Committee on House Administration Full Committee Markup on Various Measures

The Committee on House Administration will come to order. I note that a quorum is present. Without objection, the chair is authorized to declare a recess at any time. Today the Committee on House Administration will consider seven pieces of legislation I wanna begin with the Campaign Finance Transparency Act. Three years ago, This committee initiated an investigation into allegations of fraud involving the democratic fundraising platform ActBlue. That investigation exposed gaps in existing law that Congress has an opportunity to address today. Our current campaign finance laws were not written for the digital age. Today, political donations are often made on-line. Through our investigation, we've learned that fraudsters and foreign nationals could exploit the current system to make illegal campaign finance contributions. That's an unacceptable vulnerability, and we have an opportunity to fix it. The Campaign Finance Transparency Act is the solution. Here's the top line. All political donations must be reported regardless of the amount. The name of a political donor must match the name on the donor's credit card. No contributions can be made utilizing gift cards. And Americans who are donating from abroad must provide identity verification. We'll also consider two bills to stop foreign money from influencing our elections. Wide-spread reporting found that foreign billionaires used a non-profit, the sixteen thirty Fund, to spread spend millions on ballot initiatives in states, including Arizona, Nevada, and Ohio. Foreign nationals cannot be allowed to influence are American elections. That's why we've introduced the Preventing Foreign Interference in American Elections Act, which bans foreign nationals from donating to electioneering activities. This includes voter registration, get out the vote efforts, and ballot harvesting. Representative Brian Fitzpatrick's bill, the Stop Foreign Funds in Elections Act, will prohibit foreign funding of state and local ballot initiatives, referendums, or recall elections. Both bills are common sense reforms. American elections are for American citizens only, and I urge my colleagues to support this legislation today. We'll also consider Representative Bice's securing tech and American Representative Bice's securing tech and election administration defenses for all states and territories or the Steadfast Act. Took me a minute to get the acronym as BICE, but I love the acronym. Currently, when you are filing your tax return, there's an option to donate to the Presidential Election Campaign Fund. These funds are available to candidates running for presidency, but no major party nominee has tapped this money since two thousand eight uh when I believe John McCain used the funds. The steadfast act will convert the Presidential Election Campaign Fund to a new election security fund that states can apply for. States can use these funds to strengthen election security, such as updating cyber security for voting systems or acquiring secure paper ballots. Next we'll consider the FEC Administrative Improvement Act, which is led by my friend, ranking member Morelli, uh and chair of the subcommittee on elections, Representative Lee. This bill would implement recommendations from the Federal Election Commission to modernize administrative operations. We'll also consider Representative Johnson's Vote Act, which requires election officials to notify voters when a polling location is closed during early voting. Finally, we'll consider Mister Griffith's Legislative Branch Agencies Clarification Act. I'm grateful to Ranking Member Morelli for helping to get this to a good place, uh and to Mister Griffith uh for taking the lead on this important Article-one bill. Uh we know how important Article-one is to all of us here, but in particular uh the lead Mister Griffith has taken uh in being a steadfast supporter of Article-one. After bipartisan discussions with the ranking member, we made some tweaks to the bill, including clar- including clarifying that the register of the copyright office must consult with the librarian of Congress on regulations related to any material deposited in the copyright office. I thank my colleagues for being here today. I look forward uh to a good conversation uh and a productive discussion. I yield back and I'll now recognize the ranking member, Mister Morelle, for five minutes uh for the purpose of offering an opening statement.

