SENATOR COLLINS’S AMENDMENT TO ELECTION REFORM BILL PASSES UNANIMOUSLY

WASHINGTON, D.C. – A bi-partisan amendment introduced by Senator Susan Collins that assures all states, regardless of size, will have an equal opportunity to secure federal grant assistance from the federal government in order to meet new federal election standards was passed unanimously this afternoon by the U.S. Senate.

The Senate is currently debating the Equal Protection of Voting Rights Act, which authorizes $3.5 billion in grants to states and localities to help cover the costs of meeting new voting system requirements. While the grant amounts are generous, there is no guarantee that each state will receive a meaningful portion of the total, even though each state must meet the same voting system requirements.

"My amendment addresses this concern in a straightforward way," said Senator Collins. "It would guarantee each state that submits a required application a fair but meaningful portion of the funds that are eventually appropriated for election reform. My amendment would guarantee each state one-half of one percent of the total grant funds. These state minimums would thus account for only 25 percent of the total appropriated grant funds, leaving 75 percent of the funds to be allocated through the application process prescribed by the legislation.

"My amendment is both fair and consistent with similar grant programs created by Congress."