In audible conversations for thank you everyone for being here today. We know that its busy with many things happening tha but it is incredibly important that we be voting on basic and talk about voting and the basic tenets of our democracy in terms of Voting Rights. Every citizen who wants to vote is able to cast a vote must be at the top of congress agenda. At the local level many of us have heard stories about how difficult voting can be. Registering to vote in a place where they go to school or even functioning Voting Machines that lead to long lines and voters that need to get back to work, so they have to get up and leave their lives. Weve seen that over and over again. 2015 was the first president ial election and half century or the full Voting Rights act was not in effect. While some states and local communities have improved access to voting, others have restricted it often by targeting poor people and minority communities. The Supreme Court refused to hear on North Carolinas strict voter id law which was struck down as we know last year by the fourth u. S. Circuit court of appeals. In its decision to circuit said the law would target africanamericans with almost surgical precision. But we cant just count on backwards. Thats why certain democrats continue to call for a proactive legislative agenda to increase the opportunity for people to exercise their right to vote in our country. Our members have introduced legislation on election security, expanding Voter Registration, creating more opportunities for voters to cast their ballots. Chief among the proposals is the Voting Rights advancement act sponsored by my colleague senator leahy, cosponsored by the entire Senate Democratic caucus. Meanwhile, the administration continues to promote the unfounded narrative of widespread voter fraud. This is why im very disappointed. Thats why we are here doing our own hearing its the right to vote for tens of millions of americans. All of my colleagues care deeply about this and that leaders in their states. All of you are true leaders in the fight for democracy if we are honored to have you taking the time with us today. I would like to turn to my colleague from minnesota who is the Ranking Member on the Senate Rules Committee to say a few words. We have seen many of you sometime this week thank you for your advocacy. I am glad that you are able to have this discussion about what is happening with voting. We have seen into the court hass seems distinctly efforts to discriminate with surgical precision. Threehour lines in arizona, 100 to the nearest polling station in utah, voting id requirements in wisconsin, where we now know that it can be hard to get an ied in the first place. This isnt just going on in one state. This is a systematic effort across the country. And what did the administration do, they made things worse by establishing a socalled commission on Election Integrity. This is not about integrity when you look at what they are doing. And in fact to make things worse gathering information that many republicans states have spoken out against in a location, and one location that we try to avoid when we have the decentralized voting. So, i dont think that was an accident either. They are just simply making people concerned about voting and we heard in some states like colorado people actually took away their own registration because they didnt want to have the data shared. I know minnesota had the highest voter turnout and i know that the honorable tenets knows this but we had a voter turnout last year in any state and consistently. I have a bill to do that with senator tester and others individuals the bill and introducing that would require automatic voting registration state by state for eligible voters when they turn 18. These are not radical proposals, these are proposals we should support whether we are democrats, republicans because our democracy is founded on simple principles that citizens get to participate and we should be making it easier, not harder. Thank you very much. Weve asked senator Jeanne Shaheen to make some Opening Statements. Last week i know they were a part of this and what very much to get an up date. Thank you for completing this hearing. We hoped to be a part of that but they refused to allow us to have our testimony read as a part of this. The fact is on the Election Integrity that Commission Held a hearing last week and did exactly the opposite. It further misled americans about the electoral process and i think as many here would agree that the swiss assertions has zero evidence to support them. The vice chair of the commission did they call him where he made allegations about the election in New Hampshire and hillary clinton. They didnt understand the election law and was in maine. To lay the groundwork for the Voter Suppression law, we saw that at the hearing last week in New Hampshire. The people testifying before the panel recommended things like the thumb prints on voter ids, background checks before people would be allowed to register to vote. Americans lose trust when they questioned the validity without evidence. We talked about the interference and he said thats the two what happens when they undermined the process. I thought that this was important to repeat your taskedt with the integrity of the system sometimes you have nothing more important than the integrity of the process at the local level and to work to undercut or subvert or show the distrust is the highest level of injury that can be laid on a local election system and it points to the fact that we cannot overstate the dangers that are spreading this kind of misinformation. Its to intimidate the students, low income voters to persuade them from participating in the electoral process, so thank you to all of the witnesses that are here today to help us shed light on the real intent of the administration. I know senator wyden at some point wants to speak to his bill as well but we are going to turn now to the president of the Legal Defense fund, the naacp advocacy has worked tirelessly to expand democracy and eliminate the racial disparities. Welcome the president of the Leadership Conference on civil and human rights, promote and protect and