Good morning uh. Thank you uh, Mr. Chair. Um, we're here to mark up several bills, some of which I enthusiastically support. Some of these, however, I have deep reservations about, as do my colleagues on the side. But I wanna start uh first of all with a thank you to the Chair uh and um and all the colleagues and staff. I think on this agenda, which is, as you've described, is varied, um we have had the great opportunity I think to engage uh in conversation that I think is is in many of the cases resulted in better legislation but I just appreciate the process appreciate the partnership and I appreciate the willingness of uh of members to to have dialogue and to try to get to a better place uh broadly speaking just wanna make an observation about where we are with our politics I think many ways the American people have lost faith in their government uh public trust in institutions both government and others uh seems to be um in some places gone altogether. Uh, and I think in many ways it's no wonder when I think about headline after headline about self enrichment by uh the Trump family about uh administration fraud, waste abuse, funneling millions of dollars in no-bid contracts to friends and conservative allies. And after uh the president's aligned judges on the Supreme Court except luxury vacations and private jet travel, and justice is accepting wildly inappropriate gifts from organizations and individuals with business before the court. About the flood of billionaire money, of corporate money, of lobbyist influence, all of which is swamping American elections, and each of these continues to undermine public trust which is at historic lows. And Congress must do something about all of this. And I believe some of the bills we'll consider today make important changes to enhance that trust and so I will uh gratefully and and enthusiastically support them. Other bills I think frankly weaken that trust. Uh folks on this side of the aisle will consider each of them on the merits and will offer amendments where appropriate uh this morning, but we will speak out against these bills that will continue this culture of corruption that has become so commonplace in the Trump administration. But um uh but again I do wanna thank you for uh your work and your cooperation and look forward to the conversation. Would that I yield back?

The gentleman yields back. Uh I now call up H R eighty seven twenty, the Campaign Finance Transparency Act. The clerk will please report the bill.

H R eight seven two zero.

Without objection, the first reading of the bill is dispensed with. Also without objection, the bill should be considered as read and open to amendment at any point. I have an amendment at the desk in the nature of a substitute. Uh the clerk will please report the amendment.

Amendment in the nature of a substitute.

Without objection, the amendment in the nature of a substitute is considered as read and will serve as base text for the purpose of further amendment. I now recognize myself to speak on the ANS. Out of the gates, there's too much money in American politics. I think we we all agree with that. And at an absolute minimum, I think we should all know that money being utilized in political elections by candidates is from US citizens and it's from the people that it's, they say they are, who are donating. We've investigated this issue. We've held hearings. We've seen the evidence and it's cam- and I think it's pretty clear our campaign finance laws were not written for the digital age. Today, someone can make an illegal political donation online and know the person's name and get away with it. That's crazy, that's nuts, that's unacceptable. The Campaign Finance Transparency Act addresses these vulnerabilities by modernizing our campaign finance system. The bill requires the name of the donor to match the name on the credit card used to make the donation. Common sense. It re- requires reporting all contributions to campaigns, including those under two hundred dollars. It requires donors making a contribution with a card to provide the CCV number or the CVV number. That's that three or four digit code on the back of your credit card where you have to use almost any time you buy something online. You're gonna need to require that if you're making a political donation online. It requires additional verification for American citizens who are overseas to make sure that it's only American citizens that are contributing in elections. Many of these requirements are standard fraud prevention measures used every day in commerce in the United States, yet they're not used through many on-line campaign finance donation portals. I'll also point out that we've had several of these position several of these provisions were adopted in the Shield Act which was passed in the full house under suspension during the hundred and eighteenth Congress. These reforms are common sense. This legislation increases transparency, provides safeguards against fraud, and updates our antiquated campaign finance system for the twenty-first century. I urge all of my colleagues to support the legislation, uh and I will now yield uh if other members seek recognition for amendment or debate. The ranking members recognized, to strike the last word.

Yes, uh thank you, Mr. Chair. strike the last word. I um wanna thank you uh and your staff again for your collaborative bipartisan work to reach uh a welcome consensus on this bill. The initial version uh introduced last Congress left a number of questions which we uh asked that I felt were unanswered and I think this version better fits the bill the bill would provide additional privacy and security, protections for Americans who choose to engage in our democratic process by donating to political campaigns, something we obviously encourage, we want people to participate in the process, but to do it in a safe way, and in a fair way, and one that is um uh transparent to people. So last Congress we were grateful to the chair and his staff for agreeing to our changes that would for example continue to allow recipients of social security and veterans benefits to participate in the political process, through small money contributions, changes that would allow donors to continue to simplify the political donation process, by scheduling recurring contributions and changes that give the FCC time to make appropriate uh regulations to insure that payment processors and on-line platforms can continue to securely enable political donations. The bill supports the already safe on-line donation system. Americans can continue to trust uh that our elections, our political systems generally are free, fair, and unaffected by fraud, and providing credit and debit card CDDs in on-line contributions will help Americans feel secure in their contributions. But Americans should understand that the provision of CDDs this bill facilitates is in addition to numerous other anti-fraud security measures that already protect credit and debit card donors. So I appreciate the work that has gone in this bill. I urge my colleagues uh to support uh the amendment and again thank you for your cooperation and your bipartisanship and I yield back.

