Home > 106th Congressional Bills > H.R. 5665 (ih) To amend title IV of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to adjust the monthly multiemployer plan benefit guaranteed thereunder. [Introduced in House] ...H.R. 5665 (ih) To amend title IV of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to adjust the monthly multiemployer plan benefit guaranteed thereunder. [Introduced in House] ...
106th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 5664
To establish the 21st Century Bipartisan Electoral Commission to make
recommendations to carry out a Voters' Bill of Rights for the 21st
century, and for other purposes.
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IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
December 14, 2000
Mr. Markey introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committees on
the Judiciary, and Commerce, 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
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish the 21st Century Bipartisan Electoral Commission to make
recommendations to carry out a Voters' Bill of Rights for the 21st
century, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Voters' Bill of Rights for the 21st
Century''.
SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING RIGHTS OF AMERICAN VOTERS.
It is the sense of Congress that American voters in the 21st
century should be entitled to the following rights:
(1) The right to a ballot format that permits clear
identification of candidates and the accurate implementation of
voter's preferences in the selection of candidates.
(2) The right in the Information Age to use a technology to
select candidates that is fair and user friendly.
(3) The right to vote in a manner not prejudiced by media
announcements of election results in time zones where the polls
have closed or when races are too close to call.
(4) The right to vote in a manner not subject to
intimidation.
(5) The right of members of the uniformed service and
civilians who vote by absentee ballot to have their votes
counted on Election Day.
(6) The right to have a uniform statewide standard for
counting and recounting all votes.
(7) The right to have an Electoral College which reflects
the preferences of voters in a fair and accurate manner.
(8) The right to have complaints about elections and
election contests resolved fairly, accurately, and efficiently.
(9) The right to vote on a day of the week which maximizes
voter turnout.
(10) The right to make the most informed decision on
Election Day.
TITLE I--21ST CENTURY BIPARTISAN ELECTORAL COMMISSION
SEC. 101. ESTABLISHMENT; PURPOSE.
(a) Establishment.--There is hereby established the 21st Century
Bipartisan Electoral Commission (hereafter in this Act referred to as
the ``Commission'').
(b) Purpose.--It is the purpose of the Commission to protect and
enforce the rights described in section 2 by carrying out the duties
specified under this title.
SEC. 102. MEMBERSHIP; APPOINTMENT.
(a) Membership.--The Commission shall be composed of 20 members
with the qualifications described in subsection (b), who shall be
appointed as follows:
(1) 5 shall be appointed by the majority leader of the
House of Representatives, of whom not more than 2 may be
elected officials and not fewer than 3 shall be individuals who
are not officers or employees of the Federal Government.
(2) 5 shall be appointed by the minority leader of the
House of Representatives, of whom not more than 2 may be
elected officials and not fewer than 3 shall be individuals who
are not officers or employees of the Federal Government.
(3) 5 shall be appointed by the majority leader of the
Senate, of whom not more than 2 may be elected officials and
not fewer than 3 shall be individuals who are not officers or
employees of the Federal Government.
(4) 5 shall be appointed by the minority leader of the
Senate, of whom not more than 2 may be elected officials and
not fewer than 3 shall be individuals who are not officers or
employees of the Federal Government.
(b) Qualifications of Members.--
(1) In general.--Members shall be appointed from among
individuals who have expertise in Federal and State election
laws, the United States Constitution, voting rights, voting
technology or other pertinent qualifications or experience.
(2) Other considerations.--In appointing members of the
Commission, every effort shall be made to ensure that the
members represent a broad cross section of regional and
demographic perspectives in the United States.
(c) Period of Appointment; Vacancies.--(1) Members of the
Commission shall be appointed not later than 60 days after the date of
enactment of this Act. Appointments shall be for the life of the
Commission.
(2) Any vacancy in the Commission shall not affect the powers of
the Commission, and shall be filled in the same manner as the original
appointment.
(d) Chair and Vice Chair.--The members of the Commission shall
elect a chair and vice chair from among the members of the Commission,
except that the chair and vice chair may not belong to the same
political party.
(e) Schedule of Meetings and Hearings.--The Commission shall hold
meetings and hearings under such schedule as the chair may determine in
consultation with the vice chair.
(f) Quorum.--A majority of the members of the Commission shall
constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
SEC. 103. DUTIES.
(a) In General.--The duties of the Commission shall be as follows:
(1) The Commission shall develop a uniform ballot format
for Presidential elections that is clear, accurate, and
presents candidates in a readily recognizable way. The ballot
must be easy to use for all age groups and America's diverse
population.
(2) The Commission shall evaluate existing voting
technologies to determine their accuracy and effectiveness in
reflecting voter's intentions and report back to Congress on
the results with the intent of utilizing the most effective
methods in future elections.