the former head of the Civil Rights Division of the department of justice. Wendell anthony our great friend from detroit who has naacp are we still the largest chapter i believe we are and i know we have the largest annual dinner which you are welcome to attend any given time and their food is always hot. I havent figured this out. But it is a powerful dinner. In detroit and southeast michigan he has seen first hand the Voter Suppression. We are so pleased to have you with us. We will have a terrific panel. [inaudible] to all of those who thought it would be important to be here for this discussion in my brief statement i would like to provide context for the discussion today and explain why the current moment is urgent and the congressional action to restore the full protections of the Voting Rights act but also to address the issues we heard in the introduction from senator stabenow. And that is the right to go to the ability to participate in the political process. Weve been on the forefront since its founding in 1940, one of the earliest successes was Thurgood Marshall challenging the democratic primary in texas in 1944. Since that time, we have continued until today working on this issue that we regard as central to the citizenship of africanamericans. After the violent acts of terror in Charlottesville Perkins started a National Conversation about White Supremacy. I dont think i heard that word as much in my life and i think that is a good thing in that conversation is long overdue. Its been somewhat encouraging. Political leaders have a repugnant course for American Life to prosecute hate groups those are appropriate and welcome but incomplete we cannot have it all conversation without also talking about the right to vote and we cannot defeat White Supremacy until Congress Acts to ensure the state sponsored discrimination is between voters of color and the polls. Its always been essential to the american White Supremacy for decades state and local jurisdictions suppressed the boats with taxes, literacy tests and needlessly confusing registration requirements. Today they use the strict voter id laws for the citizenship requirements its the same in different forms. Since 2014 thereve been at least ten federal Court Decisions finding that state or local governments intentionally discriminated against africanamericans and other voters of color when acting legislation. This is a watershed moment in the country. Legislators and county convening and passing laws for the purpose of disenfranchising american voters. I submitted the full list for the record of the cases from texas, louisiana, wisconsin, North Carolina and the Fourth Circuit decision referred to earlier. We have to this of course the president ial Election Integrity commission thats already been discussed is the subject of seven lawsuits and we also the attorney general Jeff Sessions who pulled back on the prosecution of proven intentional discrimination in voting. We are witnessing a kind of perfect storm in which for the first time the federal government through this Integrity Commission and the attorney general also openly hostile to the Voting Rights and supporting Voter Suppression. Federal courts are taking the time deciding the cases and states of cores are doing with the Reconstruction Congress knew they could do when they use the language in the amendment no state shall where states are prohibited from. The creamer is not only puts limits on state conduct to undermine the citizenship of africanamericans, they included enforcement clauses in the amendment, interesting view, Congress Committee authority to enforce the rights to give full citizenship to africanamerica africanamericans. In 1965 a Bipartisan Congress responded with an act between 50 years as the most effective civil rights statute in the history but now we need so much more. We need the activities restored and a legislation many of you sponsored that will expand voting. We need the oversight and the department of justice and to look closely at the commission and appropriation for the commissions work and we need you to speak regularly, loudly and clearly about the importance of the right to vote for every american. Thank you. With the of bipartisan enforcement in the past in the Justice Department reversed a longstanding position that was is racially he discovered tory intentionally but they did a poll that finding the june on the very same day they sent to an unprecedented letter asking for extensive information to maintain their role ahead with the Randolph Institute case to reverse the position of arguing it should be easier for states to remove registered voters for the rehab the President Trump socalled commission on integrity that is to set up be absurd allegations that millions have voted illegally. We know the commission was to restrict the right to vote it tells you everything you need to know that have devoted to Voter Suppression efforts and in fact, last week one was identified as the center of the email to the Justice Department urging democrats or republicans we permitted to serve on the commission this is for everyone to see to create a National Database but those of us that value price b6 privacy and security that is why so many would speak out so now we have mounted a nationwide effort to discredit that commission and we appreciate the efforts you are making with that strategy also the of crusade goes against the agenda tomorrow the Senate Judiciary committee holds of hearing for North Carolina we would urge a the senators to approve that and their pieces of home that they have locally been in support of with the democracy restoration act where we have seen a lot of momentum that has been bipartisan bill we are seeing that we need a fully funded 2020 census with the civilrights issues that is essential to voting representation for all americans a were working hard to ensure there is a fair appropriation and there is of the year against immigrant communities to close the monitor those coming out of the Justice Department and youll have those timely responses to your letters and we are fully behind you to do everything we can to ensure everybody is protected. Thank you for all of you to hold this