Additional Funds For Electoral Process

ADDITIONAL FUNDS FOR ELECTORAL PROCESS -- (Extensions of Remarks - September 15, 2004)

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I would like to submit the following statement on the FY 2005 Funding of the Federal Election and Election Assistance Commission. As Ranking Minority Member of the Committee on House Administration, I am especially interested in the Appropriations Committee's funding recommendation for the Federal Election Commission, the Election Assistance Commission and programs implementing the Help America Vote Act (HAVA). While these commissions and the programs they administer comprise a very small portion of the federal budget, the process of electing federal officials is critical to the health of our democracy.

I am pleased that the committee provided full funding for the Federal Election Commission (FEC). The FEC administers campaign-finance and presidential election laws, and in recent years it has received additional responsibilities.

Although the process has been contentious at times, I am happy to see that both sides of the committee came together and not only met the authorized funding of $10 million for the EAC, but exceed it by $5 million.

I recognize that the President's delay in appointing members to the EAC gave the commission a late start, but I remain hopeful that the EAC can regain lost time during the coming fiscal year. Given the 2000 Florida election debacle and widespread public interest in election procedures, we need to assure voters nationwide of the sanctity of their votes in the electronic age. In the coming year, I expect that the EAC will use this additional money to devote appropriate attention to standards and technology issues with the assistance of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

The EAC and its NIST partner must expedite the development of proper standards so the American people can realize the potential of HAVA, especially the election reform programs, which the Appropriations Committee also did not fund. The EAC must also establish the Help America Vote Foundation, as authorized by HAVA, so the foundation can help civic organizations encourage voter participation.

Implementing a new federal program like HAVA is often fraught with difficulty. In this case, however, there is not a moment to lose, for it is our democracy at risk. The Committee on House Administration looks forward to working with the FEC, the EAC, state election officials, and interest groups to ensure that federal election laws and programs achieve their important purpose.

Again, I would like to commend the Chairman and Ranking Minority Member of the Transportation-Treasury subcommittee for including this critical funding for the EAC.