United States Merchant Marine 
Academy confers a degree upon an individual pursu-
ant to paragraph (1) and the individual fails to com-
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ply with the requirements established by the Sec-
retary, the Secretary may— 
(A) revoke the degree conferred on the in-
dividual by the United States Merchant Marine 
Academy; and 
(B) exercise the remedies under section 
51306 of title 46, United States Code. 
(b) STATE MARITIME ACADEMY.— 
(1) Notwithstanding section 51506(a)(3) of title 
46, United States Code, and subject to such terms 
and conditions as set forth in this subsection and 
other conditions as the Secretary may determine, a 
State maritime academy may confer degrees upon 
individuals scheduled to graduate from a State mari-
time academy in calendar year 2020. With respect 
to an individual who has received student incentive 
payments under section 51509 of title 46, United 
States Code, and fails to comply with such terms 
and conditions, the Secretary may exercise the au-
thorities set forth in paragraphs (3) of this sub-
section. 
(2) For an individual to be eligible to be con-
ferred a degree pursuant to paragraph (1), the State 
maritime academy shall require such individual to 
pass the examination required for the issuance of a 
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license under section 7101 of title 46, United States 
Code, by December 31, 2021, and such State mari-
time academy shall advise all such individuals who 
have not passed the examination prerequisite to 
issuance of a license that any degree so awarded is 
subject to revocation and such State maritime acad-
emy shall advise any individuals who have not 
passed. 
(3) The Secretary of Transportation may— 
(A) require a State maritime academy, as 
a condition of receiving an annual payment 
under section 51506(a) of title 46, United 
States Code, to report to the Secretary, in a 
manner determined by the Secretary, on the 
compliance with paragraph (2); 
(B) withhold payments under section 
51506(a) of title 46, United States Code, in an 
amount not greater than the fractional amount 
of the direct payment that is proportional to the 
number of graduates who fail to comply with 
requirements under paragraph (2) and whose 
degrees have not been revoked by the State 
maritime academy and the total number of indi-
viduals graduating from such State maritime 
academy in calendar year 2020; and 
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1956 
(C) reduce the amount of direct payments 
withheld under subparagraph (B) below the 
maximum amount authorized. 
(4) For an individual graduating from a State 
maritime academy in calendar year 2020 who has 
received student incentive payments under section 
51509 of title 46, United States Code, the Secretary 
of Transportation may— 
(A) defer until not later than December 
31, 2021, the requirements under sections 
51509(d)(2) of title 46, United States Code, 
and relevant regulations; 
(B) defer until not later than December 
31, 2021, and modify as necessary as deter-
mined by the Secretary, the requirements under 
paragraphs (3) through (5) of section 51509(d) 
of title 46, United States Code, and relevant 
regulations; and 
(C) conditionally waive requirements under 
paragraphs (2) through (5) of section 51509(d) 
of title 46, United States Code, and relevant 
regulations, for an individual who— 
(i) within 3 months of graduation is 
commissioned as an officer on active duty 
in an armed force of the United States or 
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1957 
as a commissioned officer of the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
or the Public Health Service, pursuant to 
section 51509(h) of title 46, United States 
Code; and 
(ii) serves for the 5-year period fol-
lowing commissioning as an officer on ac-
tive duty as provided for in clause (i). 
(5) An individual conferred a degree from a 
State maritime academy pursuant to paragraph (1) 
who has received student incentive payments as pro-
vided for in section 51509 of title 46, United States 
Code, shall— 
(A) fulfill the requirements under section 
51509(d)(2) of title 46, United States Code, 
and relevant regulations not later than Decem-
ber 31, 2021; or 
(B) for the 5-year period following gradua-
tion from an academy described in paragraph 
(4)(C)(ii), serve as a commissioned officer on 
active duty in an armed force of the United 
States or as a commissioned officer of the Na-
tional Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
or the Public Health Service, pursuant to sec-
tion 51509(h) of title 46, United States Code. 
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(6) If an individual conferred a degree from a 
State maritime academy pursuant to paragraph (1) 
fails to comply with the requirements established by 
the Secretary, the Secretary may exercise the rem-
edies under section 51509 of title 46, United States 
Code. 
