[House Hearing, 118 Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]


                MARKUP OF H.R. 7319, END ZUCKERBUCKS ACT 
                 OF 2024; H.R. 7321, ELECTRONIC FILING OF 
                 ELECTIONEERING COMMUNICATIONS REPORTS 
                 ACT; AND H.R. 4486, HIRING PREFERENCE 
                 FOR VETERANS AND AMERICANS WITH DIS-
                 ABILITIES ACT

=======================================================================

                                 MARKUP

                               BEFORE THE

                           COMMITTEE ON HOUSE
                             ADMINISTRATION

                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                    ONE HUNDRED EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS

                             SECOND SESSION

                               __________

                           FEBRUARY 14, 2024

                               __________

      Printed for the use of the Committee on House Administration
      
[GRAPHIC NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]      


                             www.govinfo.gov
                           www.cha.house.gov
                           
                              __________

                   U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE                    
55-012                      WASHINGTON : 2024                    
          
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------                             
                          
                   COMMITTEE ON HOUSE ADMINISTRATION

                    BRYAN STEIL, Wisconsin, Chairman

BARRY LOUDERMILK, Georgia            JOSEPH MORELLE, New York,
H. MORGAN GRIFFITH, Virginia              Ranking Member
GREG MURPHY, North Carolina          TERRI A. SEWELL, Alabama
STEPHANIE BICE, Oklahoma             NORMA TORRES, California
MIKE CAREY, Ohio                     DEREK KILMER, Washington
ANTHONY D'ESPOSITO, New York
LAUREL LEE, Florida

                      Mike Platt,  Staff Director 
                 Jamie Fleet,  Minority Staff Director 
                         
                         
                         C  O  N  T  E  N  T  S

                              ----------                              
                                                                   Page

                           Opening Statements

Chairman Bryan Steil, Representative from the State of Wisconsin.     1
Ranking Member Joseph Morelle, Representative from the State of 
  New York.......................................................     3

                       Submissions for the Record

House bill H.R. 4486.............................................     4
Morelle Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute to H.R. 4486.....     8
Morelle amendment to H.R. 4486...................................    11
Courthouse News Service article..................................    16
Election Assistance Commission and Rutgers University joint 
  report.........................................................    20
House bill H.R. 7319.............................................    81
Chairman Steil Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute to H.R. 
  7319...........................................................    87
Morelle amendment to H.R. 7319...................................    92
CNN article......................................................    97
House bill H.R. 7321.............................................   106
Roll call votes..................................................   109

 
MARKUP OF H.R. 7319, END ZUCKERBUCKS ACT OF 2024; H.R. 7321, ELECTRONIC 
  FILING OF ELECTIONEERING COMMUNICATIONS REPORTS ACT; AND H.R. 4486, 
   HIRING PREFERENCE FOR VETERANS AND AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT

                              ----------                              


                           February 14, 2024

                 Committee on House Administration,
                                  House of Representatives,
                                                    Washington, DC.
    The Committee met, pursuant to notice, at 10:19 a.m., in 
room 1310, Longworth House Office Building, Hon. Bryan Steil 
[Chairman of the Committee] presiding.
    Present: Representatives Steil, Loudermilk, Griffith, Bice, 
Carey, D'Esposito, Morelle, Sewell, and Kilmer.
    Staff present: Alexander Deise, Counsel; Caleb Hays, 
General Counsel and Deputy Staff Director; Thomas Lane, 
Elections Counsel and Director of Elections Coalitions; Kristen 
Monterroso, Director of Operations and Legislative Clerk; 
Caitlin O'Dell, Legal Assistant and Deputy Clerk; Michael 
Platt, Staff Director; Grace White, Communications Director; 
Jordan Wilson, Director of Member Services; Khalil Abboud, 
Minority Deputy Staff Director, Chief Counsel; Jamie Fleet, 
Minority Staff Director; Andrew Garcia, Minority Special 
Assistant; Sarah Nasta, Minority Elections Counsel; Sean 
Wright, Minority Chief Counsel; and Nikolas Youngsmith, 
Minority Elections Counsel.

    OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. BRYAN STEIL, CHAIRMAN OF THE 
 COMMITTEE ON HOUSE ADMINISTRATION, A U.S. REPRESENTATIVE FROM 
                           WISCONSIN

