On the recordMarch 7, 2019
I commend Mr. Beyer and Mr. Butterfield for this amendment providing grants. Over the period of time that the bill covers, this is actually a pretty small amount of money, and it is subject to appropriations. I do think it is difficult to put a price on our democracy. We need to make sure that young people are involved from the get-go. We have seen that young people don't necessarily have the tools to become engaged in our democracy. It is fine if our ranking member gave his instruction to his twins around the dinner table. I commend him for that. But not every person in America has been so fortunate, and we need every American to participate. I would like to say that this amendment, coupled with Mr. Al Green's amendment for the pilot project and Mr. Neguse's amendment, which will come later in the proceedings, really does put on the agenda outreach to the young people of America to participate in our democracy. I know that there are people on both sides of the aisle who have concerns about changing the voting age in this bill and want to study that further. For those people, these amendments are going to create vigorous outreach to the young people of America so they can be participants, and I commend the gentlemen for offering it.