hearing one of the of prime benefits of this hearing is that they do not have pope and because of what we see nationally today and that Freedom Fighter from a rally in upstate new york with an elderly white gentleman mean about as much to be as a fleet buzzing around the we are and of an elephant. Ion guaranteed to keep you scratching. We are here to keep a scratching from our determined efforts suppose those schemes for their right to vote what we have seen on a National Level as a matter of fact they depress the people and just last year have a strenuous voter i. D. Lot. And the individual would have then to do so within resulting in a disqualification it is hard enough to get the two votes theyre not going to come back to days after the election and with that implementation to result in the citizens of the Africanamerican Community not being eligible to vote that is acceptable to the state. And then to bring back others to the table. This 13 member independent Citizens Commission and. In this is one of of biggest scams so the fact that this committee is composed of follow those quite frankly for the most part but they do know that recently basically it will suppress some of those young people by exercising their right to vote making it more difficult to get to the post. Is important we consistently have and update and engage from 2017 to report to and restore. We urge the house and senate to support us a 14 and 90 in among those they think are important to cover states that are practicing discrimination. And those that our most likely to impact people of color those that would allow those rejoining of district lines. With that gerrymandering for crow to put a bill on the ballot to allow west to let those district lines not by the politician but the local community so the essence of social and the media and texting and facebook and snap chat. Twitter your vote is eight weeks away and instagram you can change your future. There was a recent audit the trade was accused of voter fraud but there was none. There was some training that needs to occur. Increase time allowed to participate early in then to implement within the educational system in the American Democratic process. So the of the tests must not be placed on Political Party or ideology but civic duty. Generations ago a the greatness of america is it more than any other nation but to repair thoughts and it is time to repair our thoughts. Finigan for those comments. Good to have you with us. Also for conducting this critically important hearing at this time. The mission is to promote civil rights we will celebrate the 50th anniversary next year in 2018 to focus on the vote in securing access to the about to the ballot we join our colleagues to condemn that Integrity Commission but like many of these allegations because of that projected growth often it is the target to suppress votes for those that divide the community of a meaningful vote. We urge you to look at funding and vice a bias to show they cannot engage. That is documented as ufo sighting. But to focus on that latino experience with the lack of preclearance coverage and importance of california. We had to redouble our efforts to challenge the systems and in some cases for those texas voter identification to those to direct efforts elsewhere. With the overall goal of preserving Voting Rights. The city of pasadena anatexis very shortly after the Shelby County decision decided to change the structure of government. Without those six members elected and it undertook that change pretty quickly with a growing Latino Community and to control the city council. But only through the arduous and expensive pretrial preparation and. And then to have that in effect of the Latino Community. It resulted subjecting a jurisdiction but it took much work and cost to achieve that and. With a deterrent effect but with uncovered jurisdictions as well. So what electoral changes were blocked and those through the preclearance review we no longer have that deters defect. One of those frequently and cited beneficiaries that is the taxpayer of the jurisdiction literally billions of dollars without preclarence subject to litigation and to begin to so i urge you and your colleagues that preclearance provision the thought of the first and most effective alternative Resolution Systems ever written into federal law. In with consumers and when that comes to the vote peppery clearance saves billions of dollars for the jurisdiction and then not have to pay their own cost. Said to have that reintroduced be urge you to support a new formula. So welcome of nathalie maddow of secretary. I appreciate being here and all of you. End in West Virginia a jet very seriously my job of expanding rights of West Virginia. Is mosquitos initiatives in my colleague so as you talk about some of these initiatives so what can be done . A want to share some examples with you. West virginia had early voting in 2002 and in 2009 we had committed the voting and that expanded voting opportunities now people refer to them as the vote center. So that offers additional early voting locations. So for those Rural Communities it is much needed accessibility and convenience and they can be given the appropriate balance so early voting reduces the of stress of the Voting System on election day and reduce is voter frustration for girl also of to modernize the election in process to upgrade of paydays system to convenience because detective to where they are with their handheld devices. Automatically passing for western junior so eligible citizens to interact with Government Agencies are registered to your vote and that agencies bin transfer that Voter Registration information electronically to officials of this makes for a seamless process it is a simple and effective that it is possible to protect Voting Rights to eliminate errors. The policy that the of Brennan Center developed more than a decade ago and then sought saving money. So this is the true beginning of Voter Engagement because if someone is a registered voter they receive alexian mailings whether they are guidelines for local Election Officials there now amor informed electorate now shifted from Voter Registration into getoutthevote efforts to