    Chairman Steil. The Committee on House Administration will 
come to order.
    I note that a quorum is present. Without objection, the 
chair is authorized to declare a recess at any time.
    As Chairman of this Committee, I am committed to bringing 
common-sense election integrity measures to the floor. Today we 
have an opportunity to strengthen Americans' confidence in our 
elections and to encourage participation.
    I want to thank the Ranking Member and his team for working 
with us to move measures through this Committee.
    Over the past year, we have held 10 hearings and two public 
roundtables, with 45 witnesses on the issues of voter 
confidence. Last week, we examined the influence private 
funding has on our elections.
    Zuckerbucks, a shorthand term for private funding of 
elections administration, has distorted Americans' confidence 
in our elections. In response to last week's hearing, we will 
consider legislation that removes preferential tax treatment 
for organizations that are providing this funding to State and 
local offices.
    This legislation will also prohibit the acceptance of 
private funding for elections administration in the Nation's 
capital where Congress has power, per article I, section 8, 
clause 17 of our Constitution, to exercise legislation in all 
cases whatsoever over the district.
    Outside of D.C., States across the country have stepped up 
to prevent undue influence from private funding in our 
elections. Today we can move one step further by passing the 
End Zuckerbucks Act of 2024.
    Earlier this week, I spoke with local election officials 
who are gearing up for the next election. Secure elections 
require proper administration. Election workers are an integral 
part of the process. They ensure our elections are administered 
fairly, transparently, and without bias.
    Next, we will also consider legislation that allows States 
to give a hiring preference to veterans and Americans with 
disabilities who are willing to serve as poll workers.
    I thank Mike Garcia of California for sponsoring this 
legislation, which is a component to the bill of the American 
Confidence in Elections Act.
    Veterans have served our Nation with distinction and 
commitment, and many are focused on continuing to serve our 
country. We want to recognize the important public service 
given by those Americans with disabilities. We must find ways 
to encourage more Americans to become poll workers, as our 
elections would not run smoothly without local and State 
election officials stepping up to serve their communities.
    I look forward to seeing Mr. Garcia's common-sense bill 
passed today to support our veterans and Americans with 
disabilities.
    Last, we will consider legislation to increase transparency 
in our elections. Since 2000, Congress has worked to require 
the FEC to make electronic filing mandatory for most political 
committees and other persons. However, these electronic filing 
requirements have not yet been expanded to cover electioneering 
communication reports.
    The bill we will consider today makes electronic filing 
mandatory for entities reporting more than $50,000 in 
electioneering communications in a calendar year. The bill 
increases transparency and accountability in our elections.
    Each of the bills considered today will increase confidence 
in our elections and promote transparency. I look forward to 
seeing these pass Committee.
    I will now recognize the Ranking Member, Mr. Morelle, for 5 
minutes for the purpose of offering an opening statement.

OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. JOSEPH MORELLE, RANKING MEMBER OF THE 
 COMMITTEE ON HOUSE ADMINISTRATION, A U.S. REPRESENTATIVE FROM 
                            NEW YORK

    Mr. Morelle. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman, to you and 
to the Members and staff who have worked with our team on the 
three bills in front of us.
    Pending the outcome of amendments that I may offer, I may 
support this legislation.
    All of the bills are related to the Committee's elections 
jurisdictions, and elections sit at the very heart, indeed, are 
the very heart of this country and our democracy.
    The franchise is a fundamental political right because it 
is the preservation of all rights. So many of the core rights 
that define us, the way we express ourselves, where and how we 
pray, if we do, who we build our lives with, when and how and 
whether we have children, all of those are guarded by the 
ballot box. As Members of the Committee on House 
Administration, we must be guardians of that ballot box. We 
must be custodians of the right to vote so generations to come 
will hold these same rights and freedoms that we cherish.
    It is incumbent upon us not only as elected Members of 
Congress but as Members of this Committee to do whatever we can 
to protect and preserve the right of every eligible American to 
participate without undue restrictions in the open and 
transparent elections that shape our national conversations.
    I will have more to say on the bills as they are called up 
for consideration individually, and I look forward to 
considering them and considering whether they do their part to 
strengthen our democracy and to protect our fundamental rights.
    With that, Mr. Chairman, I yield back.
    Chairman Steil. The gentleman yields back.
    Without objection, the opening statements of all other 
Members will be included in the record.
    As required by House rules, the substantive copy of the 
measures to be considered today have been made available to 
Members and the public at least 24 hours in advance.
    I now call up H.R. 4486, Hiring Preference for Veterans and 
Americans With Disabilities Act, sponsored by Congressman Mike 
Garcia of California, and a component to the American 
Confidence in Elections Act. This bill clarifies that with 
respect to hiring election workers, a State or local 
jurisdiction may give preference to veterans or individuals 
with disabilities.
    I will now yield 5 minutes to Mr. Loudermilk to speak on 
the bill.
    [House bill H.R. 4486 follows:]
    [GRAPHICS NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
    
    Mr. Loudermilk. Well, thank you, Mr. Chairman.
    I do want to lend my support for H.R. 4486. This bill will 
expand the existing preferential hiring treatment for veterans 
and Americans with disabilities to include election positions.
    As a veteran myself, I believe this is not only important 
to provide support to our veterans, many who come back from 
combat zones, from hazardous duty, and they are looking for 
gainful employment. A lot of times veterans find, especially 
those that may be in more infantry-oriented positions in the 
military, which are extremely important to the safety and 
security of our Nation, there are not quite so many private 
sector jobs available for someone who is a professional 
infantryman. Being able to get a position in such an important 
role is very important to our veterans.
    Beyond that, as a veteran myself, one thing that veterans 
are taught is to--attention to detail, and details matter very 
much. My experience in the military, there were rules, 
regulations, standard operating procedures, guidelines, 
checklists to guide us in a lot of the critical duties that we 
would have to do. The reason that there was so much critical 
information is because details matter, and also integrity 
matters when it comes to defending our freedom.
    Poll workers play an important role in the election 
process, and they help to promote free and fair elections. That 
is why it is important to have people that understand that 
details matter, that rules matter, that integrity matters, that 
law matters, and being able to make a decision not upon your 
just personal preference but by what the law requires and what 
the regulations require.
    Veterans have served our great Nation with distinction and 
commitment. As I said, their training and discipline and 
dedication make them an ideal choice for these roles.
    With those things in mind, Mr. Chairman, and also including 
Americans with disabilities in this hiring preference, we 
acknowledge that the contributions they can bring to our 
electoral process is invaluable.
    With this, I would like to urge my colleagues to support 
this bill.
    I yield back.
    Chairman Steil. The gentleman yields back.
    I will now recognize the Ranking Member, Mr. Morelle, if he 
would like to give a statement on the bill.
    Mr. Morelle. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
    I have an amendment at the desk.
    Mrs. Bice. Mr. Chairman?
    Mr. Morelle. Oh, I am sorry.
    Yes, I will reserve until it is appropriate----
    Chairman Steil. Very good.
    Mr. Morelle [continuing]. to offer the amendment.
    Chairman Steil. The clerk will please report the bill.
    The Clerk. H.R. 4486, to clarify the State or local----
    Chairman Steil. Without objection, the first reading of the 
bill is dispensed with.
    Also, without objection, the bill may be considered as read 
and opened to amendment at any point.
    [Morelle Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute to H.R. 
4486 follows:]
[GRAPHICS NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

