Joe Morelle

I think to your point, we're trying to make sure that people were safe who had been exposed.

I think states should be sovereign with regards to elections.

I'm extremely disappointed and feel like it was an effort to evade questioning by this panel.

I was also proud to co-sponsor and vote for H.R. 4, the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.

Last Congress I was proud to cosponsor and vote for H.R. 1, the For the People Act, which would have set national standards for voter access and required a host of pro-voter, pro-democracy reforms.

I'm proud to say that, in my home state of New York, we've made significant strides in recent years to improve and expand access to the ballot for every voter.

After the last 2 years' baseless claims of fraud and repeated attacks on our democracy, it is important to recognize the 2022 election was secure and applaud the country's election officials for their hard work.

I think one of the things that we really see, as the data shows, is that, when we have strong elections, strong integrity in our elections, we actually see increased voter turnout.

I look forward to working with the chairwoman and the whole of this committee as we continue to lean forward in making sure that the equal right to vote and access to the ballot box for all Americans is given.

I am proud to be the lead cosponsor or the lead sponsor and author of the John Robert Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, a bill that would update and reinstate the full force of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, a law that protected voters…

I think we have to compensate people well enough to justify at least giving back some of the sacrifice they are going to have to make.

I really do think that the genius of the Founders in creating three separate branches means that each has significant power and authority to regulate the activity of American enterprise, commerce, all things that we do.

I went through this personally. Near the end of my first term, I decided--I didn't have a lot of stock.

My colleague Congressman Chip Roy of Texas and I introduced this bill in 2020 after hearing about these reports that I mentioned.

That is why our bipartisan TRUST in Congress Act can and will make a difference.

To think that at the start of a once-in-a-generation global pandemic, lawmakers found time in their schedules to buy and sell stocks?

The STOCK Act has not gone far enough, and we need to accept that the STOCK Act has not yet achieved its mission.

There needs to be protections to make sure that we adequately secure the place.

I appreciate your commitment to it.

This is of particular importance because at our core this committee is a customer service organization.

I have the utmost respect and admiration for our colleagues who are testifying.

Ultimately, just recognizing the outside world, despite our differences, we are unified in purpose about what the role of the United States is in the world.

I appreciate both of your service.

I appreciate your hard work.

I am not sure at any time in American history our economic security and national security are more completely aligned than they are today.