(3) The Commission shall make recommendations to Congress
about the feasibility of a Federal matching grant program for
States to implement changes in ballot formats and to purchase
new, more accurate, and user-friendly voting machines and
tabulation technologies.
(4) The Commission shall make recommendations about a
method of voter identification to ensure accurate recognition
of voters, while insuring that no voter is subject to
intimidation of any kind in casting votes.
(5) The Commission shall establish, in consultation with
the Secretary of Defense and the Postmaster General of the
United States, standards for military voting that address
issues of postmarks, witnessing, and time of receipt of ballots
to ensure that the votes of members of the uniformed services
are counted on Election Day.
(6) The Commission shall establish standards for civilian
absentee ballots that address issues of voter identification,
witnessing, and time of receipt to ensure that these ballots
are counted on Election Day.
(7) The Commission shall make recommendations to establish
a uniform poll closing time.
(8) The Commission shall make recommendations on the
appropriateness of changing Election Day in Presidential
election years to the first Sunday in November to increase
voter participation.
(9) The Commission shall reassess the electoral college and
evaluate strategies to better reflect voters intentions across
the country for electing the President and Vice President in
the 21st century, whether by leaving the current provisions
unchanged, using only the direct popular vote, using
proportional electoral college votes depending on the popular
vote in each State, or by such other strategies as it may
consider.
(10) The Commission shall examine State laws to determine
whether or not each State has a uniform statewide standard for
vote tabulation, protests, and contests of national, State, and
local elections which would protect against equal protection
violations under the Constitution.
(11) The Commission shall make recommendations on
conducting a 21st Century Voter Education Campaign to make its
recommendations and the implementation of those recommendations
available to the public through a variety of media.
(b) Consultation With Officials.--In carrying out its duties under
this section, the Commission shall seek guidance from the governors of
the States and from State and local election officials.
SEC. 104. FINAL REPORT.
(a) In General.--Not later than 24 months after the date of the
initial meeting of the Commission, the Commission shall submit to the
President and the Congress a final report including--
(1) the findings and conclusions of the Commission with
respect to each duty specified under section 103(a); and
(2) recommendations for addressing the problems identified
as part of the Commission's analysis.
(b) Separate Views.--Any member of the Commission may submit
additional findings and recommendations as part of the final report.
SEC. 105. POWERS.
(a) Hearings.--The Commission may hold such hearings, sit and act
at such times and places, take such testimony, and receive such
evidence as the Commission may find advisable to fulfill the
requirements of this Act.
(b) Information From Federal Agencies.--The Commission may secure
directly from any Federal department or agency such information as the
Commission considers necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act.
Upon request of the chairperson of the Commission, the head of such
department or agency shall furnish such information to the Commission.
(c) Postal Services.--The Commission may use the United States
mails in the same manner and under the same conditions as other
departments and agencies of the Federal Government.
SEC. 106. COMMISSION PERSONNEL MATTERS.
(a) Compensation.--Members of the Commission shall serve without
pay, but shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu
of subsistence, at rates authorized for employees of agencies under
subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, while away
from their homes or regular places of business in the performance of
services for the Commission.
(b) Staff.--(1) The chairperson of the Commission may appoint staff
of the Commission, request the detail of Federal employees, and accept
temporary and intermittent services in accordance with section 3161 of
title 5, United States Code.
(2) The employment of an executive director of the Commission shall
be subject to the approval of the Commission.
(3) The rate of pay for the executive director and other personnel
of the Commission may not exceed the rate payable for level V of the
Executive Schedule under section 5316 of such title.
SEC. 107. SUPPORT SERVICES.
The Administrator of General Services shall provide to the
Commission on a reimbursable basis such administrative support services
as the Commission may request.
SEC. 108. WEBSITE.
The Commission shall establish and operate a website to facilitate
public comment on and participation in its activities.
SEC. 109. TERMINATION.
The Commission shall terminate not later than 30 days after the
date the Commission submits its final report under section 104.
SEC. 110. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated $10,000,000 for the
Commission to carry out this Act, to remain available for the first 3
fiscal years which begin after the date of the enactment of this Act.
TITLE II--REVIEW OF ROLE OF MEDIA
SEC. 201. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING VOLUNTARY AGREEMENT ON ELECTION
REPORTING BY MEDIA.
It is the sense of Congress that broadcasters and other members of
the media should review and take steps to strengthen their
participation in the voluntary agreement on election reporting
described in the report entitled ``Single Poll Closing Time for
Presidential General Elections in the Continental United States'' (Part
1 of House Report 101-15, One Hundred First Congress, as printed on
March 23, 1989).
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