(c) EXTENSION OF AUTHORIZATION.—The Secretary 
may apply the provisions of subsections (a) and (b) to sub-
sequent graduating classes at the United States Merchant 
Marine Academy and State maritime academies, and ex-
tend compliance dates applicable to such graduates, if the 
Secretary determines it is necessary to respond to the pub-
lic health emergency declared by the Secretary of Health 
and Human Services issued on January 27, 2020, titled 
‘‘Concerning the Novel Coronavirus’’. 
SEC. 310. REGULATION OF ANCHORAGE AND MOVEMENT 
OF VESSELS DURING NATIONAL EMERGENCY. 
Section 70051 of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in the section heading by inserting ‘‘or pub-
lic health emergency’’ after ‘‘national emergency’’; 
(2) by inserting ‘‘or whenever the Secretary of 
Health and Human Services determines a public 
health emergency exists,’’ after ‘‘international rela-
tions of the United States’’; 
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1959 
(3) by inserting ‘‘or to ensure the safety of ves-
sels and persons in any port and navigable water-
way,’’ after ‘‘harbor or waters of the United States’’; 
(4) by inserting ‘‘or public health emergency,’’ 
after ‘‘subversive activity’’; and 
(5) by inserting ‘‘or to ensure the safety of ves-
sels and persons in any port and navigable water-
way,’’ after ‘‘injury to any harbor or waters of the 
United States,’’. 
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1960 
DIVISION R—ACCOUNTABILITY 
AND GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS 
TITLE I—ACCOUNTABILITY 
SEC. 101. CONGRESSIONAL NOTIFICATION OF CHANGE IN 
STATUS OF INSPECTOR GENERAL. 
(a) CHANGE IN STATUS OF INSPECTOR GENERAL OF 
OFFICES.—Section 3(b) of the Inspector General Act of 
1978 (5 U.S.C. App.) is amended— 
(1) by inserting ‘‘, is placed on paid or unpaid 
non-duty status,’’ after ‘‘is removed from office’’; 
(2) by inserting ‘‘, change in status,’’ after 
‘‘any such removal’’; and 
(3) by inserting ‘‘, change in status,’’ after ‘‘be-
fore the removal’’. 
(b) CHANGE IN STATUS OF INSPECTOR GENERAL OF 
DESIGNATED FEDERAL ENTITIES.—Section 8G(e)(2) of 
the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.) is 
amended— 
(1) by inserting ‘‘, is placed on paid or unpaid 
non-duty status,’’ after ‘‘office’’; 
(2) by inserting ‘‘, change in status,’’ after 
‘‘any such removal’’; and 
(3) by inserting ‘‘, change in status,’’ after ‘‘be-
fore the removal’’. 
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(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 
this section shall take effect 30 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 102. PRESIDENTIAL EXPLANATION OF FAILURE TO 
NOMINATE AN INSPECTOR GENERAL. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter III of chapter 33 of 
title 5, United States Code, is amended by inserting after 
section 3349d the following new section: 
‘‘§ 3349e. Presidential explanation of failure to nomi-
nate an Inspector General 
‘‘If the President fails to make a formal nomination 
for a vacant Inspector General position that requires a for-
mal nomination by the President to be filled within the 
period beginning on the date on which the vacancy oc-
curred and ending on the day that is 210 days after that 
date, the President shall communicate, within 30 days 
after the end of such period, to Congress in writing— 
‘‘(1) the reasons why the President has not yet 
made a formal nomination; and 
‘‘(2) a target date for making a formal nomina-
tion.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 
for chapter 33 of title 5, United States Code, is amended 
by inserting after the item relating to 3349d the following 
new item: 
‘‘3349e. Presidential explanation of failure to nominate an Inspector General.’’. 
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1962 
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by 
subsection (a) shall take effect on the date of the enact-
ment of this Act and shall apply to any vacancy first oc-
curring on or after that date. 
SEC. 103. INSPECTOR GENERAL INDEPENDENCE. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This section may be cited as the 
‘‘Inspector General Independence Act’’. 
