,i #aaith ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #edjg ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,september #af1 #bjbe,mr4 ,morelle 7for himself1 ,ms4 ,sewell1 ,mrs4 ,torres of ,california1 and ,ms4 ,johnson of ,texas7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,house ,administration ,a ,,bill ,to require certain ,states to submit a continuity of operations plan for elections in the event of a major disaster1 to require the ,comptroller ,general of the ,united ,states to report on assistance for election administration in the event of a major disaster1 and to require the ,election ,assistance ,commission to award grants to strengthen elections against climate change-driven disasters1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,climate ,resilient ,elections ,act4 #b4 ,findings ,congress makes the following findings3 7#a7 ,in ,january #bjag1 the ,department of ,homeland ,security determined that the ,nation's election infrastructure qualifies as critical infrastructure for national security purposes4 7#b7 ,according to the ,department of ,homeland ,security1 this designation recognizes that the ,united ,states' election infrastructure is of such vital importance to the ,american way of life that its incapacitation or destruction would have a devastating effect on the country4 7#c7 ,election administration consistently faces substantial threats because of severe natural disasters4 ,delayed elections or damaged or destroyed polling places1 voting machines1 ballots1 or transportation and utility infrastructure may disenfranchise voters1 undermine confidence in elections1 or even alter election outcomes4 7#d7 ,hurricane ,sandy made landfall in ,new ,york and ,new ,jersey just days before the #bjab presidential election1 displacing as many as #ggf1jjj residents and causing unprecedented election administration challenges4 ,the jurisdictions most affected by ,hurricane ,sandy saw significantly worse voter turnout in the #bjab presidential election than those unaffected by the storm4 7#e7 ,in #bjaf1 ,california experienced #ab major fires in the three months leading up to ,election ,day4 ,in #bjah1 the ,state experienced #ae major fires leading up to ,election ,day4 ,these fires displaced voters1 burned residences1 and damaged polling stations4 ,climate change has extended wildfire season in the ,american west into the late ,fall3 ,on ,november #h1 #bjah1 just two days after ,election ,day1 the ,camp ,fire ignited1 eventually claiming #he lives and destroying over #ah1jjj structures--the deadliest fire in ,california history4 ,evacuation orders because of wildfires displace hundreds of thousands of voters each year1 well into the days leading up to the election4 7#f7 ,in #bjah1 ,hurricane ,michael hit the ,florida panhandle just #bg days before the midterm elections1 causing at least #af deaths1 damaging or destroying an estimated #dj1jjj homes1 and resulting in approximately #be billion in damages4 ,the destruction displaced tens of thousands of voters and forced the closure of polling places1 significantly depressing turnout amongst voters recovering from the hurricane who were forced to travel longer distances to cast a ballot4 7#g7 ,in #bjba1 ,hurricane ,ida forced the ,governor of ,louisiana to delay several elections1 scheduled for ,october1 and relocate and consolidate polling places due to devastating damage4 ,in the hardest hit parts of the ,state1 some voters had to cast their ballots in large tents because of the significant damage4 7#h7 ,in #bjbb1 voters in ,kentucky displaced by tornadoes that ravaged the ,state in the months leading up to the primary election had to vote absentee in order to cast a ballot in their home counties4 7#i7 ,hurricane ,helene caused significant damage and devastation throughout the southeastern ,united ,states--particularly in ,florida1 ,georgia1 ,north ,carolina1 ,south ,carolina1 ,tennessee1 and ,virginia--when it made landfall in ,september #bjbd4 ,the hurricane's destruction was extreme1 occurring during the early and mail voting period for the ,november #bjbd elections and displacing thousands while disrupting mail services for countless voters who rely on the ,united ,states ,postal ,service to cast a ballot4 7#aj7 ,hurricane ,milton caused billions of dollars in damage1 spawned numerous deadly tornadoes1 and displaced countless voters less than a month before the ,november #bjbd elections4 7#aa7 ,the ,united ,states ,election ,assistance ,commission has published a web page on contingency planning to help election officials prepare for unexpected circumstances1 including natural and other disasters4 7#ab7 ,the ,united ,states ,forest ,service