FAIR Map Act

Bill: 116-hr-2057
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. McNerney, Jerry [D-CA-9]
Introduced: 2019-04-03
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Congressional districts and representation

Congressional oversight

Geography and mapping

Government studies and investigations

State and local government operations
Latest action: action_date: 2019-05-15
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.

Summaries:
action_date: 2019-04-03
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><strong>Fair And Inclusive Redistricting Map Act or the FAIR Map Act</strong></p> <p>This bill directs the Department of Justice to enter into an agreement with the National Academies under which it shall conduct a study to (1) develop guidelines, best practices, and examples to aid states in drawing congressional district maps; and (2) define metrics related to factors such as maintaining geographic contiguity and compactness, respecting communities of interest, and maintaining partisan fairness.</p>

tv_txt: I 116th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2057 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES April 3, 2019 Mr. McNerney introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary A BILL To direct the Attorney General to enter into an agreement with the National Academies to conduct a study to develop guidelines, best practices, and examples for congressional redistricting.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Fair And Inclusive Redistricting Map Act or the FAIR Map Act . 2. Congressional District Map Study (a) In General Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Attorney General shall enter into an agreement with the National Academies under which the National Academies shall conduct a study to— (1) develop guidelines, best practices, and examples consistent with the criteria in subsection (b) to aid States in drawing congressional district maps; and (2) define metrics, limitations to such metrics, and other factors for the criteria in subsection (b). (b) Map Criteria (1) Requirements The guidelines, best practices, and examples developed under subsection (a) shall— (A) comply with the Constitution of the United States, including the requirement of equal population; and (B) comply with the Voting Rights Act of 1965 ( 52 U.S.C. 10301 et seq.). (2) Considerations The guidelines, best practices, and examples developed under subsection (a) shall consider factors related to— (A) maintaining geographic contiguity and compactness; (B) respecting natural and existing political boundaries; (C) respecting communities of interest; and (D) maintaining partisan fairness. (c) Completion of Study The Study required under subsection (a) shall be completed at the later of— (1) January 1, 2021; or (2) the date that is 1 year after the date of the agreement in subsection (a). (d) Report After the completion of the study, the Attorney General shall submit to Congress and make publicly available the results of the study described in subsection (a). 3. Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this Act.