(b) AMENDMENT.—The Inspector General Act of 
1978 (5 U.S.C. App.) is amended— 
(1) in section 3(b)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘An Inspector General’’ 
and inserting ‘‘(1) An Inspector General’’; 
(B) by inserting after ‘‘by the President’’ 
the following: ‘‘in accordance with paragraph 
(2)’’; and 
(C) by inserting at the end the following 
new paragraph: 
‘‘(2) The President may remove an Inspector 
General only for any of the following grounds: 
‘‘(A) Permanent incapacity. 
‘‘(B) Inefficiency. 
‘‘(C) Neglect of duty. 
‘‘(D) Malfeasance. 
‘‘(E) Conviction of a felony or conduct in-
volving moral turpitude. 
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1963 
‘‘(F) Knowing violation of a law, rule, or 
regulation. 
‘‘(G) Gross mismanagement. 
‘‘(H) Gross waste of funds. 
‘‘(I) Abuse of authority.’’; and 
(2) in section 8G(e)(2), by adding at the end 
the following new sentence: ″An Inspector General 
may be removed only for any of the following 
grounds: 
‘‘(A) Permanent incapacity. 
‘‘(B) Inefficiency. 
‘‘(C) Neglect of duty. 
‘‘(D) Malfeasance. 
‘‘(E) Conviction of a felony or conduct in-
volving moral turpitude. 
‘‘(F) Knowing violation of a law, rule, or 
regulation. 
‘‘(G) Gross mismanagement. 
‘‘(H) Gross waste of funds. 
‘‘(I) Abuse of authority.’’. 
SEC. 104. USPS INSPECTOR GENERAL OVERSIGHT RESPON-
SIBILITIES. 
The Inspector General of the United States Postal 
Service shall— 
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1964 
(1) conduct oversight, audits, and investigations 
of projects and activities carried out with funds pro-
vided in division A of this Act to the United States 
Postal Service; and 
(2) not less than 90 days after the Postal Serv-
ice commences use of funding provided by division A 
of this Act, and annually thereafter, initiate an audit 
of the Postal Service’s use of appropriations and 
borrowing authority provided by any division of this 
Act, including the use of funds to cover lost reve-
nues, costs due to COVID–19, and expenditures, 
and submit a copy of such audit to the Committee 
on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of 
the Senate, the Committee on Oversight and Reform 
of the House of Representatives, and the Commit-
tees on Appropriations of the House of Representa-
tives and the Senate. 
TITLE II—CENSUS MATTERS 
SEC. 201. MODIFICATION OF 2020 CENSUS DEADLINES AND 
TABULATION OF POPULATION. 
(a) CENSUS DEADLINE MODIFICATION.—Notwith-
standing the timetables provided in subsections (b) and 
(c) of section 141 of title 13, United States Code, and 
section 22(a) of the Act entitled ‘‘An Act to provide for 
the fifteenth and subsequent decennial censuses and to 
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1965 
provide for apportionment of Representatives in Con-
gress’’, approved June 18, 1929 (2 U.S.C. 2a(a)), for the 
2020 decennial census of population— 
(1) the tabulation of total population by States 
required by subsection (a) of such section 141 for 
the apportionment of Representatives in Congress 
among the several States shall be— 
(A) completed and reported by the Sec-
retary of Commerce (referred to in this section 
as the ‘‘Secretary’’) to the President no earlier 
than one year after the decennial census date of 
April 1, 2020, and not later than April 30, 
2021; and 
(B) made public by the Secretary not later 
than the date on which the tabulation is re-
ported to the President under subparagraph 
(A); 
(2) the President shall transmit to Congress a 
statement showing the whole number of persons in 
each State, and the number of Representatives to 
which each State would be entitled under an appor-
tionment of the then existing number of Representa-
tives, as required by such section 22(a), and deter-
mined solely as described therein, immediately upon 
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receipt of the tabulation reported by the Secretary; 
and 
(3) the tabulations of populations required by 
subsection (c) of such section 141 shall be completed 
by the Secretary as expeditiously as possible after 
the census date of April 1, 2020, taking into account 
the deadlines of each State for legislative apportion-
ment or districting, and reported to the Governor of 
the State involved and to the officers or public bod-
ies having responsibility for legislative apportion-
ment or districting of that State, except that the 
tabulations of population of each State requesting a 
tabulation plan, and basic tabulations of population 
of each other State, shall be completed, reported, 
and transmitted to each respective State not later 
than July 30, 2021. 