Chairman yields back. Is there Does anyone else seek recognition for amendment or debate? There being no further amendment or debate, the question now occurs on the amendment and the nature of a substitute. All those in favor signify by saying aye. Aye.

Aye.

All those opposed, no. In the opinion of the chairs, the ayes have it, and the amendment is adopted.

Mr. Chairman, we must have roll call then.

The question On

No.

on the first, we can?

Okay.

Withdrawn?

Withdrawal.

Withdrawn. The question now occurs on ordering H R eighty-seven twenty as amended, reported favorably to the House. All those in favor,

Aye.

All those opposed no. In the opinion of the chairs, the ayes have it, and the motion to report is agreed to.

Mr. Chairman, I request a roll call that

A roll call vote is now requested and the clerk will rep will call the roll.

Chair Miss Dial

Aye.

Chair Miss Dial votes aye, Miss Lee

Aye.

Miss Lee votes aye, Mr. Loudermilk Mr. Loudermilk votes aye, Mr. Griffith Mr. Griffith votes aye, Doctor Mar- Doctor Murphy Doctor Murphy votes aye, Miss Espace Miss Espace votes aye, Mr. Carey Mr. Carey votes aye, Mrs. Miller.

Aye.

Mrs. Miller votes aye. Mr. Morelle.

Aye.

Mr. Morelle votes aye, Miss Sewell, Mrs. Torres.

Aye.

Mrs. Torres votes aye, Miss Johnson.

Aye.

Miss Johnson votes aye.

One two three four five six seven eight.

Does any member wish to change their vote? The clerk will please report the tally.

Mr. Chairman, for this vote there are eleven ayes and zero nos.

A majority having voted in favor of H R eighty seven twenty is amended the bill as ordered to rep is ordered favorably reported to the house. Without objection, a motion to reconsider is laid on the table. I now call up H R eighty seven twenty one, the preventing foreign interference in Americans' elections act. The clerk will please report the bill.

H R eight seven two nine.

Without objection, the first meeting of the bill is dispensed with. Also without objection, the bill m may be considered as read and open to amendment at any point. I have an amendment in the nature of a substitute to the desk. The clerk will please report the amendment.

Amendment in the nature of a substitute.

Without objection, the amendment in the nature of a substitute is considered as read and will serve as base text for the purpose of further amendment. I now recognize myself for five minutes to speak on the ANS. Let me be begin by highlighting what I think is an alarming fact. Right now, foreign nationals can fund voter registration drives and get out the vote initiatives in the United States.

Mm-hmm.

Seems crazy when I tell people that, but it's true. Our bill today puts a stop to that. It ensures election activities aren't funded or influenced by foreign interests. Under this legislation, it would be illegal for a foreign national to donate money for those activities I just mentioned. Again, funding voter registration drives or get-out-the-vote initiatives in the United States of America. It also prohibits foreign nationals from paying people to ballot harvest and conduct polling. And it bars foreign nationals from funding election administration efforts So outside interests cannot influence how American elections are run. Our elections should be funded and administered and decided by American citizens without foreign actors putting their thumb on the scale. These reforms are common sense. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation. I yield back. Do other members seek recognition for amendment or debate? Mr. Morelle is recognized. Just strike the last word.

