1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Invest in Our Democracy Act of 2019”.
Invest in Our Democracy Act of 2019
A BILL
To provide grants to support continuing education in election administration or cybersecurity for election officials and employees.
2. Sense of Congress
It is the sense of Congress that—
free and fair elections are central to our democracy;
protecting our elections from foreign adversaries is a national security priority;
the States conduct elections and it is important to maintain State leadership in election administration;
the States deserve Federal support to secure our elections from interference by foreign nations; and
election security in the United States will benefit from continued education and investment in the individuals that administer our elections.
3. Supporting continuing education for election officials and employees
Program authority and method of distribution— The Election Assistance Commission (in this section referred to as the “Commission”) shall establish a program under which the Commission pays to each eligible institution such sums as may be necessary to pay to each eligible certificate program enrollee (as defined in subsection (b)) for each academic year during which that enrollee is enrolled in an accredited certificate program in election administration or cybersecurity in the amount for which that enrollee is eligible, as determined pursuant to subsection (c). Not less than 85 percent of such sums shall be advanced to eligible institutions prior to the start of each payment period and shall be based upon an amount requested by the institution as needed to pay eligible certificate program enrollees until such time as the Commission determines an alternative payment system that provides payments to institutions in an accurate and timely manner, except that this sentence shall not be construed to limit the authority of the Commission to place an institution on a reimbursement system of payment.
Eligible certificate program enrollee— In this section, the term eligible certificate program enrollee means an individual who—
is a State or local election official, an employee of a State or local election official, or an employee of the Commission;
certifies to the Commission their enrollment in an accredited certificate program in election administration or cybersecurity; and
submits to the Commission—
a receipt or other verification determined appropriate by the Commission of the tuition amount for such certificate program; and
an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Commission may require.
Amount of grants— The amount of a grant for an eligible certificate program enrollee under this section for a year shall be an amount equal to 75 percent of the tuition amount for the accredited certificate program in election administration or cybersecurity for the year.
Additional definitions— In this section:
Accredited certificate program in election administration or cybersecurity— The term accredited certificate program in election administration or cybersecurity means a program in election administration or cybersecurity that leads to a certificate, or other nondegree recognized credential, at an eligible institution.
Eligible institution— The term eligible institution means an institution of higher education (as defined under section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001)) that—
offers an accredited certificate program in election administration or cybersecurity; and
elects to participate in the program established under this section.
Authorization of appropriations— There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section—
$1,000,000 for fiscal year 2021; and
such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2028.