(b) NRFU OPERATION.—For the 2020 decennial 
census of population, the Bureau of the Census shall con-
clude the Nonresponse Followup operation and the self- 
response operation no earlier than October 31, 2020. 
SEC. 202. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS FOR 2020 CENSUS. 
On the first day of each month during the period be-
tween the date of enactment of this Act and July 1, 2021, 
the Director of the Bureau of the Census shall submit, 
to the Committee on Oversight and Reform of the House 
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1967 
of Representatives, the Committee on Homeland Security 
and Governmental Affairs of the Senate, and the Commit-
tees on Appropriations of the House and the Senate, a 
report regarding the 2020 decennial census of population 
containing the following information: 
(1) The total number of field staff, sorted by 
category, hired by the Bureau compared to the num-
ber of field staff the Bureau estimated was nec-
essary to carry out such census. 
(2) Retention rates of such hired field staff. 
(3) Average wait time for call center calls and 
average wait time for each language provided. 
(4) Anticipated schedule of such census oper-
ations. 
(5) Total tabulated responses, categorized by 
race and Hispanic origin. 
(6) Total appropriations available for obligation 
for such census and a categorized list of total dis-
bursements. 
(7) Non-Response Follow-Up completion rates 
by geographic location. 
(8) Update/Enumerate and Update/Leave com-
pletion rates by geographic location. 
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(9) Total spending to date on media, advertise-
ments, and partnership specialists, including a geo-
graphic breakdown of such spending. 
(10) Post-enumeration schedule and subsequent 
data aggregation and delivery progress. 
SEC. 203. LIMITATION ON TABULATION OF CERTAIN DATA. 
(a) LIMITATION.—The Bureau of the Census may 
not compile or produce any data product or tabulation as 
part of, in combination with, or in connection with, the 
2020 decennial census of population or any such census 
data produced pursuant to section 141(c) of title 13, 
United States Code, that is based in whole or in part on 
data that is not collected in such census. 
(b) EXCEPTION.—The limitation in subsection (a) 
shall not apply to any data product or tabulation that is 
required by sections 141(b) or (c) of such title, that uses 
the same or substantially similar methodology and data 
sources as a decennial census data product produced by 
the Bureau of the Census before January 1, 2019, or that 
uses a methodology and data sources that the Bureau of 
the Census finalized and made public prior to January 1, 
2018. 
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1969 
TITLE III—FEDERAL 
WORKFORCE 
SEC. 301. COVID–19 TELEWORKING REQUIREMENTS FOR 
FEDERAL EMPLOYEES. 
(a) MANDATED TELEWORK.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Effective immediately upon 
the date of enactment of this Act, the head of any 
Federal agency shall require any employee of such 
agency who is authorized to telework under chapter 
65 of title 5, United States Code, or any other provi-
sion of law to telework during the period beginning 
on the date of enactment of this Act and ending on 
December 31, 2020. 
(2) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection— 
(A) the term ‘‘employee’’ means— 
(i) an employee of the Library of Con-
gress; 
(ii) an employee of the Government 
Accountability Office; 
(iii) a covered employee as defined in 
section 101 of the Congressional Account-
ability Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1301), other 
than an applicant for employment; 
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1970 
(iv) a covered employee as defined in 
section 411(c) of title 3, United States 
Code; 
(v) a Federal officer or employee cov-
ered under subchapter V of chapter 63 of 
title 5, United States Code; or 
(vi) any other individual occupying a 
position in the civil service (as that term is 
defined in section 2101(1) of title 5, 
United States Code); and 
(B) the term ‘‘telework’’ has the meaning 
given that term in section 6501(3) of such title. 