Uh, yes, thank you, uh, Mr. Chair. Uh, let me state this plainly, House Democrats believe deeply that Congress has a duty to stem the tide of foreign money in our elections. That's why I've been proud to advocate for the passage of the Freedom to Vote Act, which contains several provisions in aimed at stemming this tide, including the Disclose Act and the Honest Ads Act. I'm very happy to support the efforts by Congress, including another bill on the mark-up today to advance a bipartisan recommendation of the FEC related to foreign money in ballot initiatives and recall referenda. H R eight seven two one, however, undermines that critical duty. This bill does absolutely nothing to get foreign money out of our politics. On the one hand, the measure recognizes that it's important to ensure that foreign money does not influence American elections. On the other, however, several provisions of the bill would make it more likely rather than less, that foreign donor donors would be able to fund election activities in the United States. This bill would hamper at a time when Americans are frustrated by a campaign finance system that seems to be stacked in favor of special interest, dark money, and the billionaire class. It would also kneecap the FEC's ability to conduct investigations, restricting the FEC's law enforcement powers at a time when the agency, frankly, is barely able to function at all. And we know that robust transparency is the best way to reassure the American people that the political system works for them. as Justice Brandeis famously stated, " sunlight is the best disinfectant." So why in the world would we advance legislation, why would my colleagues on the side propose legislation that undermines transparency inviting even more undisclosed dark likely foreign money to infiltrate our political system as this bill would do. I recognize the bill includes some exemptions for the donor shielding provisions. The exemptions, however, and and the exceptions do not salvage the bill, instead They gloss over system issues and systemic problems that need to be solved. In two thousand seventeen, the Trump administration reversed a year-long rule requiring a years-long, multiple years-long rule requiring certain five OC C five O one C organizations to report major donors to the IRS. Since then, the dark money ecosystem has hobbled the IRS. Millions and millions of dollars in dark money go unreported to the FEC every election cycle due to loopholes unsolved and unresolved by this measure. And a dysfunctional FEC has ceased all meaningful enforcement of existing laws. Indeed, the FEC has informed this committee that it had acted on barely half of the nonpartisan staff's recommended foreign interference investigations, including none that involved President Trump, his campaign, or his associates. It's unbelievable that that would happen, that the professional staff has made recommendations and those have been ignored. In matters requiring dark money groups to register and report with the FEC, the FEC acted on only five of nonpartisan career staff's two dozen recommendations. I'm eager to work in tandem with uh the majority to find common accord to fulfill this important duty and I'd be happy to work uh with you to help find bipartisan consensus here. In that vein, I will propose an amendment today to ensure that we're able to comprehensively stop foreign money infiltrating our elections. I hope my colleagues join me in supporting it. If however, the bill is designed to further open the floodgates to undisclosed foreign donations, to kneecap the FEC, which is already barely functioning, and other law enforcement agencies, then we will strenuously oppose this. And with that, I yield back.

The gentleman yields back, uh the gentleman woman from Illinois, uh Mrs. Miller is recognized, to strike the last word.

Thank you, Mister Chairman, I'm a proud co-sponsor of this bill because it works to prevent foreign influence in our elections. This bill makes important changes to our election laws by prohibiting foreign nationals from funding ballot harvesting ballot collection, voter identification and the administration of elections. It makes it illegal for anyone to knowingly aid foreign nationals in making prohibited contributions and it requires campaigns to certify that their independent expenditures and electioneering communications are not in violation of this. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation and vote yes to insure that American elections are only for Americans.

The gentlewoman yields back. Is there further debate on the amendment? Is there further is there uh the the gentleman is recognized for an amendment?

Yeah. Yes, sir, I have an amendment at the desk.

We'll pause while the amendment is distributed.

Sorry, it's a big amendment. It's all good. It's fine. It's all good.

No, no.

It's a big amendment.

No, it's it's true.

I'll admit.

It is.

Yes.

No, it'll it'll depend on the nature of the substance.

Yeah, that's true.

Three tree, three trees just out of Rochester.

Thank you. I wanna raise a point of order about Mike Carey's uh attire this morning. Is this now an Ohio thing?

The clerk will report the amendment.

Amendment in nature of substitute to agent.

With without objection, the amendment.

Mm, I reserve a point of order, Mr. Chairman.

The gentlewoman from Florida reserves a point of order, uh the gentleman from New York is recognized on his amendment.

