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H.R.5174 / 106th Congress

To amend titles 10 and 18, United States Code, and the Revised Statutes to remove the uncertainty regarding the authority of the Department of Defense to permit buildings located on military installations and reserve component facilities to be used as polling places in Federal, State, and local elections for public office.

Received in the Senate.

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Sep 14, 2000

Authorizes the Secretary of a military department to make a building located on a military installation available for use as a polling place in any Federal, State, or local election for public office. Requires such building to continue to be made available for such use unless the Secretary provides advance notification to Congress of the reasons for discontinuing such availability. Authorizes a State to make a facility of the reserves available for such purpose, with the same continuation or notification requirement.Amends the Revised Statutes to authorize the use of military installations or reserve facilities for such purposes. Requires an installation or facility that was made available for a Federal election during 1998 to be made available for the general election for Federal office in November 2000.

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Who introduced it

Rep. Thomas, William M. [R-CA-21] · R–CA

Committees

  • Judiciary Committee
  • Committee on House Administration
  • Armed Services Committee
12 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Actions

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  1. Received in the Senate.

  2. Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

  3. On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 297 - 113 (Roll no. 528). (text: CR 10/10/2000 H9594)

    House roll call 528 · Individual votes
  4. Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 297 - 113 (Roll no. 528).(text: CR 10/10/2000 H9594)

    House roll call 528 · Individual votes
  5. Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H9840-9841)

  6. At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed until Oct. 11.

  7. DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 5174.

  8. Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H9593-9597)

  9. Mr. Gilchrest moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.

  10. Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution.

  11. Referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and House Administration, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

  12. Referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and House Administration, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

  13. Referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and House Administration, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

  14. Referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and House Administration, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

  15. Introduced in House

  16. Introduced in House

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: Jun 6, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.R.5174 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

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Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.R.5174 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

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Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.R.5174 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

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Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.R.5174 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

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