has declared that in the past #bj years1 many ,states have had record catastrophic wildfires1 harming people1 communities and natural resources and causing billions of dollars in damage4 ,in running #e-year average number of structures destroyed by wildfires each year rose from #b1hgc in #bjad to #ab1bee in #bjbj--;a fourfold increase in just six years4 ,as these trends continue1 the impacts of climate change on ,american lives and ,american infrastructure will grow4 7#ac7 ,the ,national ,oceanic and ,atmospheric ,administration has cautioned that extreme weather events caused by climate change that bring heavy rains1 floods1 wind1 snow1 or temperature changes can stress existing structures and facilities4 ,increased temperatures require more indoor cooling1 which can put stress on an energy grid4 ,sudden heavy rainfall can lead to flooding that shuts down highways and major business areas4 ,each of these factors may strain election infrastructure if they occur during a voting period4 7#ad7 ,the ,department of ,defense has declared that rising temperatures1 changing precipitation patterns1 and more frequent1 extreme1 and unpredictable weather conditions caused by climate change are worsening existing security risks and creating new challenges for the ,united ,states4 ,these security risks and challenges are amplified when they threaten the elections that form the bedrock of our ,republic4 7#ae7 ,the ,department of ,energy has noted that severe weather--the leading cause of power outages and fuel supply disruption in the ,united ,states--is projected to worsen1 with eight of the #aj most destructive hurricanes of all time having happened in the last #aj years4 ,the catastrophic effects of severe weather threaten the sanctity of ,american elections1 and we must ensure that our election systems are prepared for worsening climate change-based weather events4 7#af7 ,the ,department of the ,interior has clarified that the climate crisis disproportionately affects underserved communities4 ,these communities already face significant barriers to the ballot4 7#ag7 ,president ,trump's budget request proposes the elimination of the ,election ,security ,grants funding program that supports ,state and local election administration1 in addition to drastic cuts to the ,election ,assistance ,commission--cuts that would harm ,states' ability to conduct secure1 safe1 and fair elections in the face of natural disasters4 7#ah7 ,it is incumbent upon election administrators nationwide to ensure the resiliency of our elections--and through our elections1 our very democracy--in the face of the worsening climate crisis4 #c4 ,ensuring election administrators prepare and retain continuity of operations plans for use in the event of disaster 7a7 ,requirement ,title ,,ix of the ,help ,america ,vote ,act of #bjjb 7#eb ,u4,s4,c4 #baada et seq47 is amended by adding at the end the following3 #ijg4 ,continuity of operations plan requirement 7a7 ,in general ,each ,state that receives a grant or other payment under this ,act after the date of the enactment of this section-- 7#a7 shall1 not later than ,september #cj1 #bjbh1 submit to the ,commission a continuity of operations plan to ensure the successful administration of elections in the event of disaster1 accounting for the disasters most likely to occur in the jurisdiction of such recipient1 including a major disaster 7as defined in section #ajb of the ,robert ,t4 ,stafford ,disaster ,relief and ,emergency ,assistance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #eabb772 7#b7 shall1 not later than ,september #cj1 #bjcc1 and not less frequently than every #e years thereafter until ,september #cj1 #bjdc1 update such plan to reflect evolving risks or changing conditions and promptly submit the updated version of such plan to the ,commission2 7#c7 may1 after ,september #cj1 #bjdc1 update such plan to reflect evolving risks or changing conditions and submit the updated version of such plan to the ,commission2 7#d7 shall retain each plan submitted under paragraph 7#a71 7#b71 or 7#c7 until the date that is #e years after the date such plan was submitted to the ,commission2 and 7#e7 may coordinate with the ,commission1 other ,states1 ,tribal governments1 units of local government1 or other resources or entities when preparing such plan4 7b7 ,publication ,the ,commission shall disseminate to the public 7through the internet1 published reports1 and other methods the ,commission considers appropriate7 any continuity of operations plan received pursuant to this section1 except that no information so disseminated may expose personally identifiable information or endanger national security1 public infrastructure1 