The Appropriations Financial Services Subcommittee approved a bill by voice vote Monday night that grants $600 million to the Election Assistance Commission to increase election security.
Pushed by House Democrats, it’s precisely designated for states to purchase voter verified paper ballots, which would hike up anti-hacking defense.
This bill is a direct result of foreign interference and special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation, the Hill reported.
“This is not a partisan matter,” said Rep. Mike Quigley, D-Ill., chairman of the subcommittee. “If anything, the challenge of securing our election systems should be a uniting force among Americans.”
The bill will most likely run into challenges becoming law, as the funding was less than the $1 billion envisioned in the legislation, which Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said he has no intention of bringing to the floor, according to Bloomberg.
Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., said last week that he doesn’t believe security legislation will go anywhere.
“At this point I don’t see any likelihood that those bills would get to the floor if we mark them up,” he said.
The next step for the bill is approval from the full House Appropriations Committee. Because of other funding such as immigration and abortion services, heavy Republican opposition is likely.
