Union Calendar No. 318
116th CONGRESS 2d Session |
[Report No. 116–396, Part I]
To direct the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the National Science Foundation to carry out research and other activities to promote the security and modernization of voting systems, and for other purposes.
November 8, 2019
Ms. Sherrill (for herself, Mr. Gonzalez of Ohio, Ms. Johnson of Texas, and Mr. Lucas) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and in addition to the Committee on House Administration, 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
February 13, 2020
Additional sponsors: Mr. Balderson, Ms. Kendra S. Horn of Oklahoma, Mr. Perlmutter, Mr. Lipinski, Mr. Van Drew, Mr. Case, Mr. Harder of California, Ms. Slotkin, and Ms. Kuster of New Hampshire
February 13, 2020
Reported from the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology with an amendment
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic]
February 13, 2020
Committee on House Administration discharged; committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed
[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on November 8, 2019]
To direct the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the National Science Foundation to carry out research and other activities to promote the security and modernization of voting systems, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SEC. 2. National Institute of Standards and Technology.
(a) Voting systems research.—The Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, in collaboration with the National Science Foundation as appropriate, shall carry out a program of research on voting systems, including—
(b) Elections systems center of excellence.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology shall make an award to an institution of higher education or an eligible nonprofit organization (or a consortium thereof) to establish a Center of Excellence in Election Systems.
(2) COLLABORATIONS.—The Director shall ensure that the Center of Excellence includes a collaboration of institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations, private sector entities, and State and local election officials.
(3) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the Center of Excellence shall be to—
(A) conduct measurement research and statistical analyses to inform the development of standards for technologies and processes that contribute to more secure, fair, and accessible elections;
(B) test and evaluate the security, usability, and accessibility of the technologies of voting systems, including the accessibility of poll book data by voters;
(C) research testing methods that could be used for the certification of voting system technologies;
(4) REQUIREMENTS.—
(A) IN GENERAL.—An institution of higher education or an eligible nonprofit organization (or a consortium thereof) seeking funding under this subsection shall submit an application to the Director at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Director may require.
(B) APPLICATIONS.—Each application under subparagraph (A) shall include a description of—
SEC. 3. National Science Foundation.
(a) Research grants.—The Director of the National Science Foundation, in collaboration with the National Institute of Standards and Technology and other relevant agencies, as appropriate, shall award basic research grants to increase the understanding of cyber and other threats to voting systems and to inform the development of technologies, processes, and policies that contribute to more secure, fair, and accessible elections, including research on—
(4) the human-technology interface, including the usability, accessibility, and comprehensibility of ballot design, ballot marking devices, and other components of such systems;
(b) Elections systems research center.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Director of the National Science Foundation, in consultation with the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the Secretary of Homeland Security, as appropriate, shall award grants to institutions of higher education or eligible nonprofit organizations (or consortia thereof) to establish at least 1 multidisciplinary center for elections systems research and education.
(2) CONSORTIA.—A consortia receiving an award under this subsection may include institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations, private sector entities, and State and local election officials.
(3) PURPOSE.—The purpose of a center established with a grant awarded under this subsection shall be to—
(A) conduct basic research to advance understanding of cyber and other threats to election systems and the conduct of secure, fair, and accessible elections;
(B) conduct research that may inform the development of technologies, processes, and policies that contribute to more secure, fair, and accessible elections;
(C) educate and train students studying in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields to conduct research relevant to election systems;
(4) REQUIREMENTS.—
(A) IN GENERAL.—An institution of higher education or an eligible nonprofit organization (or a consortium thereof) seeking funding under this subsection shall submit an application to the Director of the National Science Foundation at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Director may require.
(B) APPLICATIONS.—Each application under subparagraph (A) shall include a description of—
SEC. 4. Other activities of National Institute of Standards and Technology to promote security and modernization of voting systems.
(a) Common data format.—The National Institute of Standards and Technology shall establish and make publicly available common data format specifications for auditing, voter registration, and other elements of voting systems, and provide the specifications to the Technical Guidelines Development Committee of the Election Assistance Commission under section 221(e) of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 20961(e)).
(b) Elections systems certifications.—The National Institute of Standards and Technology shall work in collaboration with the Election Assistance Commission to update the process under which voting systems are certified pursuant to the Help America Vote Act of 2002 so that State and local election officials will be better able to carry out updates and otherwise modernize such systems.
(c) Technical assistance.—The Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology shall—
(1) provide technical assistance to State and local election officials on the implementation of cybersecurity standards, privacy standards, risk assessments, risk-limiting audits, and technologies which are incorporated in the voluntary voting system guidelines issued under the Help America Vote Act of 2002; and
Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit a report to Congress that—
(1) addresses the extent to which efforts by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to assist the Technical Guidelines Development Committee of the Election Assistance Commission in the development of voluntary voting systems guidelines have resulted in market-ready standardized voting equipment and software, and addresses the resources made available to NIST to carry out these activities;
(2) addresses efforts by NIST to monitor and review the performance of laboratories accredited by the Elections Assistance Commission and to make recommendations for continuing accreditation, increased voting technology reliability, and the number of accredited private laboratories, and addresses resources made available to NIST to carry out these activities; and
(3) addresses the extent to which the annual list of suggestions required to be submitted by NIST to the Election Assistance Commission for research issues for grants and pilot programs under section 271(d) of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21041) and the evaluation of grants and programs by NIST has improved voting technology and been successful in encouraging the implementation of new technologies in voting systems and equipment.
SEC. 6. Amendments to the Help America Vote Act of 2002.
Section 301(b) of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21081(b)) is amended—
(4) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following new paragraphs:
In this Act—
(1) the term “voting system” has the meaning given such term in section 301(b) of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21081(b)), as amended by section 6; and
Union Calendar No. 318 | |||||
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[Report No. 116–396, Part I] | |||||
A BILL | |||||
To direct the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the National Science Foundation to carry out research and other activities to promote the security and modernization of voting systems, and for other purposes. | |||||
February 13, 2020 | |||||
Reported from the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology with an amendment | |||||
February 13, 2020 | |||||
Committee on House Administration discharged; committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed |