U.S. Rep. Leonard Lance (R-NJ) on Sept. 5 offered support as a cosponsor of the U.S. House version of the Secure Elections Act, which would authorize the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as having the primary responsibility within the federal government for sharing information about election cybersecurity incidents, threats and vulnerabilities with other federal and election agencies.
“The Secure Elections Act should pass both chambers and be signed into law as soon as possible,” said Rep. Lance on Sept. 7. “I strongly oppose the reported efforts to delay this legislation and have added my name as a cosponsor in support.”
The Secure Elections Act, H.R. 6663, introduced on Aug. 10 by U.S. Rep. Tom Rooney (R-FL), is the House version of the same-named U.S. Senate bills, for which there are two versions: S. 2261 and S. 2593, both introduced by U.S. Sen. James Lankford (R-OK).
In addition to putting DHS in charge of election cybersecurity, the bill also would establish an Election Assistance Commission (EAC) advisory panel of independent experts to develop guidelines on election cybersecurity, including standards for procuring, maintaining, testing, auditing, operating, and updating election systems, according to the congressional record summary.
The proposal also would call on the EAC to award election system cybersecurity and modernization grants to states and election agencies to implement the advisory panel’s guidelines. Grants would be awarded to fix vulnerabilities identified via a cybersecurity evaluation, replace electronic voting systems that aren’t optical scanners that read paper ballots, and reimburse states for statistical audits of ballots in close federal elections, according to the summary.
“Russian entities are not backing down from their efforts to divide this country and sow distrust and confusion,” Rep. Lance said. “Critical election security funds, including $380 million for states to boost election infrastructure and another $300 million for the FBI to combat Russian cyberattacks, are already signed into law and allocated to state elections officials, including New Jersey.
“We need to do more to protect our essential democratic process,” he said.
Among the lawmakers joining Rep. Lance as a cosponsor of the bipartisan H.R. 6663 are U.S. Reps. Mimi Walters (R-CA) and James Himes (D-CT).
The Secure Elections Act also would provide security clearances to state election officials, according to a statement from Rep. Lance’s office.
H.R. 6663 on Aug. 10 was referred to the Committee on House Administration, as well as to the U.S. House Oversight and Government Reform Committee and the House Intelligence (Permanent Select) Committee. Both Senate versions are being debated in the U.S. Senate Rules and Administration Committee, which held hearings in June on S. 2261.