Chuck Schumer

I said, free market, let disclosure work.

Saxby Chambliss, an original co-sponsor of this bill, member of the Armed Services Committee who has shared our commitment to ensuring that Americans serve overseas can participate fully in the electoral process.

I agree with you, having a bipartisan vote on anything is important.

If the Department of Defense can get tanks, high tech equipment, and food to the front lines of combat we can figure out a way to deliver an election ballot as well.

I want to thank Senator Bennett for being here and apologize for showing up late.

I offer the amendment in the hope that it can be adopted.

Senator Cornyn has been a champion on this issue and has some amendments that we have all worked out.

S.1415 will amend the 1986 Uniformed and Overseas Citizen Absentee voting Act and bring it into the 21st Century.

One in four ballots requested by troops deployed overseas went uncounted in the 2008 election.

I hope it will pass out of this committee without opposition.

Ben Nelson, who is Chairman of the Armed Services Subcommittee on Personnel and Readiness, has helped craft this legislation into shape.

I pledge myself to work with the minority, try to come up with a bipartisan bill.

If we could do one thing at the federal level, forgetting the states right now, but just one thing at the federal level, FVAP, what would you have us do to make it easier for our soldiers overseas to vote?

I am grateful to you, Senator Schumer, the Rules Committee members and staff for allowing me to participate in this much needed effort for legislative action.

Thank you again, Ms. McGinn, for your excellent testimony.

We have received input from a number of groups and senators and worked to incorporate their comments and concerns, so I think this is a strong bipartisan bill.

John Cornyn... has been a strong and committed advocate for military voters.

Our power over the states on local electoral matters is rather limited.

I would like to do it. You know me.

Do you think if we forced the states to change the way they set up absentee ballot procedures for federal elections, they would then match it for their local elections?

Thank you, Senator Chambliss.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

The question is: does that strike you as odd?

Voting assistance will always be a secondary duty. Senior leadership can expect significant improvement only if a radically different approach is applied.

One issue we need to be aware of is that the first federal primaries in 2010 are about a year from now.