119-hr4292

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4292 Introduced in House

    (IH) ]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
 H. R. 4292

 To establish within the legislative branch a Congressional Task Force 
 on Voting Rights of United States Citizen Residents of Territories of 
 the United States.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 July 2, 2025

 Ms. Plaskett (for herself and Mr. Moylan) introduced the following 
 bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

 A BILL

 To establish within the legislative branch a Congressional Task Force 
 on Voting Rights of United States Citizen Residents of Territories of 
 the United States.

 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. CONGRESSIONAL TASK FORCE ON VOTING RIGHTS OF UNITED STATES 
 CITIZEN RESIDENTS OF TERRITORIES OF THE UNITED STATES.

    (a) Findings Relating to Territorial Voting Rights.--Congress finds 
the following:

    (1) The right to vote is one of the most powerful 
 instruments residents of the territories of the United States 
 have to ensure that their voices are heard.

    (2) These Americans have played an important part in the 
 American democracy for more than 120 years.

    (3) Political participation and the right to vote are among 
 the highest concerns of territorial residents in part because 
 they were not always afforded these rights.

    (4) Voter participation in the territories consistently 
 ranks higher than many communities on the mainland.

    (5) Territorial residents serve and die, on a per capita 
 basis, at a higher rate in every United States war and conflict 
 since WWI, as an expression of their commitment to American 
 democratic principles and patriotism.

    (b) Task Force.--

    (1) Establishment.--There is established within the 
 legislative branch a Congressional Task Force on Voting Rights 
 of United States Citizen Residents of Territories of the United 
 States (in this section referred to as the ``Task Force'').

    (2) Membership.--The Task Force shall be composed of 15 
 members as follows:
        (A) One Member of the House of Representatives, who 
 shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of 
 Representatives, in coordination with the Chairman of 
 the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of 
 Representatives.
        (B) One Member of the House of Representatives, who 
 shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of 
 Representatives, in coordination with the Chairman of 
 the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of 
 Representatives.
            (C) Two Members of the House of Representatives, 
 who shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of 
 Representatives, in coordination with the Chairman of 
 the Committee on House Administration of the House of 
 Representatives.
            (D) One Member of the House of Representatives, who 
 shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House.
        (E) One Member of the House of Representatives, who 
 shall be appointed by the minority leader of the House 
 of Representatives, in coordination with the ranking 
 minority member of the Committee on Natural Resources 
 of the House of Representatives.
        (F) One Member of the House of Representatives, who 
 shall be appointed by the minority leader of the House 
 of Representatives, in coordination with the ranking 
 minority member of the Committee on the Judiciary of 
 the House of Representatives.
        (G) One Member of the House of Representatives, who 
 shall be appointed by the minority leader of the House 
 of Representatives, in coordination with the ranking 
 minority member of the Committee on House 
 Administration of the House of Representatives.
        (H) One Member of the Senate, who shall be 
 appointed by the majority leader of the Senate, in 
 coordination with the Chairman of the Committee on 
 Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate.
            (I) One Member of the Senate, who shall be 
 appointed by the majority leader of the Senate, in 
 coordination with the Chairman of the Committee on the 
 Judiciary of the Senate.
        (J) One Member of the Senate, who shall be 
 appointed by the majority leader of the Senate, in 
 coordination with the Chairman of the Committee on 
 Rules and Administration of the Senate.
        (K) One Member of the Senate, who shall be 
 appointed by the Majority Leader of the Senate.
            (L) One Member of the Senate, who shall be 
 appointed by the minority leader of the Senate, in 
 coordination with the ranking minority member of the 
 Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the 
 Senate.
            (M) One Member of the Senate, who shall be 
 appointed by the minority leader of the Senate, in 
 coordination with the ranking minority member of the 
 Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate.
        (N) One Member of the Senate, who shall be 
 appointed by the minority leader of the Senate, in 
 coordination with the ranking minority member of the 
 Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate.

    (3) Deadline for appointment.--All appointments to the Task 
 Force shall be made not later than 30 days after the date of 
 enactment of this Act.

    (4) Chair.--The Speaker shall designate one Member to serve 
 as chair of the Task Force.

    (5) Vacancies.--Any vacancy in the Task Force shall be 
 filled in the same manner as the original appointment.

    (6) Status update.--Not later than 180 days after the date 
 of the enactment of this Act, the Task Force shall provide a 
 status update to the House of Representatives and the Senate 
 that includes--
        (A) information the Task Force has collected; and
        (B) a discussion on matters that the chairman of 
 the Task Force deems urgent for consideration by 
 Congress.

    (7) Report.--Not later than one year after the date of the 
 enactment of this Act, the Task Force shall issue a report of 
 its findings to the House of Representatives and the Senate 
 regarding--
        (A) the economic and societal consequences (through 
 statistical data and other metrics) that come with 
 political disenfranchisement of United States citizens 
 in territories of the United States;
        (B) impediments to full and equal voting rights for 
 United States citizens who are residents of territories 
 of the United States in Federal elections, including 
 the election of the President and Vice President of the 
 United States;
            (C) impediments to full and equal voting 
 representation in the House of Representatives for 
 United States citizens who are residents of territories 
 of the United States;
            (D) recommended changes that, if adopted, would 
 allow for full and equal voting rights for United 
 States citizens who are residents of territories of the 
 United States in Federal elections, including the 
 election of the President and Vice President of the 
 United States;
        (E) recommended changes that, if adopted, would 
 allow for full and equal voting representation in the 
 House of Representatives for United States citizens who 
 are residents of territories of the United States; and
        (F) additional information the Task Force deems 
 appropriate.

    (8) Consensus views.--To the greatest extent practicable, 
 the report issued under paragraph

    (7) shall reflect the shared 
 views of all 15 Members, except that the report may contain 
 dissenting views.

    (9) Hearings and sessions.--The Task Force may, for the 
 purpose of carrying out this section, hold hearings, sit and 
 act at times and places, take testimony, and receive evidence 
 as the Task Force considers appropriate.

    (10) Stakeholder participation.--In carrying out its 
 duties, the Task Force shall consult with the governments of 
 American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana 
 Islands, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the United States 
 Virgin Islands.

    (11) Resources.--The Task Force shall carry out its duties 
 by utilizing existing facilities, services, and staff of the 
 House of Representatives and the Senate.

    (12) Termination.--The Task Force shall terminate upon 
 issuing the report required under paragraph

    (7) .
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