I'm uh happy to waive the reading of this amendment um but uh I do thank you uh Mr. Chairman. The amendment is the disclose act and it's about real transparency, it's about making sure that the American people have insight into the foreign and big money spenders that have such a significant impact on our electoral system. Uh voters should be able to follow the money that is flooding the airwaves, their text messages, their mailboxes. I'm sure none of us ever get complaints that they don't get enough text messages mail in their mailbox from voters um but they at least ought to know where it comes from and this is especially true for foreign money which floods into our elections through dark money contributions quite simply Congress must close loopholes allowing spending by foreign nationals in domestic elections. considering today would do, but it is what the Disclose Act would do. For example, in twenty twenty one the Federal Election Commission found reason to believe and conciliated a matter where an experienced political consultant knowingly and willfully violated federal election law. The consultant had solicited a contribution from a foreign national by offering to transmit a two million dollar contribution to a super PAC through his company and to and through two five O one C four organizations to conceal the origin of the funds. The scheme was only unveiled after a news article reported the solicitation. That same political consultant was later convicted of a nearly identical scheme involving a Russian national national. It is intolerable. Congress must stem the tide of foreign money seeking to influence our elections. The Disclose Act clarifies the scope of the foreign nationals' ban and incorporates the bipartisan FEC recommendation to capture ballot initiatives including other reforms. The Disclose Act also addresses the problem of money that is laundered through various front groups or shell entities to hide the original source of campaign related spending. The Supreme Court has repeatedly endorsed disclosure because it helps voters hold elected leaders accountable. So this is a common sense amendment that would increase transparency in American democracy stop foreign interference something that should have bipartisan support and I would encourage that bipartisan support and I'd ur urge my colleagues to support this amendment with that I'll yield back.

The gentleman yields back. Is there further debate on the amendment? I recognize myself uh to strike the last word. Um uh uh appreciate the maybe the intention in which uh this piece of legislation is offered. Um I'd have uh significant concerns uh that the amendment is drafted uh would remove protections uh for privacy of American donors uh to charities and nonprofits. Uh and further uh that this legislation would then c also come under the jurisdiction uh of uh our friends at Ways and Means as much as we appreciate our friends at Ways and Means, uh looking at you uh, Mister Kerry, Mister Murphy, uh and uh and and Miss Sewell, um preventing us and allowing us to stay focused and specific on the task at hand I think is important, uh but more broadly I think there's real concerns uh about the privacy of American donors uh to charities and so I encourage my colleagues uh to vote no on this amendment, a yield back. Is there further debate on the amendment? Seeing none, does the gentleman re insist on her point of order?

I withdraw.

The point of order is withdrawn. Uh the question now occurs on the amendment offered uh by the gentleman from New York, Mister Morelli. All those in favor of the amendment shall signify by saying aye.

Aye.

All those opposed nay.

Nay.

Nay. And the opinion of the chairs, the noes have it. The noes have it.

Nay, that's called a recorded vote.

A recorded vote is requested. The Clerk will please re call the roll.

Chairman Stile?

Aye. No.

Chairman Stile votes no, Ms. Lee.

No.

Ms. Lee votes no, Mr. Lottermilk.

No.

Mr. Lottermilk votes no, Mr. Griffith.

No.

Mr. Griffith votes no, Doctor Murphy.

No.

Doctor Murphy votes no, Mrs. Bice. Mrs. Bice votes no, Mr. Carey. Mr. Carey votes no, Mrs. Miller. Mrs. Miller votes no, Mr. Morelli.

Aye.

Mr. Morelli votes aye, Ms. Sewell. Mrs. Torres? Yeah. Ah, sorry, sorry. Mrs. Mrs. Torres votes aye, Miss Johnson? Aye. Miss Johnson votes aye. Sorry.

Sorry, I'm trying to get you guys together now. Does any, is all members voted, does any member wish to change their vote? The clerk will report the tally.

Mister Chairman, for this vote there are three ayes and eight noes.

The amendment is not adopted. Uh, is there further amendment or debate? If there's no further amendment or debate. There being no further amendment or debate, the question now occurs on the amendment and the nature of a substitute. All those in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. All those opposed, no.

No.

