Holding Russia Accountable

“Russia has intolerably involved itself in our Nation’s democratic electoral process.”

- Congressman Lance, during floor debate on H.R. 3364

Lance Actions:

• Lead Republican sponsor of legislation protecting the Mueller investigation and future special counsel investigations.
• Lead Republican sponsor of House measure holding Russia accountable.
• One of the first Republican lawmakers to call for Attorney General Jeff Sessions to recuse himself from the Russia investigation.
• Voted YES on all spending bills fully funding the Mueller investigation.
• Only member of the New Jersey congressional delegation to cosponsor H.R. 4884, the Defending Elections from Threats by Establishing Redlines (DETER) Act, which would impose penalties on Russia or other foreign powers that engage in efforts to interfere in U.S. elections.
• One of the first Republican lawmakers to cosponsor The Russia Sanctions Review Act (H.R. 1059), which would codify sanctions imposed by the Obama Administration and restrict the President’s ability to waive or remove sanctions on Russia.
• One of eight Republican cosponsors of the Honest Ads Act (H.R. 4077), which makes online campaign ad disclosure more transparent in order to combat foreign disinformation during our elections.
• Voted YES on the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (H.R. 3364), which codifies sanctions on Russia and further sanctions Russia for election interference.  Lance also wrote to Secretary Tillerson following news reports of these sanctions not being implemented.
• Voted YES on the Cyber Diplomacy Act (H.R. 3776), which recognizes Russia’s effort to influence 2016 election and reestablishes the Department of State as the office responsible for combatting cyber-attacks by foreign governments.
• Cosponsor of the Fight Russian Corruption Act (H.R. 2820), which establishes an office in the Department of State dedicated to fighting illicit Russian activities aimed at eroding democratic governance
• Cosponsor of No Russian Diplomatic Access to Compounds Here in America Act or No Russian DACHA Act (H.R. 2798), which prevents the reopening of Russian facilities closed in response to election interference.

Lance's election security efforts:

VOTED YES on spending measure securing $380 million for the Election Assistance Commission.

“Our sacred electoral process must be protected.  I commend the federal U.S. Election Assistance Commission for providing help not only to New Jersey, but to every state and territory to secure the integrity of the election system.  I trust the excellent county and local officials who are constitutionally tasked with administering our elections and I hope and expect that federal assistance will be put to effective use.”

--- Congressman Lance, who supported the fiscal year 2018 spending measure in part because of the funds made available for the Help America Vote Act Election Security Program.

As a result of the Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2018, the U.S. Election Assistance Commission is administering federal grants through the 2018 Help America Vote Act Election Security Grant Program.  The purpose of a grant award is to assist states with activities to improve the administration of elections, including to enhance election technology and make election security improvements in accordance with the bipartisan Help America Vote Act.  Funding can include the following items: 

• 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 Department of Homeland Security or similar scans or assessments of existing election systems;
• Facilitate cybersecurity training for the state chief election official’s office and local election officials; and
• Implement establishing cybersecurity best practices for election systems and other activities that will improve the security of elections for federal office.

LANCE SUPPORTS New Jersey’s request for $9,757,450 in election security funds through the act.