    Chairman Steil. I now recognize myself to offer an 
Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute.
    The clerk will please report the amendment.
    The Clerk. Amendment in the nature----
    Chairman Steil. Without objection, the reading of the 
amendment is dispensed with.
    Without objection, the Amendment in the Nature of a 
Substitute will be considered as original text for the purpose 
of further amendment.
    Do any Members seek to be recognized?
    Mr. Morelle, for what purpose does the gentleman seek 
recognition?
    Mr. Morelle. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
    I now--sorry I jumped the gun. I have an amendment at the 
desk.
    Chairman Steil. The clerk will please distribute and report 
the amendment.
    Mrs. Bice. Mr. Chairman, I reserve a point of order.
    Chairman Steil. The gentlewoman from Oklahoma reserves a 
point of order.
    Mr. Morelle is recognized for 5 minutes in support of the 
amendment.
    Mr. Morelle. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
    [Morelle amendment to H.R. 4486 follows:]
[GRAPHICS NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
    
    It is vitally important that Congress does everything it 
can to ensure that people with disabilities are able to freely 
exercise their right to vote, but far too many people with 
disabilities continue to face significant barriers to the 
ballot box.
    An estimated 30 million eligible voters in the United 
States have disabilities, but according to a 2022 Election 
Assistance Commission report, one in five voters with 
disabilities either needed assistance or had difficulty voting 
in 2022. I think all Members of the Committee would find this 
unacceptable.
    According to the same report, people with disabilities have 
a 20 percent likelihood of having difficulties voting in person 
compared with just 6 percent for folks without disabilities, 
and the problem is nationwide.
    Last year, the United States Department of Justice filed a 
lawsuit against Los Angeles County alleging that the county 
discriminated against voters with disabilities by failing to 
comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. According to 
the Department of Justice, one voter that relied on a 
wheelchair had difficulty casting her ballot during the August 
2019 special election at a senior facility in Chatsworth, 
California, a town now represented by the bill's sponsor, 
Congressman Garcia.
    House Democrats have long sought to make voting access 
easier for voters with disabilities, including through the 
Freedom to Vote Act, which was opposed by Members of this--of 
the House Republican majority.
    The amendment would add a sense of Congress to the bill, 
simply clarifying that Congress has a duty to fully fund 
accessibility at voting locations to ensure that every 
American, regardless of whether they have disabilities, is able 
to access and cast a ballot.
    I urge my colleagues to support voters with disabilities by 
supporting the amendment.
    With that, Mr. Chair, I yield back.
    Chairman Steil. The gentleman yields back.
    Is there further debate on the amendment?
    I will now recognize myself for 5 minutes to speak on the 
amendment.
    In general, the sense of Congress, as proposed by my 
colleague, I am supportive of. As we look at section 5, I am 
supportive in theory. I think there is some details we would 
want to work out about how we would work through making sure 
that those funds are available.
    If the gentleman is interested in a friendly amendment of 
striking section 5 at this time, I would be willing to be 
supportive of the amendment. If he would like to insist, that 
is fine as well. We can vote on it in that manner.
    I do think it is worthy to explore this issue. I think it 
just would take us some additional time to make sure we dig 
through the details of what that funding structure would look 
like to make sure that our polling locations are accessible, 
which I think we broadly all share and understand is a true 
goal. I just want to make sure as we look at that funding 
structure that we get it right.
    I would--if the gentleman is interested in that friendly 
amendment, I would be supportive. If not, something we should 
definitely review and consider down the road.
    I am happy to yield to the gentleman.
    Mr. Morelle. Yes, thank you.
    I appreciate the willingness to work together. I feel like 
removing section 5 would undermine our efforts to find adequate 
funding, but--so I would prefer to leave it in. I recognize 
that may lose support here, but I also would welcome the 
opportunity to continue to talk about this issue moving 
forward.
    With that, I will yield back, Mr. Chair.
    Chairman Steil. The gentleman yields back.
    I reclaim my time.
    I appreciate that. I think it is something we should 
continue to work on. I am going to recommend a vote against 
this amendment at this time, but it is something that I am 
fully supportive of continuing the dialog to look for ways that 
we can make sure all of our polling locations are accessible to 
every American.
    I yield back.
    Is there further amendment--is there further debate on the 
amendment?
    Ms. Sewell is recognized.
    Ms. Sewell. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
    I am glad that we are discussing this legislation today 
because I would like to revisit our conversation on the ACE Act 
about making voting easier for our men and women in uniform.
    In 2020, only two-thirds of the military Members were 
registered to vote, compared to 83 percent of civilian voters. 
I wanted--I want to offer a straightforward amendment that 
would streamline resources for servicemembers by providing them 
with all of the key details that they need to know about the 
voting process, whether they are at home or abroad.
    However, in lieu of offering an amendment, I wanted to ask 
the Chairman if it would be--if he would be willing to have a 
follow-up conversation with me about this issue. I believe that 
we should be able to find a bipartisan solution that will 
ensure that all servicemen and -women have access to every 
possible avenue that can help them cast their ballots.
    Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I yield back.
    Chairman Steil. The gentlewoman yields back.
    Is there further debate on the amendment?
    Seeing none, does the gentlewoman from Oklahoma insist on 
her point of order?
    Mrs. Bice. No, Mr. Chairman. I yield back.
    Chairman Steil. If no, the question is on the amendment by 
the gentleman from New York.
    All those in favor, signify by saying aye.
    All those opposed, no.
    In the opinion of the chair, the ayes have it, and the 
amendment--in the opinion of the chair, the noes have it, and 
the amendment is not agreed to.
    Mr. Morelle. May I ask for a recorded vote, Mr. Chair?
    Chairman Steil. A roll call vote is requested.
    The clerk will please call the roll.
    The Clerk. Chairman Steil?
    Chairman Steil. No.
    The Clerk. Chairman Steil votes no.
    Mr. Loudermilk?
    Mr. Loudermilk. No.
    The Clerk. Mr. Loudermilk votes no.
    Mr. Griffith?
    Mr. Griffith. No.
    The Clerk. Mr. Griffith votes no.
    Dr. Murphy?
    [No response.]
    The Clerk. Mrs. Bice?
    Mrs. Bice. No.
    The Clerk. Mrs. Bice votes no.
    Mr. Carey?
    Mr. Carey. No.
    The Clerk. Mr. Carey votes no.
    Mr. D'Esposito?
    Mr. D'Esposito. No.
    The Clerk. Mr. D'Esposito votes no.
    Ms. Lee?
    [No response.]
    The Clerk. Mr. Morelle?
    Mr. Morelle. Yes.
    The Clerk. Mr. Morelle votes aye.
    Ms. Sewell?
    Ms. Sewell. Aye.
    The Clerk. Ms. Sewell votes aye.
    Mr. Kilmer? Mr. Kilmer?
    Mr. Kilmer. Aye.
    The Clerk. Mr. Kilmer votes aye.
    Mrs. Torres?
    [No response.]
    Chairman Steil. Have all Members voted?
    Does any Member wish to change their vote?
    The clerk will report the tally.
    The Clerk. Mr. Chairman, the noes are six, and the ayes are 
three.
    Chairman Steil. The amendment is not agreed to.
    Do any other Members seek recognition?
    If not, the--for what purpose does the gentleman seek 
recognition?
    Mr. Morelle. I would just ask to seek unanimous consent 
that the following be added to the record.
    First, a June 2023 article from the Courthouse News 
Service, ``Feds sue L.A. County over disenfranchised disabled 
voters,'' and the second is the Election Assistance Commission 
and Rutgers University joint report, Disability and Voting 
Accessibility in the 2022 Elections.
    Chairman Steil. Without objection.
    [The articles referred to follow:]
[GRAPHICS NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
    
    Chairman Steil. Does any other Member seek recognition?
    If not, the question now occurs on the Amendment in the 
Nature of a Substitute offered by myself.
    All those in favor, please signify by saying aye.
    All those opposed, no.
    In the opinion of the chair, the ayes have it, and the 
amendment is agreed to.
    The question now occurs on ordering H.R. 4486, as amended, 
reported favorably to the House.
    All those in favor, signify by saying aye.
    All those opposed, no.
    In the opinion of the chair, the ayes have it, and the 
motion to report is agreed to.
    Without objection, the motion to reconsider is laid upon 
the table.
    I now call up H.R. 7319, the End Zuckerbucks Act of 2024.
    The bill is sponsored by Representative Claudia Tenney of 
New York and cosponsored by Representative Tom Cole of 
Oklahoma.
    [House bill H.R. 7319 follows:]
[GRAPHICS NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
    
