Securing America's Federal Elections Act
Floor Speech
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Ms. PELOSI. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding, the chair of the House Administration Committee, Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren, of whom we are very proud in California. I thank her for leading us on this path of patriotism and respecting the oath of office we take.
Madam Speaker, it is just a joy to be having this opportunity to speak out for the sacred oath to vote, the sacred blessing, the right to vote as we leave to go on the Fourth of July break.
Madam Speaker, I thank the members of the House Administration Committee: Mr. Butterfield, whom we heard from yesterday; Mr. Raskin; Mr. Aguilar; Congresswoman Susan Davis, who presented to us earlier; and to all of you.
Madam Speaker, I thank Mr. Sarbanes. He has been the face of the future. He has been speaking out against the misrepresentations that have happened, the propagandizing that has happened by foreign governments in our election.
Yes, we won the election. We won the election because the American people were sick and tired of what the Republicans were putting forth. We won the election in the most gerrymandered, voter suppressed political arena you could imagine, and yet the American people came forward.
One the biggest messages we had in the campaign was H.R. 1, to reduce the role of dark, special-interest money in politics, to stop the systemic intentional voter suppression by the Republicans across the country, to stop political gerrymandering on all sides.
Let's do it in a nonpartisan way. Let the chips fall where they may, and to do so in a way that we are taking a piece of it today to talk about protecting our electoral system.
In a short while, we will take up the Voting Rights Act that is also part of H.R. 1.
So this H.R. 1 was very supported by the Democrats, very publicized to the American people, and part of our For the People agenda: lower healthcare costs by lowering the cost of prescription drugs and protecting the preexisting conditions benefit; bigger paychecks by building the infrastructure of America in a green way; cleaner government by passing H.R. 1--one of the component parts of what we are coming together around today.
As we approach the Fourth of July, we must remember the oath that we take to support and defend the Constitution and to protect the American people, which demands that this House of Representatives take urgent action.
We must legislate, we must investigate, and we must litigate to protect our national security, defend our democracy for the people.
Special Counsel Robert Mueller's report revealed an all-out attack on our elections by the Russians, concluding that they ``interfered in the 2016 Presidential election in sweeping and systemic fashion.''
Top intelligence and security officials have made clear that these attacks continue. They are happening, and they are happening now.
This spring, FBI Director Chris Wray warned of a ``365-day-a-year threat'' from the Russians, explaining that their attacks in our elections were simply ``a dress rehearsal for the big show in 2020.''
This House has a patriotic duty to protect our democracy from these attacks. This is a matter of national security. That is why the Democrats first act in the majority was to advance, as I mentioned, H.R. 1, For the People Act, to secure our elections.
Today we are building on that progress with the Securing America's Federal Elections Act, which takes urgently needed action to further strengthen America's defenses.
This bill closes dangerous gaps in our election systems and brings our security into the 21st century.
I know that other Members have spoken about the provisions of the bill, but I just would really like to know from my Republican friends what is wrong with replacing outdated, vulnerable voting equipment? What is wrong with requiring paper ballot voting systems to ensure the integrity of our elections? What is wrong with enacting strong cybersecurity requirements for elections technology vendors and voting systems?
We must be relentless in the defense of our democracy, fighting on all fronts to keep America safe.
There is a reason why the Russians are interfering in our elections, and other countries may be too, but we can document with full confidence from the intelligence community that the Russians are. It is because they want to affect the outcome of the elections, so they can affect the policy.
I think it was really sad, I was sad to hear, and, hopefully, it will be retracted, that the President gave a green light to the Russians to do it again. Really? Really?
This week, we are advancing appropriations legislation that provides $600 million for election security grants to States, and increases funding for the Election Assistance Commission, which has been starved for funding for years, a couple of dollars for every person in our country to honor the vision of our Founders of a democracy where everyone who is eligible to vote can vote and everyone's vote is counted as cast.
Next month, we will advance further legislation to protect our national security and prevent foreign interference in our elections.
Madam Speaker, I commend the distinguished chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, Mr. Bennie Thompson, for the great work that he has been doing with his task force and his committee and other members who are working with him as we go forward.
We are pleased that the administration has agreed to provide an all- Member briefing on election security that will happen in July, so we can get the facts. We have been trying to get the facts.
Some people around here may think that it is okay to just make policy without the facts. We are evidence-based, scientifically oriented, truth-and-knowledge based on how we go forward, and we look forward to that briefing.
We also look forward to July 17, when Special Counsel Robert Mueller will come forward and give testimony.
Our national security is being threatened, and the American people need answers.
This is not to be fearmongering. This is to be smart and to anticipate a known challenge that exists and to do something about it.
We can't just talk about the Mueller report and saying what it says about the Russian interference in our elections, unless we are ready to do something about it. Today we are, thanks to our distinguished chair, Chairwoman Lofgren.
There is a need for bipartisan support for our critical commonsense action to secure our elections.
Unfortunately, Senator McConnell, a self-described crepehanger, has vowed to kill our bills in the Senate, while the President openly declares that he sees no problem with foreign interference in our elections.
The GOP Senate and the White House are giving foreign countries the green light to attack our country, but the House will do our patriotic duty to protect America.
Madam Speaker, as we approach the Fourth of July holiday, I urge my colleagues to remember the oath we took and the democracy we defend, and to join me in a strong bipartisan vote to defend America's security.
This isn't about politics. It is about patriotism. As our Founders said at the beginning of the Constitution in its preamble, we do this for the people.
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