(b) TELEWORK PARTICIPATION GOALS.—Chapter 65 
of title 5, United States Code, is amended as follows: 
(1) In section 6502— 
(A) in subsection (b)— 
(i) in paragraph (4), by striking 
‘‘and’’ at the end; 
(ii) in paragraph (5), by striking the 
period at the end and inserting a semi-
colon; and 
(iii) by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
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‘‘(6) include annual goals for increasing the 
percent of employees of the executive agency partici-
pating in teleworking— 
‘‘(A) three or more days per pay period; 
‘‘(B) one or 2 days per pay period; 
‘‘(C) once per month; and 
‘‘(D) on an occasional, episodic, or short- 
term basis; and 
‘‘(7) include methods for collecting data on, set-
ting goals for, and reporting costs savings to the ex-
ecutive agency achieved through teleworking, con-
sistent with the guidance developed under section 
301(c) of division R of The Heroes Act.’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(d) NOTIFICATION
FOR
REDUCTION
IN
TELE-
WORKING PARTICIPATION.—Not later than 30 days before 
the date that an executive agency implements or modifies 
a teleworking plan that would reduce the percentage of 
employees at the agency who telework, the head of the ex-
ecutive agency shall provide written notification, including 
a justification for the reduction in telework participation 
and a description of how the agency will pay for any in-
creased costs resulting from that reduction, to— 
‘‘(1) the Director of the Office of Personnel 
Management; 
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1972 
‘‘(2) the Committee on Oversight and Reform 
of the House of Representatives; and 
‘‘(3) the Committee on Homeland Security and 
Governmental Affairs of the Senate. 
‘‘(e) PROHIBITION
ON AGENCY-WIDE LIMITS
ON 
TELEWORKING.—An agency may not prohibit any delin-
eated period of teleworking participation for all employees 
of the agency, including the periods described in subpara-
graphs (A) through (D) of subsection (b)(6). The agency 
shall make any teleworking determination with respect to 
an employee or group of employees at the agency on a 
case-by-case basis.’’. 
(2) In section 6506(b)(2)— 
(A) in subparagraph (F)(vi), by striking 
‘‘and’’ at the end; 
(B) in subparagraph (G), by striking the 
period at the end and inserting a semicolon; 
and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(H) agency cost savings achieved through 
teleworking, consistent with the guidance devel-
oped under section 2(c) of the Telework Metrics 
and Cost Savings Act; and 
‘‘(I) a detailed explanation of a plan to in-
crease the Government-wide teleworking partici-
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1973 
pation rate above such rate applicable to fiscal 
year 2016, including agency-level plans to main-
tain or imparove such rate for each of the tele-
working frequency categories listed under sub-
paragraph (A)(iii).’’. 
(c) GUIDANCE.—Not later than 90 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Director of the Of-
fice of Personnel Management, in collaboration with the 
Chief Human Capital Officer Council, shall establish uni-
form guidance for agencies on how to collect data on, set 
goals for, and report cost savings achieved through, tele-
working. Such guidance shall account for cost savings re-
lated to travel, energy use, and real estate. 
(d) TECHNICAL CORRECTION.—Section 6506(b)(1) 
of title 5, United States Code, is amended by striking 
‘‘with Chief’’ and inserting ‘‘with the Chief’’. 
SEC. 302. RETIREMENT FOR CERTAIN EMPLOYEES. 
(a) CSRS.—Section 8336(c) of title 5, United States 
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(3)(A) In this paragraph— 
‘‘(i) the term ‘affected individual’ 
means an individual covered under this 
subchapter who— 
‘‘(I) is performing service in a 
covered position; 
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1974 
‘‘(II) is diagnosed with COVID– 
19 before the date on which the indi-
vidual becomes entitled to an annuity 
under paragraph (1) of this sub-
section or subsection (e), (m), or (n), 
as applicable; 
‘‘(III) because of the illness de-
scribed in subclause (II), is perma-
nently unable to render useful and ef-
ficient service in the employee’s cov-
ered position, as determined by the 
agency in which the individual was 
serving when such individual incurred 
the illness; and 
‘‘(IV) is appointed to a position 
in the civil service that— 
‘‘(aa) is not a covered posi-
tion; and 
‘‘(bb) is within an agency 
that regularly appoints individ-
uals to supervisory or administra-
tive positions related to the ac-
tivities of the former covered po-
sition of the individual; 
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‘‘(ii) the term ‘covered position’ means 
a position as a law enforcement officer, 
customs and border protection officer, fire-
fighter, air traffic controller, nuclear mate-
rials courier, member of the Capitol Police, 
or member of the Supreme Court Police; 
and 
‘‘(iii) the term ‘COVID–19’ means the 
2019 Novel Coronavirus or 2019-nCoV. 
‘‘(B) Unless an affected individual files an 
election described in subparagraph (E), cred-
itable service by the affected individual in a po-
sition described in subparagraph (A)(i)(IV) 
shall be treated as creditable service in a cov-
ered position for purposes of this chapter and 
determining the amount to be deducted and 
withheld from the pay of the affected individual 
under section 8334. 