    Zuckerbucks, or the private funding of our elections, is 
election interference, plain and simple. Last week, we heard 
testimony explaining the outsized influence Zuckerbucks has 
played in our recent elections.
    The American Confidence in Elections Act, which passed out 
of our Committee last summer, ended this tax exempt status for 
501(c)(3) org groups like the Center for Tech and Civil Life 
that seek to influence our elections through private money.
    The bill combines Representative Tenney's End Zuckerbucks 
Act of 2023 with Mr. Cole's provisions to prohibit Zuckerbucks 
applied to the District of Columbia. As 27 States have now 
banned Zuckerbucks, Congress needs to take steps where the 
Constitution allows to ensure our elections are free from 
private influence.
    I will now yield 5 minutes to Mrs. Bice to speak on the 
bill.
    Mrs. Bice. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
    As we learned at last week's Zuckerbucks hearing, in the 
runup to the 2020 election, Mark Zuckerberg and his wife gave 
$350 million to the leftwing organization, the Center for Tech 
and Civil Life. CTCL then, in turn, contributed millions of 
dollars in the guise of COVID pandemic preparedness to swing 
States like Pennsylvania, Georgia, Wisconsin, Arizona, 
Michigan, Nevada, among others, to drive up Democrat turnout 
and help Joe Biden become President.
    Rep. Sewell even said last week, ``All of us can agree that 
no private funding should be funding our elections''.
    The private funding of election administration is bad 
policy. It does not ensure confidence in our elections. To be 
quite frank, if a rightwing group like the Koch brothers, for 
example, were providing these funds instead of CTCL, the 
Democrats on the other side would be rightly outraged.
    Last week's Zuckerbucks hearing also taught us that banning 
Zuckerbucks is bipartisan. Twenty-seven States have prohibited 
Zuckerbucks, including Pennsylvania, where its Democrat 
Governor signed the ban into law. Kansas, Kentucky, and North 
Carolina became law without the Governor's signature.
    In 2020, CTCL gave my home State of Oklahoma roughly $2.5 
million. In response to trying to take over the elections in 
Oklahoma, the legislature acted swiftly in banning Zuckerbucks.
    Federal law prohibits tax-exempt status for groups like 
CTCL that provide private funding to election offices across 
the country. It makes no sense that this legislation, rightly, 
removes that tax break.
    With that, Mr. Chairman, I yield.
    Chairman Steil. The gentlewoman yields back.
    The clerk will please report the bill.
    The Clerk. H.R. 7319----
    Chairman Steil. Without objection, the first reading of the 
bill is dispensed with.
    Also, without objection, the bill should be considered as 
read and open to amendment at any point.
    Chairman Steil. I now recognize myself to offer an 
Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute.
    [Chairman Steil Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute to 
H.R. 7319 follows:]
[GRAPHICS NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

    The clerk will please report the amendment.
    The Clerk. Amendment in the nature of a substitute----
    Chairman Steil. Without objection, the reading of the 
amendment is dispensed with.
    Without objection, the Amendment in the Nature of a 
Substitute will be considered as original text for the purpose 
of further amendment.
    Does any Member wish to seek recognition?
    For what purpose does the gentleman seek recognition?
    Mr. Morelle. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.
    Chairman Steil. The clerk will please distribute and report 
the amendment.
    The Clerk. Add at the end of the following: Secretary [sic] 
of, Federal payments to State and local government----
    Chairman Steil. Without objection, further reading of the 
amendment is dispensed with.
    [Morelle amendment to H.R. 7319 follows:]
[GRAPHICS NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
    