or public safety4 4 7b7 ,clerical amendment ,the table of contents of such ,act is amended by inserting after the item relating to section #ijf the following new item3 ,sec4 #ijg4 ,continuity of operations plan requirement4 4 #d4 ,report on voter registration and ,federal assistance for election administration in the event of a major disaster 7a7 ,in general ,the ,comptroller ,general of the ,united ,states shall conduct-- 7#a7 an analysis of the effect of natural disasters on voter registration rates in areas affected by such disasters2 7#b7 an analysis of ways that the ,federal ,government may better assist ,states and units of local government in the administration of elections in the event of a covered major disaster1 including the ways existing ,federal resources in regions potentially affected by such a covered major disaster that are not allocated to life-saving or national security measures should be engaged to support election infrastructure2 and 7#c7 a study of legislative authorizations1 if any are needed1 that ,congress may consider to ensure the efficient and effective deployment of emergency resources to support election infrastructure in the event that the ,president declares a covered major disaster4 7b7 ,report ,not later than ,september #cj1 #bjbf1 the ,comptroller ,general shall submit to the ,committee on ,house ,administration of the ,house of ,representatives and the ,committee on ,rules and ,administration of the ,senate a report on the analysis and study required under subsection 7a74 7c7 ,limitation on authority ,no provision of this ,act may be construed to authorize any power of the ,federal ,government to seize or hold any ballot or voting machine4 #e4 ,grants for strengthening ,american elections against climate change-driven disasters 7a7 ,in general ,the ,election ,assistance ,commission shall make grants to assist ,states in strengthening the resiliency of ,state voting systems against potential covered major disasters to improve the quality1 reliability1 accuracy1 accessibility1 affordability1 and security of voting equipment1 election systems1 and voting technology4 7b7 ,use of funds ,a ,state shall use the funds provided under a grant made under this section to carry out one or more of the following activities3 7#a7 ,improving the administration of elections for ,federal office with specific regard to disaster preparedness4 7#b7 ,educating voters concerning ,state plans for election administration during or immediately after a covered major disaster4 7#c7 ,training election officials1 poll workers1 and election volunteers with respect to disaster preparedness4 7#d7 ,developing or publishing the continuity of operation plan required by section #c of this ,act4 7#e7 ,improving1 acquiring1 leasing1 modifying1 or replacing voting systems and technology and methods for casting and counting votes1 provided that such improvements1 acquisitions1 leases1 modifications1 or replacements will enhance the resiliency of a ,federal election in the ,state4 7#f7 ,establishing or modifying a toll-free hotline that voters may use to obtain information on how and where to vote in the event of a covered major disaster4 7c7 ,limitation ,a ,state may not use the funds provided under a grant made under this section-- 7#a7 to pay the costs associated with any litigation1 except to the extend that such costs otherwise constitute permitted uses of a grant under this section2 7#b7 for the payment of any judgment2 or 7#c7 for any use that would violate a ,state or ,federal court order4 7d7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there are authorized to be appropriated for grants under this section-- 7#a7 #bj1jjj1jjj for fiscal year #bjbf2 7#b7 #bj1jjj1jjj for fiscal year #bjbg2 7#c7 #bj1jjj1jjj for fiscal year #bjbh2 7#d7 #bj1jjj1jjj for fiscal year #bjbi2 and 7#e7 #bj1jjj1jjj for fiscal year #bjcj4 #f4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,covered major disaster ,the term covered major disaster means a major disaster declared by the ,president during the voting period of a ,federal election pursuant to section #dja of the ,robert ,t4 ,stafford ,disaster ,relief and ,emergency ,assistance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #eagj7 in response to-- 7,a7 a natural catastrophe1 including hurricane1 tornado1 storm1 high water1 wind-driven water1 tidal wave1 tsunami1 earthquake1 volcanic eruption1 landslide1 mudslide1 snowstorm1 extreme heat1 and drought2 7,b7 a fire1 flood1 or explosion1 regardless of cause2 or 7,c7 an act of terrorism4 7#b7 ,state ,the term ,state has the meaning given such term in section #ija of the ,help ,america ,vote ,act of #bjjb 7#eb ,u4,s4,c4 #baada74