An amendment numbered 39 printed in House Report 111-182 to establish an Overseas Voting Advisory Board that will conduct studies and issue reports and have hearings on the abilities of and obstacles to overseas voting, the successes and failures of the Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) under the Department of Defense, and any administration efforts to increase overseas voter participation.

1. Adds SEC. 586. OVERSEAS VOTING ADVISORY BOARD at the end of subtitle H of title V

   Adds a section

   Inserted: SEC. 586. OVERSEAS VOTING ADVISORY BOARD.

   Inserted: (a) Establishment; Duties.--There is hereby established the Overseas Voting Advisory Board (hereafter in this Act referred to as the "Board").

   Inserted: (b) Duties.--

   Inserted: (1) In general.--The Board shall conduct studies and issue reports with respect to the following issues:

   Inserted: (A) The ability of citizens of the United States who reside outside of the United States to register to vote and vote in elections for public office.

   Inserted: (B) Methods to promote voter registration and voting among such citizens.

   Inserted: (C) The effectiveness of the Director of the Federal Voting Assistance Program under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act in assisting such citizens in registering to vote and casting votes in elections.

   Inserted: (D) The effectiveness of the administration and enforcement of the requirements of the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act.

   Inserted: (E) The need for the enactment of legislation or the adoption of administrative actions to ensure that all Americans who are away from the jurisdiction in which they are eligible to vote because they live overseas or serve in the military (or are a spouse or dependent of someone who serves in the military) are able to register to vote and vote in elections for public office.

   Inserted: (2) Reports.--In addition to issuing such reports as it considers appropriate, the Board shall transmit to Congress a report not later than March 31 of each year describing its activities during the previous year, and shall include in that report such recommendations as the Board considers appropriate for legislative or administrative action, including the provision of funding, to address the issues described in paragraph (1).

   Inserted: (3) Committee hearings on annual report.--During each year, the Committees on Armed Services of the House of Representatives and Senate, the Committee on House Administration of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate may each hold a hearing on the annual report submitted by the Board under paragraph (2).

   Inserted: (c) Membership.--

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   Inserted: (1) Appointment.--The Board shall be composed of 5 members appointed by the President not later than 6 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, of whom--

   Inserted: (A) 1 shall be appointed from among a list of nominees submitted by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;

   Inserted: (B) 1 shall be appointed from among a list of nominees submitted by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives;

   Inserted: (C) 1 shall be appointed from among a list of nominees submitted by the Majority Leader of the Senate; and

   Inserted: (D) 1 shall be appointed from among a list of nominees submitted by the Minority Leader of the Senate.

   Inserted: (2) Qualifications.--An individual may serve as a member of the Board only if the individual has experience in election administration and resides or has resided for an extended period of time overseas (as a member of the uniformed services or as a civilian), except that the President shall ensure that at least one member of the Board is a citizen who resides overseas while serving on the Board.

   Inserted: (3) Terms of service.--

   Inserted: (A) In general.--Except as provided in subparagraph (B), each member shall be appointed for a term of 4 years. A member may be reappointed for additional terms.

   Inserted: (B) Vacancies.--A vacancy in the Board shall be filled in the manner in which the original appointment was made. Any member appointed to fill a vacancy occurring before the expiration of the term for which the member's predecessor was appointed shall be appointed only for the remainder of that term. A member may serve after the expiration of that member's term until a successor has taken office.

   Inserted: (4) Pay.--

   Inserted: (A) No pay for service.--A member shall serve without pay, except that a member shall receive travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in accordance with applicable provisions under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code.

   Inserted: (B) Reimbursement of travel expenses by director.--Upon request of the Chairperson of the Board, the Director of the Federal Voting Assistance Program under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act shall, from amounts made available for the salaries and expenses of the Director, reimburse the Board for any travel expenses paid on behalf of a member under subparagraph (A).

   Inserted: (5) Quorum.--3 members of the Board shall constitute a quorum but a lesser number may hold hearings.

   Inserted: (6) Chairperson.--The members of the Board shall designate one member to serve as Chairperson.

   Inserted: (d) Staff.--

   Inserted: (1) Authority to appoint.--Subject to rules prescribed the Board, the chairperson may appoint and fix the pay of such staff as the chairperson considers necessary.

   Inserted: (2) Application of civil service laws.--The staff of the Board shall be appointed subject to the provisions of title 5, United States Code, governing appointments in the competitive service, and shall be paid in accordance with the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of that title relating to classification and General Schedule pay rates.

   Inserted: (3) Experts and consultants.--Subject to rules prescribed by the Board, the Chairperson may procure temporary and intermittent services under section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code.

   Inserted: (4) Staff of federal agencies.--Upon request of the Chairperson, the head of any Federal department or agency may detail, on a reimbursable basis, any of the personnel of that department or agency to the Board to assist it in carrying out its duties under this Act.

   Inserted: (e) Powers.--

   Inserted: (1) Hearings and sessions.--The Board may, for the purpose of carrying out this Act, hold hearings, sit and act at times and places, take testimony, and receive evidence as the Board considers appropriate. The Board may administer oaths or affirmations to witnesses appearing before it.

   Inserted: (2) Obtaining official data.--The Board may secure directly from any department or agency of the United States information necessary to enable it to carry out this Act. Upon request of the Chairperson, the head of that department or agency shall furnish that information to the Board.

   Inserted: (3) Mails.--The Board may use the United States mails in the same manner and under the same conditions as other departments and agencies of the United States.

   Inserted: (4) Administrative support services.--Upon the request of the Board, the Administrator of General Services shall provide to the Board, on a reimbursable basis, the administrative support services necessary for the Board to carry out its responsibilities under this Act.

   Inserted: (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be appropriated to the Board such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section for fiscal year 2010 and each succeeding fiscal year.

   Original wording

   At the end of subtitle H of title V (page 175, after line 11), add the following new section:

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As printed