    Chairman Steil. For what purpose does the gentlewoman seek 
recognition?
    Mrs. Bice. I reserve a point of order.
    Chairman Steil. The gentlewoman from Oklahoma reserves a 
point of order.
    Mr. Morelle is recognized for 5 minutes in support of the 
amendment.
    Mr. Morelle. Thank you so much, Mr. Chairman.
    We had, as you indicated, a hearing on this topic last week 
during which I expressed my views on the bill. Frankly, nothing 
I heard in the testimony from witnesses gives me pause about 
charitable foundations offering support for election officials. 
I will not use more of the Committee's time by repeating the 
other things that I said last week, except to note that the 
newest version of this bill would once again violate the 
principles of home rule for the residents of the District of 
Columbia, which House Democrats have long supported.
    I also think this is a good opportunity for us to truly put 
our money where our mouths are. Election administrators have 
told us time and time again in hearings that we have had that 
they need additional funding to run safe and secure elections. 
Last week, we heard from one of our witnesses, Professor 
Zackary Mohr, about the significant costs of conducting 
elections in the United States.
    In his Fiscal Year 2024 budget, President Biden called on 
Congress to appropriate $5 billion over the course of a decade 
to support election administrators across the United States. 
This amendment would authorize that vital appropriation to this 
bill, because if this Committee plans on borrowing election 
administrators from receiving much needed supplemental support 
from nonpartisan, nonprofit organizations, the least we can do 
is ensure they have the resources they need to run safe, free, 
and fair elections.
    It would also require the Election Assistance Commission to 
speak to a bipartisan group of State and local election 
administrators and submit a report to the director of the 
Office of Management and Budget to ensure that the voices and 
views of local officials are heard in the budgeting process.
    Without this amendment, all this Committee is doing is 
cutting election administrators' legs out from under them, 
leaving them high and dry as we rapidly approach a nationwide 
and critical Presidential election.
    I urge my colleagues to support election administrators by 
supporting this amendment.
    Thank you, Mr. Chair. I yield back.
    Chairman Steil. The gentleman yields back.
    I will recognize myself for 5 minutes.
    I appreciate the gentleman's concern on funding for 
elections. I think it is something worthy of our conversation. 
We have done some work at this Committee as it relates to 
improving the grant-making process at the EAC. I think there is 
some real opportunities to continue on that work regarding 
transparency.
    I think the broader funding request in the--in this 
amendment is somewhat not germane. For purposes of this and 
maintaining our kind of collegial markup here, I am not going 
to make that a parliamentary procedure. I am going to recommend 
a vote against this because I do not think it really hits to 
the core of what we are trying to do, which is really address 
the fact that the private funding in our elections causes a 
reduction in people's confidence in their elections. I think we 
have a real opportunity to find that bipartisan support to 
remove that.
    I am willing to continue working and dialoguing on ways 
that we can improve the grant-making process through the EAC. I 
think it is important to make sure that our elections are 
properly funded. I think it is heavily dependent on State and 
local funding. We could have that debate elsewhere.
    I am gone to be recommending a no vote on the amendment, as 
offered, but I do appreciate the gentleman's concern to make 
sure that there is funding for our elections.
    I yield back.
    Is there further debate on the amendment?
    The gentleman from Virginia is recognized for 5 minutes.
    Mr. Loudermilk. I would agree in part and disagree in part 
with the Chairman.
    I agree that this is probably not the right time and place 
for this, but we need to have a discussion. My concern about 
the money--and the money always concerns me--but my concern 
about the money is is that we do not have anything in there 
that creates a level playing field or maybe addresses some of 
the problems, which is why I kind of like the study language, 
because we heard from actually the Democrat witness last week 
that you have to be careful because you want to make sure that 
the rural areas are probably getting a little more help because 
they need different help than they might need in the more urban 
areas.
    I think the study is a great idea. I think, before the 
study, it is premature to figure out whether or not we should 
be spending the money and how much we should be spending. I 
think we probably need to build in a formula to make sure that 
there is not a disparity between the various different types of 
populations. When I say that, I am not talking about the 
demographics of the people; I am talking about the geography of 
the land.
    I yield back.
    Chairman Steil. The gentleman yields back.
    Is there further debate on the amendment?
    Ms. Sewell. I move to strike the last word.
    Chairman Steil. The gentlewoman is recognized for 5 
minutes.
    Ms. Sewell. As the Ranking Member of the Election 
Subcommittee and the sponsor of the John Robert Lewis Voting 
Rights Advancement Act, I care deeply about our responsibility 
to ensure our elections are secure and accessible. However, 
elections cannot be secure or accessible if they are not 
properly funded.
    It saddens me that this Committee has chosen to pursue 
legislation that will suppress get out the vote efforts instead 
of focusing on properly funding our elections and expanding 
access to the ballot box.
    For far too long, election administrators have been turning 
rotten lemons into lemonade with inadequate resources. The 
consequences of inadequate resources is long lines, polling 
station changes without notification, ballot shortages. Far too 
often these consequences disproportionately impact minority 
communities.
    It is time that we address the funding gap by pursuing 
robust public funding to ensure that election workers have what 
they need to equitably run elections, protect election workers, 
and safeguard our democracy.
    When Republicans decide to join Democrats in adequately 
funding safe and accessible elections for all Americans, it 
will be open to considering proposals to eliminate private 
funding. However, I cannot help but notice that the House 
Republicans' Fiscal Year 2024 budget zeros out funding for 
election security grants in Fiscal Year 2024 budget during a 
Presidential election year.
    Congress cannot step in to provide assistance every once in 
a while. We have a responsibility to equitably fund elections 
every election cycle.
    Today's bill, I believe, is a distraction from the real 
issues facing voters. From fake robocalls funded by 
conservative operatives like Elon Musk spreading election 
disinformation and misinformation on his platform, rightwing 
interests seem hell-bent on keeping Americans from the ballot 
box.
    I will be voting no on the underlining legislation, yes on 
the amendment.
    I ask unanimous consent from the Chairman to put into the 
record this article entitled, ``How a Biden AI robocall in New 
Hampshire allegedly links back to a Texas strip mall.''
    Chairman Steil. Without objection.
    [The article referred to follows:]
[GRAPHICS NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
    
