Vernon Ehlers: “I commend the chairman's effort in crafting this important legislation and bringing it before us today. In particular, I…”

“I commend the chairman's effort in crafting this important legislation and bringing it before us today. In particular, I wish to thank him and his staff for working so closely with me in incorporating provisions of H.R. 2275, which I introduced with the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Barcia) and which was passed by the Committee on Science last year. My legislation established an independent commission charged with developing technical standards to ensure the usability, accuracy, security, accessibility, and integrity of voting systems. This concept is included in the conference report in section 221 in the form of the Technical Guidelines Development Committee. The conference report charges this committee with the duty of developing voluntary voting system guidelines and then recommending these technical standards to the newly created election assistance commission. I am seeking clarification from the chairman that it is his intent that these guidelines should include standards to ensure the usability, accuracy, security, accessibility, and integrity of voting systems, including those areas described in section 221(e)(2).”