Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4664 would make it harder for those hardworking election officials to do their jobs. This bill cuts funding for the Election Assistance Commission by $8 million. That funding helps State and local officials administer fair, free, and secure elections. H.R. 4664 would also eliminate funding for election security grants. In New Mexico, the secretary of State has used that money for security trainings and to enhance voter registration. Don't we all want more people to vote? I know Democrats do. Indiana, as an example, has used funds for election security and to upgrade voting equipment. This bill says to those election administrators: Good luck. We are not helping you anymore with these kinds of Federal funds. Mr. Speaker, that is not all. This bill includes multiple riders that would allow private companies, nonprofits, and government contractors to keep their political spending secret. This type of secrecy leads the American public to lose faith in our representative government. Our constituents deserve transparency and to know that we work for them and not some special interest group. Let's put this bill aside and instead take up one that our democracy deserves. We must always be working to that more perfect Union that our Constitution calls out, but it requires work and funding our elections at adequate levels. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.”