Alex Padilla: “I want to begin by saying happy anniversary. Happy anniversary. Thirty-two years ago today, President Clinton signed the…”

“I want to begin by saying happy anniversary. Happy anniversary. Thirty-two years ago today, President Clinton signed the National Voter Registration Act into law. The so-called Motor Voter Act--that is what it became known as--made commonsense and unprecedented strides to registering more eligible Americans to vote. Imagine that--taking advantage of the fact that motor vehicle agencies and other State and local government offices that interact with Americans every single day can easily, efficiently, securely assist U.S. citizens with one of the most fundamental rights: registering to vote and participating in our elections. A little over 3 years after it was signed into law--on May 24, 1996, more precisely--I proudly completed my own training as a deputy registrar in Los Angeles County, which qualified me to register voters in my own community. Nearly two decades later, I was sworn in as California's 30th secretary of state, becoming the chief elections officer to the most populous and most diverse State in the Nation. Just earlier this year, I was proud to become the ranking member of the Senate Rules and Administration Committee, with jurisdiction over Federal elections.”