‘‘(C) Subparagraph (B) shall only apply if 
the affected employee transitions to a position 
described in subparagraph (A)(i)(IV) without a 
break in service exceeding 3 days. 
‘‘(D) The service of an affected individual 
shall no longer be eligible for treatment under 
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1976 
subparagraph (B) if such service occurs after 
the individual— 
‘‘(i) is transferred to a supervisory or 
administrative position related to the ac-
tivities of the former covered position of 
the individual; or 
‘‘(ii) meets the age and service re-
quirements that would subject the indi-
vidual to mandatory separation under sec-
tion 8335 if such individual had remained 
in the former covered position. 
‘‘(E) In accordance with procedures estab-
lished by the Director of the Office of Personnel 
Management, an affected individual may file an 
election to have any creditable service per-
formed by the affected individual treated in ac-
cordance with this chapter without regard to 
subparagraph (B). 
‘‘(F) Nothing in this paragraph shall be 
construed to apply to such affected individual 
any other pay-related laws or regulations appli-
cable to a covered position.’’. 
(b) FERS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 8412(d) of title 5, 
United States Code, is amended— 
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1977 
(A) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and 
(2) as subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively; 
(B) by inserting ‘‘(1)’’ before ‘‘An em-
ployee’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(2)(A) In this paragraph— 
‘‘(i) the term ‘affected individual’ 
means an individual covered under this 
chapter who— 
‘‘(I) is performing service in a 
covered position; 
‘‘(II) is diagnosed with COVID– 
19 before the date on which the indi-
vidual becomes entitled to an annuity 
under paragraph (1) of this sub-
section or subsection (e), as applica-
ble; 
‘‘(III) because of the illness de-
scribed in subclause (II), is perma-
nently unable to render useful and ef-
ficient service in the employee’s cov-
ered position, as determined by the 
agency in which the individual was 
serving when such individual incurred 
the illness; and 
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1978 
‘‘(IV) is appointed to a position 
in the civil service that— 
‘‘(aa) is not a covered posi-
tion; and 
‘‘(bb) is within an agency 
that regularly appoints individ-
uals to supervisory or administra-
tive positions related to the ac-
tivities of the former covered po-
sition of the individual; 
‘‘(ii) the term ‘covered position’ means 
a position as a law enforcement officer, 
customs and border protection officer, fire-
fighter, air traffic controller, nuclear mate-
rials courier, member of the Capitol Police, 
or member of the Supreme Court Police; 
and 
‘‘(iii) the term ‘COVID–19’ means the 
2019 Novel Coronavirus or 2019-nCoV. 
‘‘(B) Unless an affected individual files an 
election described in subparagraph (E), cred-
itable service by the affected individual in a po-
sition described in subparagraph (A)(i)(IV) 
shall be treated as creditable service in a cov-
ered position for purposes of this chapter and 
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1979 
determining the amount to be deducted and 
withheld from the pay of the affected individual 
under section 8422. 
‘‘(C) Subparagraph (B) shall only apply if 
the affected employee transitions to a position 
described in subparagraph (A)(i)(IV) without a 
break in service exceeding 3 days. 
‘‘(D) The service of an affected individual 
shall no longer be eligible for treatment under 
subparagraph (B) if such service occurs after 
the individual— 
‘‘(i) is transferred to a supervisory or 
administrative position related to the ac-
tivities of the former covered position of 
the individual; or 
‘‘(ii) meets the age and service re-
quirements that would subject the indi-
vidual to mandatory separation under sec-
tion 8425 if such individual had remained 
in the former covered position. 
‘‘(E) In accordance with procedures estab-
lished by the Director of the Office of Personnel 
Management, an affected individual may file an 
election to have any creditable service per-
formed by the affected individual treated in ac-
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1980 
cordance with this chapter without regard to 
subparagraph (B). 
