Oversight Committee Passes Legislation Requiring Mail Ballots to Have Trackable Barcodes in Federal Elections

“In a country where a substantial portion of our citizens vote by mail, it is imperative that we have a strong, standardized system to track these ballots.  I am proud that today, the Committee passed my bill, the Vote by Mail Tracking Act, which would require all mail-in ballots to have a trackable barcode.  This legislation takes important steps to make our elections even more efficient and secure.”

Improving Efficiency and Security of Mail Voting in Federal Elections

Introduced by Chairwoman Maloney, the Vote by Mail Tracking Act would help the Postal Service more efficiently and effectively manage mail-in ballots in federal elections.  The bill requires all mail-in ballots to include a Postal Service trackable barcode and other stylistic requirements to make ballots easier to sort and track.

Supporting Air Traffic Controllers Who Devote Expertise After Retirement

The Committee approved the Continuity for Operators with Necessary Training Required for ATC Contract Towers (CONTRACT) Act of 2021, introduced by Reps. Julia Brownley and Rodney Davis.  This bill eliminates a penalty for air traffic controllers who devote their professional expertise to aviation safety after retirement.  The bill removes a provision that requires air traffic controllers, who must retire at age 56, to accept limitations on their pension benefits if they choose to work after retirement.

Specifically, the CONTRACT Act of 2021 would amend title 5 to allow retired federal air traffic controllers who choose to work at contract towers through the Federal Contract Tower Program to continue collecting their full retirement annuity.  This would eliminate a perverse incentive structure and instead encourage retired FAA air traffic controllers to continue using their expertise to the betterment of aviation safety.

Resolution of Inquiry

The Committee voted to report unfavorably Rep. Mike Carey’s resolution of inquiry requesting that the Secretary of the Treasury transmit documents to the House of Representatives relating to the alleged inflationary impact of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the Build Back Better Act.