For the People Act of 2019

Floor Speech

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Mr. GREEN of Texas. Madam Chair, I thank the gentle, yet courageous, lady from California for leading this floor discussion debate, if you will. I thank the Rules Committee for allowing this rule, this amendment to be in order, and I also would like to thank my staff for the stellar, outstanding job they have done to help bring this amendment to the floor.

Madam Chairwoman, on November 19, 1863, the 16th President of the United States of America standing near the battlefield at Gettysburg proclaimed that ``government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the Earth.'' That is what our bill, H.R. 1, is all about, government of the people, by the people, for the people.

Madam Chairwoman, you cannot have government of the people, by the people, for the people without the precious right to vote. The right to vote is something that people have fought for in this country. Dr. King marched for it; John Lewis went to jail for it, the Honorable John Lewis, a Member of this House; Schwerner, Goodman, Chaney died for it.

The right to vote, H.R. 1, is about protecting the right to vote. This amendment is one that will help us to inculcate new, young people into the voting process. The amendment simply allows those who are in high school to receive voter registration information while they are in school on the school campus.

It does not change the laws related to registration and qualification to vote. It merely allows the principal at a school to go to the young people and provide them with voter registration information so that they may decide. It does not impose upon them a duty to register, but it does give them the opportunity to. This is a good thing in a country where we believe that government of the people and by the people shall not perish from the Earth.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Chairman, I claim the time in opposition, although I am not opposed to the basis of the amendment.

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Mr. GREEN of Texas. Madam Chairman, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lofgren).

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Mr. GREEN of Texas. Madam Chair, I close with these words. This is a participatory democracy. If it is to function efficaciously, then the right to vote must be protected.

I join my colleague on the other side in his position that all votes should be counted and that every person who has the right to vote should be in a position to vote. This amendment helps to assure that young people will start to participate in the participatory democracy.

Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Chair, I would like to thank my colleague and friend from Texas (Mr. Green). Again, I agree with what Chairperson Lofgren said about the excitement of students in high schools being able to understand what it means to be able to register to vote and participate in the political process. That is why I visit high schools throughout my district on a regular basis each time we are back from Washington, off this floor and in our districts for our district work period.

I am going to, again, extend the olive branch of bipartisanship to ensure that I am not going to oppose this amendment. I want this amendment to pass through, but I will note to many of my colleagues on the floor, Madam Chairman, we just had two Republican amendments offered, and not one passed. The olive branch of bipartisanship has to work both ways. I am, again, reaching out, and I will continue to do so throughout the day, but it is not without frustration that that olive branch has not yet been returned.

Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

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