{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://lee.house.gov/news/press-releases/congresswoman-barbara-lee-supports-election-reform", "CONGRESSWOMAN BARBARA LEE SUPPORTS ELECTION REFORM", "2001-12-12", "2001", "2001-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Barbara Lee", "L000551", "lee.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.12.01\n\t\t\t CONGRESSWOMAN BARBARA LEE SUPPORTS ELECTION REFORM \n\t\t\tWashington, DC B\r\nCongresswoman Lee today supported House passage by a vote of 363-63, H.R. 3295,\r\nthe Help America Vote Act, which begins to reform the nation=s\r\nelectoral system in response to problems identified during the 2000 presidential\r\nelections.\r\nThe bill authorizes $2.65 billion over three years to recruit and train poll\r\nworkers, improve the accuracy of voting registration lists, and enhance\r\naccessibility for people with disabilities. Included in the funding is a\r\none-time payment of $400 million to states or counties to replace punch-card\r\nvoting systems or upgrade voting equipment. H.R. 3295 requires states to adopt\r\nminimum standards for voting, including the creation of statewide voter\r\nregistration lists linked to local precincts, a uniform definition of what\r\nconstitutes a vote and provisional ballots to allow voters whose names don=t\r\nappear on voter registration lists to cast a ballot that would be counted later\r\nif their registration was later verified.\r\n\r\nAOne of the main reasons I voted in favor of H.R. 3295\r\nis that the bill provides $400 million to replace the outdated, unfair\r\npunch-card voting machines,@\r\nsaid Lee. AAlameda\r\nCounty uses these machines, but wants to upgrade to more advanced, easy-to-use\r\nvoting machines. The funding included in this bill will help Alameda County and\r\nother jurisdictions throughout the nation get rid of the much-reviled chads once\r\nand for all.@\r\n\r\nSenator Chris Dodd (D-CT) has introduced S. 565 in the Senate that is\r\nidentical to H.R. 1170 introduced by Congressman John Conyers (D-MI) and\r\nco-sponsored by Congresswoman Lee. These bills permit voters to verify their\r\nvote on a ballot before it is cast and counted and correct any voting errors\r\nprior to casting and counting. It requires voting systems to be accessible for\r\nindividuals with disabilities and other individuals with special needs, and\r\nprovide the same opportunity of privacy and independence. It also requires that\r\nall voting systems provide assistance to individuals with limited proficiency in\r\nthe English language. The Assistant Attorney General of the Office of Civil\r\nRights at the Department of Justice would oversee enforcement of the law.\r\n\r\nAI am extremely disappointed that provisions included\r\nin the Conyers bill, which I strongly support, were not included in H.R. 3295\r\nnor were allowed to be offered as amendments,@\r\nsaid Lee. AThe\r\nlegislation that is sent to the president must contain provisions included in\r\nthe Conyers bill, and it is my hope that the Senate will move to pass a stronger\r\nbill this year.@\r\n\r\nAThe bill passed today will serve as a stepping stone\r\nto true electoral reform,@\r\nsaid Lee. ADemocracy\r\nis at a crossroads, and when Congress returns next year, we must fight\r\ntirelessly to build upon the election reforms in H.R. 3295. We must ensure that\r\nno voter is ever again disenfranchised from our democratic process.@\r\n\r\n###\r\n\r\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\n \n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://lee.house.gov/news/press-releases/congresswoman-barbara-lee-supports-election-reform"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 2.174300141632557, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}