In the opinion of the chairs, the ayes have, the ayes have it, and the amendment is adopted. I'd like to ask a recorded vote. A recorded vote uh Recorder vote is requested. Um. Oh, I'm sorry, what is that? Oh, that is not, I I apologize. I'll I'll withdraw on that one. It is the the request for the recorder vote is withdrawn. Uh, the ayes have it, the amendment is adopted. The question now occurs on ordering H R eighty seven twenty one as amended, reported favorably to the house. All those in favor, signify by saying aye, aye,

Aye.

all those opposed, no. No. And the opinion of the chairs, the ayes have it, the ayes have it, and the motion to report is agreed to. And then I'd like to ask for A recall a roll call vote is requested and the clerk will please call the roll. Sorry, I got this.

Chairman Stile?

Aye.

Chairman Stile votes aye. Miss Lee?

Aye.

Miss Lee votes aye. Mister Loudermilk?

Aye.

Mister Loudermilk votes aye. Mister Griffith? Mister Griffith votes aye. Doctor Murphy?

Yes, sir.

Doctor Murphy votes aye. Mrs. Bice? Mrs. Bice votes aye. Mister Carey? Mister Carey votes aye. Mrs. Miller? Mrs. Miller votes aye. Mister Morale?

Yeah.

Mister Morale votes no. Miss Sewell? Mrs. Torres? Mrs. Torres votes so, Mrs. Johnson. Mrs. Johnson.

If all members voted, does any member wish to change their vote, the clerk will report the tally.

Uh, Mr. Chairman, for this vote there are eight eyes and three noes.

A majority having voted in favor of H R eighty seven twenty one as amended the bill as reported favorably to the house, uh without objection a motion to reconsider is laid on the table. I'll now call up H R seventy four eighteen, the securing tech and elections Administration Defense for All States and Territories Act, the Steadfast Act, introduced by our colleague, Representative Bice. The clerk will please r- report the bill.

H R seven four one.

Without objection, the first reading of the bill is dispensed with. Also without objection, the bill shall be considered as read and open to amendment at any point. I have an amendment at the desk in the nature of a substitute. The clerk will please report the amendment.

Amendment in the nature of a substitute.

Without objection, the amendment in the nature of a substitute is considered as read and will serve as base text for the purpose of further amendment. I thank Representative Weiss for her leadership on this issue, and I recognize her for five minutes to speak on the ANS.

Thank you, uh, Mister Chairman, for recognizing me to speak on the legislation that's securing tech and election administration defenses for all states and territories or the Steadfast Act. As all of us know here, when you're filing for your taxes, there is a box you can check called the Presidential Election Campaign Fund Checkoff, or PECF. It appears at the end of filing and asked if you would like to donate three dollars of your federal tax to go towards this fund, or six dollars for joint filers. The campaign fund was originally implemented with a one dollar option in nineteen sixty-six but was changed to three dollars in nineteen ninety-four. The original idea behind this was to start public f- to start public funded elections, including presidential primaries, general elections, and national party conventions. Both parties would receive a fixed amount of check-off dollars that could be used for their campaigns. As of May thirty first, twenty twenty five, the PECF has a balance of nearly eighteen million dollars. Of note, in two thousand and eight, John McCain was the last major party candidate for president to use the funds in a general election. However, in order to utilize these funds, candidates must limit their total campaign spending for all primary elections. S put simply, this system is outdated and antiquated, rarely being used in modern day politics. This is why I introduced the Steadfast Act, legislation that would convert the PECF into a new election security grant that would be administered by the Election Assistance Commission. Funds may be used to acquire new voting equipment, update cyber security to protect voting systems, to modernize and replace outdated or compromise components, purchase, print, and protect paper ballots, and harden voting equipment. There are also key eligibility requirements for states seeking these grants. Each state must submit a plan detailing how the funds will be used, and they must certify that they do not permit non-citizens to vote in any election for public office. For example, states like California, Maryland, and Vermont would be prohibited from accessing these funds because of certain jurisdictions that allow non-citizens to vote in local elections. Furthermore, priority access will be given to states using voter-verifiable paper ballots, states requiring voter ID to an election official when obtaining a ballot, and states that use resources to ensure that only American citizens are voting in our elections. Having confidence in our elections is a must. These upgrades will help further instill a sense of trust and faith in our election process, one of the most important systems we have in place as Americans. I want to thank my friend, Election Subcommittee Chairwoman Rep. Laurel Lee, for her support, and I urge adoption of a legislation which simply transforms this unused fund into an election security measure. And with that, I yield.

