For the People Act of 2021

Floor Speech

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Mr. PALMER. Madam Speaker, if my Democrat colleagues were serious about making elections fair and honest, they would start by enforcing a law they passed, the National Voter Registration Act of 1993.

That law requires that every State and every county maintain accurate voter files. Yet, the Pew Research Center reported that there are 24 million people improperly registered. 1.8 million of them are dead. 2.7 million are registered in more than one State. The State of Michigan is 105 percent registered to vote, with 16 counties that are between 110 and 119 percent registered. Pennsylvania has over 800,000 inactive voters still on the State's voter registration files, and Los Angeles County has 1.6 million more people registered to vote than live in the county who are qualified to vote.

There are 17 Democrat Members still serving in this Congress who voted for that law, including the Speaker and the majority leader. If you were serious about cleaning up our elections, you would enforce that law.

As if the Federal takeover of elections isn't enough, this bill would also force taxpayers to foot the bill for campaigns.

Just a few weeks ago, the majority stripped my colleague, Marjorie Taylor Greene, of her committee assignments. This week, though, they seem to believe that even though she isn't allowed to serve on any standing committees, she should receive taxpayer-financed campaign contributions.

Based on the formula in this bill and what Representative Greene has raised already, this bill would give her over $7 million. Every Democrat who voted to strip her of her committee assignments has cosponsored the bill that will send over $7 million of taxpayer money to fund her reelection.

If this bill passes, it will create a ruling class and tremendously undermine Americans' right to self-government. In fact, this bill should be called for the permanent ruling class act.

No one who truly wants fair and honest elections, no one who wants people to have faith that their vote counts, will vote for this bill.

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Mr. PALMER. Madam Speaker, if my Democrat colleagues were serious about making elections fair and honest they would start by enforcing a law they passed--The National Voter Registration Act of 1993. That law requires that every state and every county maintain accurate voter files. Yet the Pew Research Center reported that there are 24 million people improperly registered . . . 1.8 million are dead, 2.7 million are registered to vote in more than one state. The state of Michigan is 105 percent registered to vote with sixteen counties with voter registration between 110-119 percent.

Pennsylvania has over 800,000 inactive voters still on the state's voter registration files and Los Angeles County had 1.6 million more people registered to vote than people living in the county who are qualified to vote. The failure to maintain accurate voter files is an invitation for election fraud. If my Democrat colleagues are serious about restoring confidence in our elections they should be pushing states to comply with the law. There are 17 Democrat members still serving in this Congress who voted for the National Voter Registration Act including the Speaker and the Majority Leader. Why aren't they pushing for cleaning up our voter registration files in every state?

As if the federal takeover of elections wasn't enough, this bill would also force taxpayers to foot the bill for campaigns. Just a few weeks ago the majority stripped my colleague Marjorie Taylor Greene of her committee assignments. This week they seem to believe that though she isn't allowed to serve on any standing committees she should receive taxpayer financed campaign contributions. Based on the formula in this bill and what Rep. Greene has raised already this bill would give her over $7 million. Every Democrat who voted to strip Rep. Greene of her committees has also co-sponsored the bill that would send over 7 million dollars to fund her re-election.

If this bill passes it will create a ruling class and tremendously undermine Americans' right to self-government. In fact, this bill should be called the For The Permanent Ruling Class Act. No one who truly wants fair and honest elections, No one who wants the American people to trust our elections, to have faith that their vote counts, will vote for this bill.

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