‘‘(F) Nothing in this paragraph shall be 
construed to apply to such affected individual 
any other pay-related laws or regulations appli-
cable to a covered position.’’. 
(2) TECHNICAL
AND
CONFORMING
AMEND-
MENTS.— 
(A) Chapter 84 of title 5, United States 
Code, is amended— 
(i) in section 8414(b)(3), by inserting 
‘‘(1)’’ after ‘‘subsection (d)’’; 
(ii) in section 8415— 
(I) in subsection (e), in the mat-
ter preceding paragraph (1), by in-
serting ‘‘(1)’’ after ‘‘subsection (d)’’; 
and 
(II) in subsection (h)(2)(A), by 
striking 
‘‘(d)(2)’’ 
and 
inserting 
‘‘(d)(1)(B)’’; 
(iii) in section 8421(a)(1), by insert-
ing ‘‘(1)’’ after ‘‘(d)’’; 
(iv) in section 8421a(b)(4)(B)(ii), by 
inserting ‘‘(1)’’ after ‘‘section 8412(d)’’; 
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1981 
(v) in section 8425, by inserting ‘‘(1)’’ 
after ‘‘section 8412(d)’’ each place it ap-
pears; and 
(vi) in section 8462(c)(3)(B)(ii), by 
inserting ‘‘(1)’’ after ‘‘subsection (d)’’. 
(B) Title VIII of the Foreign Service Act 
of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 4041 et seq.) is amended— 
(i) in section 805(d)(5) (22 U.S.C. 
4045(d)(5)), by inserting ‘‘(1)’’ after ‘‘or 
8412(d)’’; and 
(ii) 
in 
section 
812(a)(2)(B) 
(22 
U.S.C. 4052(a)(2)(B)), by inserting ‘‘(1)’’ 
after ‘‘or 8412(d)’’. 
(c) CIA EMPLOYEES.—Section 302 of the Central In-
telligence Agency Retirement Act (50 U.S.C. 2152) is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(d) EMPLOYEES DISABLED ON DUTY.— 
‘‘(1) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection— 
‘‘(A) the term ‘affected employee’ means 
an employee of the Agency covered under sub-
chapter II of chapter 84 of title 5, United 
States Code, who— 
‘‘(i) is performing service in a position 
designated under subsection (a); 
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1983 
‘‘(iv) an air traffic controller described 
in section 8331(30) or 8401(35) of title 5, 
United States Code; 
‘‘(v) a nuclear materials courier de-
scribed in section 8331(27) or 8401(33) of 
title 5, United States Code; 
‘‘(vi) a member of the United States 
Capitol Police; 
‘‘(vii) a member of the Supreme Court 
Police; 
‘‘(viii) an affected employee; or 
‘‘(ix) a special agent described in sec-
tion 804(15) of the Foreign Service Act of 
1980 (22 U.S.C. 4044(15)); and 
‘‘(C) the term ‘COVID–19’ means the 
2019 Novel Coronavirus or 2019-nCoV. 
‘‘(2) TREATMENT
OF
SERVICE
AFTER
DIS-
ABILITY.—Unless an affected employee files an elec-
tion described in paragraph (3), creditable service by 
the affected employee in a position described in 
paragraph (1)(A)(iv) shall be treated as creditable 
service in a covered position for purposes of this Act 
and chapter 84 of title 5, United States Code, in-
cluding eligibility for an annuity under section 233 
of this Act or 8412(d)(1) of title 5, United States 
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1984 
Code, and determining the amount to be deducted 
and withheld from the pay of the affected employee 
under section 8422 of title 5, United States Code. 
‘‘(3) BREAK IN SERVICE.—Paragraph (2) shall 
only apply if the affected employee transitions to a 
position described in paragraph (1)(A)(iv) without a 
break in service exceeding 3 days. 
‘‘(4) LIMITATION
ON
TREATMENT
OF
SERV-
ICE.—The service of an affected employee shall no 
longer be eligible for treatment under paragraph (2) 
if such service occurs after the employee is trans-
ferred to a supervisory or administrative position re-
lated to the activities of the former covered position 
of the employee. 