The general woman yields back to other members to seek recognition from them in her debate. The gentleman from New York is recognized to strike the last word.

Thank you uh, Mister Chair, and I I uh wanna thank my friend Miss Bice um and congratulate her on her work to get that acronym put together that's uh that took some real work and I I wanna always acknowledge creativity when we're doing this work so I do however um have real concerns about so I wanna take the opportunity to repeat what I emphasized last month when we had two Secretaries of State uh before us at a hearing we should be incredibly grateful to election officials around the country, Democrats and Republicans, who regardless of party uh work incredibly hard to ensure fair, free, and secure elections. And I think they take it as part of almost a sacred obligation to this country and to this democracy. And we should fund them far more than the paltry fifteen million dollar nationwide that Republicans have put forward in the appropriation bill, which was before the Appropriations Committee just a couple of weeks ago. These election officials deserve far better from us. And yet today, we don't have their backs. We're not supporting real election security. Instead, we're considering a bill that takes advantage of a financial hole that Republicans have created for those public servants to coerce them into adopting policies to purge eligible voters and suppress the vote. Our election administrators deserve better than to be intentionally starved of resources by President Trump and congressional Republicans, and then essentially extorted under this artificial financial distress that they've created to adopt the president's favored voter suppression policies. That's what this bill would do. And in case anyone had any doubt, this bill makes clear that Republicans don't care about securing elections, for all Americans, regardless of geography. They only want it for people who agree to adopt their world view. Republicans are happy to deprive election administrators of needed resources if they don't comply with voter suppression efforts that they can't even pass in the Republican-controlled Senate. We all know they can't pass the deeply unpopular Save America Act because they know it's puts burdens on the right to vote that are untenable. So instead they're trying to please the president by taking funds voluntarily cho- chosen to contribute by voters for the purpose of supporting public financing, and use that money to incentivize voter suppression efforts. Election administrators deserve better. American voters deserve better and I urge my colleagues to oppose the bill and to that end uh, Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Uh, the gentleman has amendment at the desk.

The gentleman has an amendment at the desk, we'll pause while the amendment is distributed.

See, I went to a one pager this time.

You you ran out of paper previously.

That's right. Thank you.

The clerk will report the amendment.

Amendment in the nature of a substitute to a term.

That objection to the amendment is considered as read.

Mister Chairman,

A point of order is reserved by the gentlewoman from Florida. The the gentleman is recognized on his amendment.

Thank you. You can see uh because the chair keeps found a strict paper requirement, this is simply one page and it's really simple. Um it's concise, it offers only support to election administrators. Unlike the underlying bill which conditions critically necessary election security funds, on whether a state adopts the Republican voter suppression platform, This amendment is clean authorization for election security grants. No catches, no caveats, no partisan gimmicks, uh no geographical divide, no ability to pass a test on whether you agree with certain voter suppression efforts it just gives resources to all state and local administrators who need it. The support they need to carry out their mission to ensure secure, uh safe, accessible elections and they shouldn't have to shoulder this responsibility alone and we won't let them. Our election administrators on the front lines of democracy. They're the ones that voters see. They're the ones who voters trust to not only allow them to cast their ballot, to count it in a fair, safe and secure manner. These challenges they face right now are staggering, uh and they grow by the day, particularly with the president who continues to undermine and to call into question the sanctity of American voting. So whether it's defending against sophisticated foreign governments intent on suburban subverting our elections threats and intimidations, from paranoid conspiracy theorists egged on by the president or pretextual FBI raids in service to long debunk lies about the twenty twenty election, election officials are being asked, no, they're being demanded of to do more with less. Just last month, uh as I mentioned, uh in the appropriation committee, despite uh our efforts to the contrary, House Republicans approved a funding bill that provided a paltry fifteen million dollars for the entire country. total for election security. Surely we can devote more than that to protecting one of our country's founding basic principles. The constant refrain I hear from election administrators across the country is that they need robust and consistent funding. This amendment delivers that, five billion dollars over ten years. It continues to allow states to prescribe the time, place and manner of their elections as our constitution suggests, uh in fact doesn't suggest, says straight out. uh and gives them the peace of mind that they won't have to choose between more poll workers or better cyber security between having easily accessible voting systems for disabled voters or hardened physical security for ballots and voting equipment democracy isn't a system of trade-offs. I urge my colleagues in the strongest possible terms to support this amendment, give our election workers the support they so desperately need and with that I yield back.

