Congressman Gonzalez Announces Federal Funding to Protect the Democratic Process in Texas

WASHINGTON – Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15) announced that the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) is allocating over $23 million in Help America Vote Act (HAVA) Election Security Grant Program funding to the state of Texas for fiscal year 2018. The Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2018 included $380 million for the election security state grants that were authorized by the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (P.L. 107-252). These grants have not been appropriated since fiscal year 2010.

The 2018 HAVA Election Security Grants will assist each state, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, and the U.S. Virgin Islands with their efforts to improve the administration of elections for Federal office.

"It is imperative that we take steps now, ahead of the upcoming election cycle, to enhance election security and technology," Congressman Gonzalez said. "With this funding, we can more vigorously protect the integrity of American democracy and give the American people the free and fair election process that they are owed."

Specifically, these grants can help states:

• Replace voting equipment that only records a voter's intent electronically with equipment that utilizes a voter verified paper record;
• Implement a post-election audit system that provides a high level of confidence in the accuracy of the final vote tally;
• Upgrade election-related computer systems to address cyber vulnerabilities identified through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security or similar scans or assessments of existing election systems; and
• Facilitate cybersecurity training for the state election official's office and local election officials.

Funds are available as formula, non-competitive grants, and are effective once states receive grant notification letters from the EAC. States will receive letters by April 6, 2018 and can pull from the allotted amount and deposit into state election accounts, upon final submission of signed grant documentation and required certifications. Awards to implement HAVA protocols will be issued ahead of the 2018 elections once this process is completed.

Recently, the congressman joined 139 fellow House Democrats in a letter to President Donald J. Trump, requesting that the administration impose sanctions against Russia for meddling in the 2016 election. More specifically, to enforce H.R. 3364, Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act, legislation intended to counter Russian, Iranian, and North Korean aggression. The bill passed the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate with overwhelming bipartisan support last year. On March 15, 2018, the U.S. Department of the Treasury announced it would levy sanctions against various Russian entities and individuals that targeted our election infrastructure in 2016.