    Ms. Sewell. Mr. Chairman, since last week's hearing, new 
evidence has emerged about recent fake AI-generated robocalls 
urging New Hampshire voters not to vote for President Biden in 
the primary. It turns out that the funding stream behind these 
robocalls are linked to the same billionaire I talked about 
last week who funded Ms. Mollie Hemingway's organization, The 
Federalist. You may recall that Ms. Hemingway was one of the 
witnesses in last week's hearing for the majority.
    During last week's hearing, I made note of the connection 
between Ms. Hemingway's employer, who paid for the January 6th 
rally that led to the violent insurrection. It just so happens 
that Richard Euland (ph) is also the largest funder of the Life 
Corporation, the company responsible for the fake AI-generated 
robocalls to New Hampshire last month.
    I point this out not only as a hypocrisy but to note that 
we should really be worried about equitably funding every 
election, not just sometime. I cannot understand why the 
majority would totally zero out election integrity grants for 
the 2024 Presidential election.
    Nothing is more important than ensuring that all Americans 
have access to quality--to the ballot box and can vote for the 
candidate that they choose, free of any sort of AI-generated 
robocalls and other deceptions.
    With that, I yield back the balance of my time. I hope that 
we can work together on trying to figure out ways that we can 
actually adequately fund elections through public funding.
    Thanks.
    Chairman Steil. The gentlewoman yields back.
    Is there further debate on the amendment?
    Does the gentlewoman from Oklahoma insist on her point of 
order?
    Mrs. Bice. No, Mr. Chairman. I yield back.
    Chairman Steil. If no, the question is on the amendment by 
the gentleman from New York.
    All those in favor, signify by saying aye.
    All those opposed, no.
    In the opinion of the chair, the noes have it, and the 
amendment is not agreed to.
    Mr. Morelle. May I ask for a recorded vote?
    Chairman Steil. A roll call vote is requested.
    The clerk will please call the roll.
    The Clerk. Chairman Steil?
    Chairman Steil. No.
    The Clerk. Chairman Steil votes no.
    Mr. Loudermilk?
    Mr. Loudermilk. No.
    The Clerk. Mr. Loudermilk votes no.
    Mr. Griffith?
    Mr. Griffith. No.
    The Clerk. Mr. Griffith votes no.
    Dr. Murphy?
    [No response.]
    The Clerk. Mrs. Bice?
    Mrs. Bice. No.
    The Clerk. Mrs. Bice votes no.
    Mr. Carey?
    Mr. Carey. No.
    The Clerk. Mr. Carey votes no.
    Mr. D'Esposito?
    Mr. D'Esposito. No.
    The Clerk. Mr. D'Esposito votes no.
    Ms. Lee?
    [No response.]
    The Clerk. Mr. Morelle?
    Mr. Morelle. Yes.
    The Clerk. Mr. Morelle votes no.
    Ms. Sewell?
    Ms. Sewell. Aye.
    The Clerk. Yes. Mr. Morelle votes yes.
    Ms. Sewell?
    Ms. Sewell. Aye.
    The Clerk. Ms. Sewell votes aye.
    Mr. Kilmer?
    Mr. Kilmer. Aye.
    The Clerk. Mr. Kilmer votes aye.
    Mrs. Torres?
    [No response.]
    The Clerk. Mr. Chairman, on this vote, there are six noes 
and three ayes.
    Chairman Steil. The amendment is not agreed to.
    Do any other Members seek recognition?
    If not, the question now occurs on the Amendment in the 
Nature of a Substitute offered by myself.
    All those in favor, please signify by saying aye.
    All those opposed, no.
    In the opinion of the chair, the ayes have it, and the 
amendment is agreed to.
    Mr. Morelle. May I ask for a recorded roll call?
    Chairman Steil. A roll call vote is requested.
    The clerk will please call the roll.
    The Clerk. Chairman Steil?
    Chairman Steil. Aye.
    The Clerk. Chairman Steil votes aye.
    Mr. Loudermilk?
    Mr. Loudermilk. Aye.
    The Clerk. Mr. Loudermilk votes aye.
    Mr. Griffith?
    Mr. Griffith. Aye.
    The Clerk. Mr. Griffith votes aye.
    Dr. Murphy?
    [No response.]
    The Clerk. Mrs. Bice?
    Mrs. Bice. Aye.
    The Clerk. Mrs. Bice votes aye.
    Mr. Carey?
    Mr. Carey. Aye.
    The Clerk. Mr. Carey votes aye.
    Mr. D'Esposito?
    Mr. D'Esposito. Aye.
    The Clerk. Mr. D'Esposito votes aye.
    Ms. Lee?
    [No response.]
    The Clerk. Mr. Morelle?
    Mr. Morelle. No.
    The Clerk. Mr. Morelle votes no.
    Ms. Sewell?
    Ms. Sewell. No.
    The Clerk. Ms. Sewell votes no.
    Mr. Kilmer?
    Mr. Kilmer. No.
    The Clerk. Mr. Kilmer votes no.
    Mrs. Torres?
    [No response.]
    Chairman Steil. Have all Members voted? Have all Members 
voted?
    Does any Member wish to change their vote?
    The clerk will please report the roll.
    The Clerk. Mr. Chairman, on this vote, there are six ayes 
and three noes.
    Chairman Steil. The amendment is agreed to.
    The question now occurs on ordering H.R. 7319, as amended, 
reported favorably to the House.
    All those in favor, signify by saying aye.
