Invest in Our Democracy Act of 2021
Bill: S.640 | Sponsor: Sen. Klobuchar, Amy (D-MN)
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics

Summary:
Invest in Our Democracy Act of 2021
This bill directs the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) to provide grants to institutions of higher education to reduce tuition for state or local election officials, employees of such election officials, and employees of the EAC who are enrolled in accredited certificate programs in election administration or cybersecurity at such institutions.

To provide grants to support continuing education in election 
 administration or cybersecurity for election officials and employees.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Invest in Our Democracy Act of 
2021''.

SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

    It is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) free and fair elections are central to our democracy;
            (2) protecting our elections from foreign adversaries is a 
        national security priority;
            (3) the States conduct elections and it is important to 
        maintain State leadership in election administration;
            (4) the States deserve Federal support to secure our 
        elections from interference by foreign nations; and
            (5) election security in the United States will benefit 
        from continued education and investment in the individuals that 
        administer our elections.

SEC. 3. SUPPORTING CONTINUING EDUCATION FOR ELECTION OFFICIALS AND 
              EMPLOYEES.

    (a) Program Authority and Method of Distribution.--The Election 
Assistance Commission (in this section referred to as the 
``Commission'') shall establish a program under which the Commission 
pays to each eligible institution such sums as may be necessary to pay 
to each eligible certificate program enrollee (as defined in subsection 
(b)) for each academic year during which that enrollee is enrolled in 
an accredited certificate program in election administration or 
cybersecurity in the amount for which that enrollee is eligible, as 
determined pursuant to subsection (c). Not less than 85 percent of such 
sums shall be advanced to eligible institutions prior to the start of 
each payment period and shall be based upon an amount requested by the 
institution as needed to pay eligible certificate program enrollees 
until such time as the Commission determines an alternative payment 
system that provides payments to institutions in an accurate and timely 
manner, except that this sentence shall not be construed to limit the 
authority of the Commission to place an institution on a reimbursement 
system of payment.
    (b) Eligible Certificate Program Enrollee.--In this section, the 
term ``eligible certificate program enrollee'' means an individual 
who--
            (1) is a State or local election official, an employee of a 
        State or local election official, or an employee of the 
        Commission;
            (2) certifies to the Commission their enrollment in an 
        accredited certificate program in election administration or 
        cybersecurity; and
            (3) submits to the Commission--
                    (A) a receipt or other verification determined 
                appropriate by the Commission of the tuition amount for 
                such certificate program; and
                    (B) an application at such time, in such manner, 
                and containing such information as the Commission may 
                require.
    (c) Amount of Grants.--The amount of a grant for an eligible 
certificate program enrollee under this section for a year shall be an 
amount equal to 75 percent of the tuition amount for the accredited 
certificate program in election administration or cybersecurity for the 
year.
    (d) Additional Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Accredited certificate program in election 
        administration or cybersecurity.--The term ``accredited 
        certificate program in election administration or 
        cybersecurity'' means a program in election administration or 
        cybersecurity that leads to a certificate, or other nondegree 
        recognized credential, at an eligible institution.
            (2) Eligible institution.--The term ``eligible 
        institution'' means an institution of higher education (as 
        defined under section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
        (20 U.S.C. 1001)) that--
                    (A) offers an accredited certificate program in 
                election administration or cybersecurity; and
                    (B) elects to participate in the program 
                established under this section.
    (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section--
            (1) $1,000,000 for fiscal year 2023; and
            (2) such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 
        2024 through 2030.
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