The gentleman yields back, is there further debate on the amendment? The gentleman from Oklahoma is I gonna strike the last word.

Thank you, Mister Chairman, and while I appreciate uh the ranking members' focus on election security, this bill does just that. This bill takes money that is currently sitting in an account and has been for decades it seems, uh and actually applies it to states that are willing to adhere to what I think are reasonable uh restrictions not letting non-citizens vote uh seems reasonable. it is actually incentivizing states to make sure that their systems are hardened, that their cyber security is in place, that they have paper ballots. Uh w we certainly can have a conversation about increasing uh dollars, but that would be uh on the appropriations side of the equation and that the ranking member and I are members of that committee and can certainly have that discussion. I think it's worth noting too that uh the current um uh election uh the current commission's funding level is at twenty-seven million dollars. Um the the fi five billion that's being requested um i it seems to be uh exorbitant. Nonetheless um I vot I I I support uh voting down this amendment uh and sticking with the original steadfast act and with that I yield.

The gentlewoman yields back. Does anyone else seek is there further debate on the amendment? Seeing none, and does the gentlewoman

Withdraw the point of order.

Withdrawn. Uh all those in The question now occurs, the amendment offered uh by Mr. Morelli from New York, all those in favor of the amendment shall signify by saying aye.

Aye.

All those opposed no. No. In the opinion of the chairs, the noes have it. The noes have it and the amendment is not adopted.

May I ask for a vote?

A r a recorded vote is requested. Um those in favor of a recorded vote will raise their hand, a sufficient number having raised their hand. A recorded vote is ordered. The clerk will report call the roll.

Chairman Stile?

No.

Chairman Stile votes no, Miss Lee?

No.

Miss Lee votes no, Mister Loudermilk? Mr. Lautermilch votes no. Mr. Griffith? Mr. Griffith votes no. Dr. Murphy? Dr. Murphy votes no. Mrs. Spice? Mrs. Spice votes no. Mr. Carey? Mrs. Miller? Mrs. Miller votes no. Mr. Morelle?

Aye.

Mr. Morelle votes aye. Miss Sewell? Mrs. Torres? Mrs. Torres votes aye. Miss Johnson? Miss Johnson votes aye.

Gotcha.

Have all members voted? Is there any member who wants to change their vote? The clerk will report the Have all members voted?

No.

Mister Kerry? Mister Kerry votes no.

Have all members voted? Does any member wish to change their vote? The clerk will report the tally.

Uh, Mister Chairman, for this vote there are three ayes and eight noes.

The amendment uh is not adopted. Is there further amendment or debate? I recognize myself for five minutes to strike the last word. Um, I just wanna say I I just wanna thank uh Representative Bice for her work, her commitment and dedication. uh to election integrity and finding thoughtful and creative ways uh to provide resources to states to move forward on election integrity uh in a deficit neutral uh manner and so I encourage folks uh to support the underlying amendment or the the to to support Representative Bice's well-named bill uh yield back. Is there further amendment or debate?

Yes.

There being no further amendment or debate, the the question

Yeah.

There being no further amendment or debate, the question now occurs on the amendment in the nature of a substitute. All those in favor signify by saying aye.

Aye.

All those opposed, no.

No.

The opinion shares the ayes have it. The amendment is adopted. The question now occurs on ordering H R seventy four eighteen is amended, reported favorably to the house. All those in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. Will those oppose no?

No.

In the opinion of the chairs, the ayes have it, and the motion to report is agreed to.

So, and I ask for a roll call.

A re A a a roll call vote uh is requested, and the clerk will please call the roll.

Chair Misal?

Aye.

Miss Lee.

Chair Misal votes aye. Miss Lee? Miss Lee votes aye. Mister Loudermilk?

Aye.