    All those opposed, no.
    In the opinion of the chair, the ayes have it. The motion 
to report is agreed.
    Without objection, the motion to reconsider----
    Mr. Morelle. May I have a recorded vote on that?
    Chairman Steil. A recorded vote has been requested.
    The clerk will please call the roll.
    The Clerk. Chairman Steil?
    Chairman Steil. Aye.
    The Clerk. Chairman Steil votes aye.
    Mr. Loudermilk?
    Mr. Loudermilk. Aye.
    The Clerk. Mr. Loudermilk votes aye.
    Mr. Griffith?
    Mr. Griffith. Aye.
    The Clerk. Mr. Griffith votes aye.
    Dr. Murphy?
    [No response.]
    The Clerk. Mrs. Bice?
    Mrs. Bice. Aye.
    The Clerk. Mrs. Bice votes aye.
    Mr. Carey?
    Mr. Carey. Aye.
    The Clerk. Mr. Carey votes aye.
    Mr. D'Esposito?
    Mr. D'Esposito. Aye.
    The Clerk. Mr. D'Esposito votes aye.
    Ms. Lee?
    [No response.]
    The Clerk. Mr. Morelle?
    Mr. Morelle. No.
    The Clerk. Mr. Morelle votes no.
    Ms. Sewell?
    Ms. Sewell. No.
    The Clerk. Ms. Sewell votes no.
    Mr. Kilmer?
    Mr. Kilmer. No.
    Chairman Steil. Mr. Kilmer votes no.
    Mrs. Torres?
    [No response.]
    Chairman Steil. Have all Members voted?
    Does any Member wish to change their vote?
    The clerk will report the tally.
    The Clerk. Mr. Chairman, on this vote, the ayes are six and 
the noes are three.
    Chairman Steil. The order to report favorably to the House 
has been agreed to.
    Without objection, the motion to reconsider is laid on the 
table.
    I now call up H.R. 7321, the Electronic Filing of 
Electioneering Communication Reports Act, sponsored by Mr. 
Morelle of New York.
    The Ranking Member and I cosponsored this legislation. The 
bill amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to 
modernize certain reporting requirements for electioneering 
communications.
    The FEC, the Federal Election Communication--the Federal 
Election Commission, enforces Federal campaign finance laws 
that require entities to file electioneering communication 
reports. However, while Federal law requires almost all reports 
filed with the FEC to be done electronically, the 
electioneering communication report must be filed on paper in 
most cases.
    Unfortunately, paper filings are subject to delay due to 
post office processing or disruptions in the delivery of mail. 
Electronic filings are not. This legislation requires most 
electioneering reports to be filed electronically. This 
promotes transparency to the FEC, can publicly post--this 
promotes transparency as the FEC can publicly post these 
reports as soon as practical, rather than having to wait to 
receive the report in the mail.
    This legislative change has been a top priority of the 
nonpartisan legislative recommendations from the FEC in 2021, 
2022, and 2023. In addition to bipartisan support, we have 
worked with our Senate partners in crafting this language.
    I will now recognize the Ranking Member, Mr. Morelle, for 5 
minutes to speak on the legislation.
    Mr. Morelle. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
    This is a meaningful bipartisan act to ensure that the 
public receives important information about election-relevant 
communications. I am happy to introduce it with my friend and 
partner, the chair, Mr. Steil. I hope it can move rapidly to 
the floor and then to the President's desk for signature.
    As the Federal Election Commission has informed Congress, 
compared to data from paper records or paper reports, data from 
electronically filed reports is received, processed, and 
disseminated more easily and efficiently, resulting in better 
use of resources. Reports that are filed electronically are 
normally available to the public and may be downloaded within 
minutes. I agree, in contrast, paper filings take days to be 
available to provide critical information to the public.
    The Supreme Court has long recognized that disclosure 
requirements are vitally important to provide the electorate 
with information, quote, ``as to where political campaign money 
comes from and how it is spent,'' unquote.
    American voters are best equipped to choose our leaders 
when they have the most fulsome, most up-to-date information at 
hand. This bill will aid every American voter to exercise their 
fundamental rights.
    Again, thank you, Mr. Chair, for your cooperation and help 
of staff and the Members. I fully support this bill and hope we 
will ensure passage.
    Thank you, and I will yield back.
    Chairman Steil. The gentleman yields back.
    The clerk will please report the bill.
    The Clerk. H.R. 7321----
    Chairman Steil. Without objection, the reading of the bill 
is dispensed with.
    Without objection, the bill should be considered as read 
and open for amendment at any point.
    [House bill H.R. 7321 follows:]
[GRAPHICS NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

