WASHINGTON - The Committee on House Administration is scheduled to hold an oversight hearing this afternoon on the Election Assistance Commission (EAC), reviewing their practices assisting states in previous elections and examining ways for election security improvements in future elections. You can read the prepared opening remarks from Ranking Member Rodney Davis (R-IL-13) below:

Thank you, Madame Chairperson, I appreciate your willingness to continue to hold these bipartisan hearings reviewing current election practices with the aim of helping our states secure their elections. Election security is one of the most important issues that this Committee is tasked with, and I take the Committee's role of ensuring fair and secure elections very seriously – as I know you do, too.

As we discussed in our hearing last week, we know that at least 21 states were targeted by a foreign state actor prior to the 2016 U.S. election, and we know that Russia undertook a misinformation campaign during the same election. But issues surrounding our election infrastructure are not limited to Russia, nor did they begin in 2016 or end in 2018.

I believe we must approach election security on three fronts: First, we need to examine what we can learn and improve upon from the past. Second, we must examine what new and evolving challenges states are facing. Third, we need to examine what role the federal government can and should play in elections. The Election Assistance Commission is critical to all of these fronts, and I believe our Commissioners will be able to provide a tremendous amount of insight this afternoon.

This Committee was instrumental in the passage of the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) in 2002, from which most of our nation's current election infrastructure can be traced. HAVA created the EAC and the grant structure, through which over $3 billion passed between 2002 and 2010, and another $380 million continues following last year's appropriation.

HAVA also tasked the EAC with the responsibility of adopting voluntary voting system guidelines, developing guidance to meet HAVA requirements, and serving as a central source of information on election administration. These services and others still being provided through the EAC warrant review, and if we can improve or add to them, we should.

We must use this opportunity to ensure the Commission has the resources needed to complete not only its original mission from 2002 but also its new responsibilities undertaken since the 2016 election. Today, I want an honest assessment of what we've gotten right and what we've gotten wrong over the last seventeen years. Also, where do we need to make improvements, and what do you all need from us to help you better serve our states?

In examining what new and evolving challenges states are facing, cybersecurity is clearly at the forefront, but this is not the only challenge our states face.

The average age of most voting equipment in the United States will soon be measured in decades, the cost to recruit and train poll workers remains high, and voter registration system maintenance remains critical but costly. As my good friend, Senator Blunt pointed out to my home state Senator last week during the Senate Rules EAC hearing, voter fraud does exist, and we must ensure our states are prepared against it. In examining how states have used and will continue to use their 2018 HAVA funds, I hope to learn more from our Commissioners on the needs of our state and local officials.

It's also important to hear directly from states on how they are using federal resources to overcome the unique challenges in their states. Recently, my home state of Illinois was able to invest in a new Cyber Navigator Program that helps counties detect and defend themselves against cyber-security attacks.

I was able to hear more about this program just last week during a bipartisan election security roundtable in my district. Local county officials graciously gave their time to discuss the inner workings of their election system and express their ideas to better secure their systems. I found the discussion helpful and productive, and I hope to hold more of these roundtables in the future as states continue to enhance their security efforts to ensure every American's vote is both counted and protected.

Lastly, I believe assisting states with the tools they need to protect their election systems is the proper role for the federal government. This must be balanced against the constitutional duty for states to run and provide for their own elections. I am not for the federal government mandating or taking over state and local elections. The EAC plays an immeasurable role in being the interface between the federal government and our states. I not only want to hear from our witnesses today on how that interface is going but also where we need to draw certain lines to ensure our federalism remains.

As we move forward in our next steps to address election security, we can make a bunch of partisan noise here today and blame one another for who should have done more to protect our elections, or we can make progress. I choose the latter and encourage my colleagues to join me in this approach. We have a real opportunity to address a growing problem that is causing Americans to lose confidence in their election systems, but we must work together to make progress in keeping our nation's election secure and free from interference.


You can watch the hearing by clicking HERE.


Background:
The Committee on House Administration (CHA) has two principal functions, oversight of day-to-day operations in the House and oversight of federal elections. Historically, the committee has had a hand in shaping legislation that touches on any and all aspects of federal elections. Most recently, the committee played a pivotal role in the development and passage of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA), which allocated more than $3 billion to improve voting equipment, train election workers, and reform election law. The Election Assistance Commission (EAC) was established under HAVA and serves as an interface between the federal government and state and local election officials.

Witnesses who will testify before CHA at today's hearing are Christy McCormick, Commissioner and Chairwoman, Election Assistance Commission; Benjamin Hovland, Commissioner and Vice Chair, Election Assistance Commission; Don Palmer, Commissioner, Election Assistance Commission; Thomas Hicks, Commissioner, Election Assistance Commission.

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