SAFE Act

Bill: 116-hr-2722
Sponsor: Rep. Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA-19]
Introduced: 2019-05-14 in the House
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Accounting and auditing
Adult education and literacy
Advisory bodies
Buy American requirements
Computer security and identity theft
Congressional elections
Congressional oversight
Disability and paralysis
Elections, voting, political campaign regulation
Foreign language and bilingual programs
Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Hearing, speech, and vision care
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Manufacturing
Public contracts and procurement
Research administration and funding
Research and development
Right of privacy
State and local government operations
Technology assessment
Telephone and wireless communication
Voting rights

Summary:
action_date: 2019-05-14
text: 

Securing America's Federal Elections Act or the SAFE Act

 
This bill addresses election security through grant programs and requirements for voting systems and paper ballots.
 
The bill establishes requirements for voting systems, including that systems (1) use individual, durable, voter-verified paper ballots; (2) make a voter's marked ballot available for inspection and verification by the voter before the vote is cast; (3) ensure that individuals with disabilities are given an equivalent opportunity to vote, including with privacy and independence, in a manner that produces a voter-verified paper ballot; and (4) be manufactured in the United States.
 
The National Science Foundation must award grants to study, test, and develop accessible voter-verified paper ballot voting and best practices to enhance the accessibility of such voting for individuals with disabilities, for voters whose primary language is not English, and for voters with difficulties in literacy.
 
The Election Assistance Commission (EAC) must award grants to states to (1) replace certain voting systems, carry out voting system security improvements, and implement and model best practices for ballot design, ballot instructions, and the testing of ballots; and (2) conduct risk-limiting audits.
 
States may use elections requirements payments to carry out activities related to election security.
 
 The EAC must provide for the testing of voting system hardware and software and decertify such technology that does not meet guidelines.

action_date: 2019-06-26
text: 

Securing America's Federal Elections Act or the SAFE Act

 
This bill addresses election security through grant programs and requirements for voting systems and paper ballots.
 
The bill establishes requirements for voting systems, including that systems (1) use individual, durable, voter-verified paper ballots; (2) make a voter's marked ballot available for inspection and verification by the voter before the vote is cast; (3) ensure that individuals with disabilities are given an equivalent opportunity to vote, including with privacy and independence, in a manner that produces a voter-verified paper ballot; (4) be manufactured in the United States; and (5) meet specified cybersecurity requirements, including the prohibition of the connection of a voting system to the internet. 
 
The National Science Foundation must award grants to study, test, and develop accessible voter-verified paper ballot voting and best practices to enhance the accessibility of such voting for individuals with disabilities, for voters whose primary language is not English, and for voters with difficulties in literacy.
 
The Election Assistance Commission (EAC) must award grants to states to replace certain voting systems, carry out voting system security improvements, and implement and model best practices for ballot design, ballot instructions, and the testing of ballots. 
 
States must carry out postelection risk-limiting audits for all federal elections, funded by the EAC.
 
States may use elections requirements payments from the EAC to carry out activities related to election security.
 
 The EAC must provide for the testing of voting system hardware and software and decertify such technology that does not meet guidelines.

action_date: 2019-06-27
text: 

Securing America's Federal Elections Act or the SAFE Act

 
This bill addresses election security through grant programs and requirements for voting systems and paper ballots.
 
The bill establishes requirements for voting systems, including that systems (1) use individual, durable, voter-verified paper ballots; (2) make a voter's marked ballot available for inspection and verification by the voter before the vote is cast; (3) ensure that individuals with disabilities are given an equivalent opportunity to vote, including with privacy and independence, in a manner that produces a voter-verified paper ballot; (4) be manufactured in the United States; and (5) meet specified cybersecurity requirements, including the prohibition of the connection of a voting system to the internet. 
 
The National Science Foundation must award grants to study, test, and develop accessible voter-verified paper ballot voting and best practices to enhance the accessibility of such voting for individuals with disabilities, for voters whose primary language is not English, and for voters with difficulties in literacy.
 
The Election Assistance Commission (EAC) must award grants to states to replace certain voting systems, carry out voting system security improvements, and implement and model best practices for ballot design, ballot instructions, and the testing of ballots. 
 
States must carry out postelection risk-limiting audits for all federal elections, funded by the EAC.
 
States may use elections requirements payments from the EAC to carry out activities related to election security.
 
 The EAC must provide for the testing of voting system hardware and software and decertify such technology that does not meet guidelines.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-06-28
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
action_date: 2019-06-27
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2019-06-27
text: On passage Passed by recorded vote: 225 - 184 (Roll no. 428). (text: CR H4207-4214)
action_date: 2019-06-27
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by recorded vote: 225 - 184 (Roll no. 428).(text: CR H4207-4214)
action_date: 2019-06-27
text: On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by recorded vote: 189 - 220 (Roll no. 427).
action_date: 2019-06-27
text: The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection.
action_date: 2019-06-27
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Rodney Davis (IL) motion to recommit with instructions, pending reservation of a point of order. The instructions contained in the motion seek to require the bill to be reported back to the House with an amendment to add a new section to the bill that would require each chief state election official to disclose the identity of any foreign national with access to certain voting materials, including ballots or voting machines. Subsequently, the point of order was withdrawn.
action_date: 2019-06-27
text: Mr. Davis, Rodney moved to recommit with instructions to the Committee on House Administration.
action_date: 2019-06-27
text: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H5243-5246)
action_date: 2019-06-27
text: POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - Pursuant to clause 1(c) of Rule 19, the Chair postponed further proceedings on H.R. 2722.
action_date: 2019-06-27
text: The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
action_date: 2019-06-27
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 2722.
action_date: 2019-06-27
text: Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 2722 and H.R. 3351. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 2722 under a closed rule with one hour of general debate. Also, the resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 3351 under a structured rule with one hour of general debate.
action_date: 2019-06-27
text: Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 460. (consideration: CR H5207-5223)
action_date: 2019-06-26
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 94.
action_date: 2019-06-26
text: Committee on Science, Space, and Technology discharged.
action_date: 2019-06-26
text: Committee on Science, Space, and Technology discharged.
action_date: 2019-06-26
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on House Administration. H. Rept. 116-129, Part I.
action_date: 2019-06-26
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on House Administration. H. Rept. 116-129, Part I.
action_date: 2019-06-24
text: Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 460 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 2722 and H.R. 3351. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 2722 under a closed rule with one hour of general debate. Also, the resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 3351 under a structured rule with one hour of general debate.
action_date: 2019-06-21
text: Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by the Yeas and Nays: 6 - 3.
action_date: 2019-06-21
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2019-05-14
text: Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2019-05-14
text: Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2019-05-14
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-05-14
text: Introduced in House