    Chairman Steil. Do any Members wish to seek recognition?
    Ms. Sewell, for what purpose does the gentlewoman seek 
recognition?
    Ms. Sewell. I move to strike the last word.
    Chairman Steil. The gentlewoman is recognized for 5 
minutes.
    Ms. Sewell. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
    I wanted to just echo the sentiments of Mr. Morelle that 
this is a common-sense bipartisan bill. Look forward to voting 
for it. I think it is really important that we provide timely 
disclosures of communications, election communications, to all 
persons. I think this goes to the heart of election integrity, 
and I fully support this bill and look forward to voting for 
it.
    Thanks.
    Chairman Steil. The gentlewoman yields back.
    Does any other Member seek recognition?
    If not, the question now occurs on ordering H.R. 7321, as 
amended.
    Reported favorably--not as amended because we did not amend 
it.
    If not, the question now occurs on ordering H.R. 7321 
reported favorably to the House.
    All those in favor, signify by saying aye.
    All those opposed, no.
    In the opinion of the chair, the ayes have it. The motion 
to report is agreed to.
    Without objection, the motion to reconsider is laid upon 
the table.
    This concludes the order of business for today's markup.
    Pursuant to House rule XI, clause 2(l), I ask that the 
Committee--I ask that Committee Members have the right to file 
with the clerk of the Committee supplemental, additional, 
minority, and dissenting views on each of the items marked up 
today.
    Without objection, also, the staff is authorized to make 
necessary technical and conforming changes.
    If there is no further business, I thank the Members for 
their participation.
    Without objection, the Committee on House Administration 
stands adjourned.
    [Whereupon, at 10:58 a.m., the Committee was adjourned.]
    [Roll call votes follow:]
[GRAPHICS NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

                                 [all]