ACE Act

Bill: 118-hr-4563
Sponsor: Rep. Steil, Bryan [R-WI-1]
Introduced: 2023-07-11 in the House
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Accounting and auditing
Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Advisory bodies
Books and print media
Broadcasting, cable, digital technologies
Census and government statistics
Citizenship and naturalization
Civil actions and liability
Computer security and identity theft
Computers and information technology
Congressional districts and representation
Congressional elections
Congressional leadership
Congressional officers and employees
Congressional operations and organization
Congressional oversight
Constitution and constitutional amendments
Contracts and agency
Crimes against property
Department of Homeland Security
Department of the Treasury
Digital media
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
District of Columbia
Education programs funding
Election Assistance Commission
Elections, voting, political campaign regulation
Employee hiring
Executive agency funding and structure
Federal Election Commission (FEC)
Federal district courts
Federal officials
First Amendment rights
Government buildings, facilities, and property
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Higher education
House of Representatives
Immigration status and procedures
Inflation and prices
Intergovernmental relations
Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
Judicial procedure and administration
Libraries and archives
Licensing and registrations
Manufacturing
Military personnel and dependents
Political advertising
Political parties and affiliation
Postal service
Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents
Right of privacy
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
Senate
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
State and local government operations
Subversive activities
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers
Tax-exempt organizations
User charges and fees
Voting rights

Summary:
action_date: 2023-07-11
text: 

American Confidence in Elections Act or the ACE Act

This bill addresses election administration and security, campaign finance, and other related provisions.

Specifically, the bill directs the Election Assistance Commission's (EAC's) Standards Board and Local Leadership Council to issue voluntary considerations for states about various aspects of election administration.

Additionally, the bill 

reduces certain election assistance payments for states and local jurisdictions that allow noncitizens to vote;

requires states to provide designated congressional election observers with full access to observe the administration procedures of federal elections;

prohibits federal agencies from using funds made available for salaries and expenses to solicit or enter into agreements with nongovernmental organizations to conduct voter registration or voter mobilization activities on the agency's property or website; 

prohibits federal funds for election administration for states that allow ballot harvesting, with exceptions;

establishes various requirements for elections in the District of Columbia;

makes various changes to the EAC; and

prohibits foreign nationals from making contributions or donations in connection with state or local ballot initiatives or referenda.

The bill also establishes the Twentieth Amendment Section Four Panel, which must recommend to Congress model legislation to resolve any vacancy created by the death of a candidate in a contingent presidential or vice-presidential election.

The bill makes changes to campaign finance, including by (1) repealing limits on coordinated party expenditures, and (2) prohibiting federal funds from being used to make payments in support of a congressional election campaign. It also makes changes to the Federal Election Commission.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2025-01-03
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 825.
action_date: 2025-01-03
text: Committee on Rules discharged.
action_date: 2025-01-03
text: Committee on Rules discharged.
action_date: 2025-01-03
text: Committee on Oversight and Accountability discharged.
action_date: 2025-01-03
text: Committee on Oversight and Accountability discharged.
action_date: 2025-01-03
text: Committee on Financial Services discharged.
action_date: 2025-01-03
text: Committee on Financial Services discharged.
action_date: 2025-01-03
text: Committee on Education and the Workforce discharged.
action_date: 2025-01-03
text: Committee on Education and the Workforce discharged.
action_date: 2025-01-03
text: Committee on Homeland Security discharged.
action_date: 2025-01-03
text: Committee on Homeland Security discharged.
action_date: 2025-01-03
text: Committee on Intelligence (Permanent) discharged.
action_date: 2025-01-03
text: Committee on Intelligence (Permanent) discharged.
action_date: 2025-01-03
text: Committee on Science, Space, and Technology discharged.
action_date: 2025-01-03
text: Committee on Science, Space, and Technology discharged.
action_date: 2025-01-03
text: Committee on Ways and Means discharged.
action_date: 2025-01-03
text: Committee on Ways and Means discharged.
action_date: 2025-01-03
text: Committee on the Judiciary discharged.
action_date: 2025-01-03
text: Committee on the Judiciary discharged.
action_date: 2025-01-03
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on House Administration. H. Rept. 118-978, Part I.
action_date: 2025-01-03
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on House Administration. H. Rept. 118-978, Part I.
action_date: 2023-07-13
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
action_date: 2023-07-13
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 8 - 4.
action_date: 2023-07-11
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection.
action_date: 2023-07-11
text: Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Ways and Means, Science, Space, and Technology, Intelligence (Permanent Select), Homeland Security, Education and the Workforce, Financial Services, Oversight and Accountability, and Rules, 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: 2023-07-11
text: Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Ways and Means, Science, Space, and Technology, Intelligence (Permanent Select), Homeland Security, Education and the Workforce, Financial Services, Oversight and Accountability, and Rules, 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: 2023-07-11
text: Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Ways and Means, Science, Space, and Technology, Intelligence (Permanent Select), Homeland Security, Education and the Workforce, Financial Services, Oversight and Accountability, and Rules, 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: 2023-07-11
text: Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Ways and Means, Science, Space, and Technology, Intelligence (Permanent Select), Homeland Security, Education and the Workforce, Financial Services, Oversight and Accountability, and Rules, 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: 2023-07-11
text: Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Ways and Means, Science, Space, and Technology, Intelligence (Permanent Select), Homeland Security, Education and the Workforce, Financial Services, Oversight and Accountability, and Rules, 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: 2023-07-11
text: Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Ways and Means, Science, Space, and Technology, Intelligence (Permanent Select), Homeland Security, Education and the Workforce, Financial Services, Oversight and Accountability, and Rules, 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: 2023-07-11
text: Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Ways and Means, Science, Space, and Technology, Intelligence (Permanent Select), Homeland Security, Education and the Workforce, Financial Services, Oversight and Accountability, and Rules, 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: 2023-07-11
text: Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Ways and Means, Science, Space, and Technology, Intelligence (Permanent Select), Homeland Security, Education and the Workforce, Financial Services, Oversight and Accountability, and Rules, 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: 2023-07-11
text: Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Ways and Means, Science, Space, and Technology, Intelligence (Permanent Select), Homeland Security, Education and the Workforce, Financial Services, Oversight and Accountability, and Rules, 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: 2023-07-11
text: Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Ways and Means, Science, Space, and Technology, Intelligence (Permanent Select), Homeland Security, Education and the Workforce, Financial Services, Oversight and Accountability, and Rules, 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: 2023-07-11
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2023-07-11
text: Introduced in House