‘‘(5) OPT OUT.—An affected employee may file 
an election to have any creditable service performed 
by the affected employee treated in accordance with 
chapter 84 of title 5, United States Code, without 
regard to paragraph (2).’’. 
(d) FOREIGN
SERVICE
RETIREMENT
AND
DIS-
ABILITY SYSTEM.—Section 806(a)(6) of the Foreign Serv-
ice Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 4046(a)(6)) is amended by 
adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(D)(i) In this subparagraph— 
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1985 
‘‘(I) the term ‘affected special 
agent’ means an individual covered 
under this subchapter who— 
‘‘(aa) is performing service 
as a special agent; 
‘‘(bb) 
is 
diagnosed 
with 
COVID–19 before the date on 
which the individual becomes en-
titled to an annuity under section 
811; 
‘‘(cc) because of the illness 
described in item (bb), is perma-
nently unable to render useful 
and efficient service in the em-
ployee’s covered position, as de-
termined by the Secretary; and 
‘‘(dd) is appointed to a posi-
tion in the Foreign Service that 
is not a covered position; 
‘‘(II) the term ‘covered position’ 
means a position as— 
‘‘(aa) a law enforcement of-
ficer 
described 
in 
section 
8331(20) or 8401(17) of title 5, 
United States Code; 
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1986 
‘‘(bb) a customs and border 
protection officer described in 
section 8331(31) or 8401(36) of 
title 5, United States Code; 
‘‘(cc) a firefighter described 
in section 8331(21) or 8401(14) 
of title 5, United States Code; 
‘‘(dd) an air traffic con-
troller 
described 
in 
section 
8331(30) or 8401(35) of title 5, 
United States Code; 
‘‘(ee) a nuclear materials 
courier 
described 
in 
section 
8331(27) or 8401(33) of title 5, 
United States Code; 
‘‘(ff) 
a 
member 
of 
the 
United States Capitol Police; 
‘‘(gg) a member of the Su-
preme Court Police; 
‘‘(hh) an employee of the 
Agency designated under section 
302(a) of the Central Intelligence 
Agency 
Retirement 
Act 
(50 
U.S.C. 2152(a)); or 
‘‘(ii) a special agent; and 
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1987 
‘‘(III) 
the 
term 
‘COVID–19’ 
means the 2019 Novel Coronavirus or 
2019-nCoV. 
‘‘(ii) Unless an affected special agent files 
an election described in clause (iv), creditable 
service by the affected special agent in a posi-
tion described in clause (i)(I)(dd) shall be treat-
ed as creditable service as a special agent for 
purposes of this subchapter, including deter-
mining the amount to be deducted and withheld 
from the pay of the individual under section 
805. 
‘‘(iii) Clause (ii) shall only apply if the spe-
cial agent transitions to a position described in 
clause (i)(I)(dd) without a break in service ex-
ceeding 3 days. 
‘‘(iv) The service of an affected employee 
shall no longer be eligible for treatment under 
clause (ii) if such service occurs after the em-
ployee is transferred to a supervisory or admin-
istrative position related to the activities of the 
former covered position of the employee. 
‘‘(v) In accordance with procedures estab-
lished by the Secretary, an affected special 
agent may file an election to have any cred-
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1988 
itable service performed by the affected special 
agent treated in accordance with this sub-
chapter, without regard to clause (ii).’’. 
(e) IMPLEMENTATION.— 
(1) OFFICE
OF
PERSONNEL
MANAGEMENT.— 
The Director of the Office of Personnel Management 
shall promulgate regulations to carry out the amend-
ments made by subsections (a) and (b). 
(2) CIA EMPLOYEES.—The Director of the 
Central Intelligence Agency shall promulgate regula-
tions to carry out the amendment made by sub-
section (c). 
(3) FOREIGN SERVICE RETIREMENT AND DIS-
ABILITY SYSTEM.—The Secretary of State shall pro-
mulgate regulations to carry out the amendment 
made by subsection (d). 
(4) AGENCY
REAPPOINTMENT.—The regula-
tions promulgated to carry out the amendments 
made by this section shall ensure that, to the great-
est extent possible, the head of each agency appoints 
affected employees or special agents to supervisory 
or administrative positions related to the activities of 
the former covered position of the employee or spe-
cial agent. 
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