Rep. Kildee Supports Legislation to Strengthen Michigan’s Election Security

Thursday, June 27, 2019

Contact: Robyn Bryan, 202-256-6655, Robyn.Bryan@mail.house.gov 

Rep. Kildee Supports Legislation to Strengthen Michigan’s Election Security

Bills Support Efforts to Protect Integrity of Election Systems, Requires Paper Ballots and Helps Defend Against Foreign Interference

 WASHINGTON—Congressman Dan Kildee (MI-05), Chief Deputy Whip of the House Democratic Caucus, today applauded the passage of legislation he co-sponsored to strengthen election infrastructure in Michigan and across the nation.

The House advanced both the Securing America’s Federal Elections (SAFE) Act, as well as appropriations legislation to help fund election security grants to states, including Michigan, and increase funding to the Election Assistance Commission. The SAFE Act would require the use of voter-verified paper ballots—a widely agreed upon reform to protect our elections from manipulation—and implements much needed cyber security safeguards to further strengthen our elections infrastructure. Additionally, the bill provides resources for states to replace outdated and vulnerable voting equipment to ensure that our elections are secure and accurate.

“The Mueller report revealed that the Russians waged an unprecedented attack on our elections to undermine our democracy, and we know they are working to attack our election systems again,” Congressman Kildee said. “This election security legislation is critical to protecting our democracy and upholding the integrity of our election systems. Now that the House has acted, Senator McConnell and Senate Republicans should act right away,” Congressman Kildee said.

The passage of the SAFE Act today in the House is the latest action by the new Democratic majority to make Congress work for the people. In recent weeks, the House passed other key pieces of legislation that await action in the U.S. Senate, including:

• H.R. 1, the For the People Act, to expand voting rights for Americans, reduce the dominance of big money in politics, and ensure that public officials work for the people, not special interests.

• H.R. 8, Bipartisan Background Checks Act, long-overdue gun violence prevention legislation that requires background checks for gun sales and transfers to keep guns out of the hands of criminals and bad actors. 
• H.R. 7, the Pay Check Fairness Act, which strengthens and closes loopholes in existing law, including the 1963 Equal Pay Act, to help ensure that women and men get paid the same if they are doing the same work.
• H.J. Res 46, a privileged resolution to terminate President Trump’s national emergency declaration to illegally fund his border wall on the U.S.-Mexico border.
• H.R. 1585, the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, which seeks to end instances of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking by improving law enforcement response to violence and funding local programs to support victims.
• H.R. 1644, the Save the Internet Act, which restores net neutrality protections, ensuring that the internet is open to all Americans and free from interference.
• H.R. 9, the Climate Action Now Act, which requires the Trump Administration to remain in the Paris Climate Accord, a global effort to combat climate change and its impacts.
• H.R. 986, the Protecting Americans with Pre-Existing Conditions Act, which helps to protect families from predatory junk insurance plans that do not offer comprehensive health care coverage, including coverage for pre-existing conditions.
• H.R. 987, the Strengthening Health Care and Lowering Prescription Drug Costs Act, which would help to rein in the soaring costs of health care and prescription drugs.
• H.R. 5, the Equality Act, which would ensure that all Americans—including lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Americans—would be protected from discrimination in employment, housing, credit, education, public spaces and services, federally funded programs, and jury service.
• H.R. 1994, the SECURE Act, which makes it easier for workers to save for retirement and invests in apprenticeship programs that help people get the training and skills they need for high-wage jobs.
• H.R. 6, the American Dream and Promise Act, which provides a path to lawful permanent resident status, and eventual citizenship, for DREAMers and those with Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and Deferred Enforced Departure (DED).