encourage voters to participate that there is more interaction and going door to door and they have a steady stream of people so madam chairman there are ways to experience of a right to eligible americans and as always are ready to assist in any way. Were looking forward for this discussion and i will take questions. Thanks for the invitation. For that opportunity with your vote by mail. Will make a of a . Comment. Baghdad has indicated to give everybody in america at a chance to vote we havent had problems but much are going to this so what we say with this legislation with every federal election to receive pay valid in the mail and this is through the postal service. They can keep their polling places if they choose to do entirely vote by mail system and those that keep their polling so that they could have a paper trail for what theyre doing. So asking for the two of you to ask questions for the record so you have been doing very good work Voter Registration your views on how voting by mail will affect to reverse that Voter Suppression effort you are doing very good work. One of the other hats that i wear with cybersecurity in connection with this topic to improve ways to have people vote to risk the audit of the election because in the past you have been interested in routine audits and Public Confidence and trust in the elections in the interest of time if you can take those questions given to the chair we appreciate your good work because i see new wondering if it is everything i have said. And colleagues who have been gracious. Thanks for your work in this area. In the community on the ground what have you seen in access to voting that we need to be doing with online voting control by mail but the very basic thing so what have you seen . Some of those fundamental things like equipment with an increase of funds for equipment in greater numbers. The poles need to be expanded relative to people to access the local communities. So the funding for training more funds need to be applied for training relative to coal workers. And this is very polite very potent. Even in this state of michigan summer about voting be others but because of the way the district has them they are diluted. Michigan is one of the worst dates in terms of gerrymandering that we have seen. But michigan can waive its own flag. But i think even if we are able to increase the of boat which we are working on the way the lines are drawn it makes it difficult to win elections because they are racked and stacked against the communities. And the same day Voter Registration and Voter Participation those are some tangible things we can do all across the country. Also empowering our young people the naacp does a tremendous job. Looking at what we need to engage you empower young people to register and vote. Social media has to be more employee. But the more mature community that goes to facebook the younger community they go do twitter or instagram or snap chat and that is how we captured them so texting your vote these are where you can snap your fingers and vote. I think it has to be employed. And that is a program on the porch conversation we use social leap media because you have to go where theyre at. But they live on their cell phones so if your mission with the Significant Impact it has to be in the area of social media. What does this mean for me . How does this affect my life personally . Could you speak more about the biggest concerns of the information that is asked for with the of voter record and why that is concerning . Originally for the initial inquiries including Social Security numbers that is violating peoples privacy we dont know the full number across the country to be kept in a centralized warehouse on a computer. There is a lot how the stage will be kept so what you need to focus on in those states have the right to share that data but what happens with that once it has been collected . Chris has long had a program where just to cross compare there are not double voters toward voting twice but that database has an extremely high error rate. And the danger is it will then be used as grounds to purge order some awfully of lawfully without any guard rails how it can be used or stored that we are concerned about packing to have backed centralized database on a computer about the Real National security dangers there are concerns how that data is collected and used. Other colleagues are welcome. Things to all of you to be here for the work that you do. Floating is the most essential and fundamental right behalf to do what we can to protect that right. I am has discouraged as the next person for what we have seen that i want to turn back when the commission came to restate with that troubling testimony to use that background check system and with those suggestions and with those literacy test voter turnout was far higher than it is now. To be clear with those tools used among the jim crow era in they are among the black voters in the south. In their increased by 50 percent from 1964 and 2012. Could you excipient on how that very misguided version distorts the reality of how Voter Suppression operates in also has turnout among a specific population . One of the most disturbing things is the extraordinary a cynicism that was on display of last week in New Hampshire the whole idea that they have improved your increase Voter Participation turns history on its head. Solyndra of 50s and 60s there were designed that africanamericans that were very effective in doing so. That recognition were centered around day important reality that citizenship to have money, paid to vote does not require one to be literate or even at a certain level. To be born or naturalized in the country. And with that fundamental truth. In with that voter identification the background check and that is extraordinary but that is what is deeply pernicious to marry together the broken criminaljustice system that affects africanamericans and latinos essentially attempting to use the over criminalization that has another means to do disenfranchise voters and it is true to have that effect there is something happening with this commission that requires urgency and why this hearing is so important every day us sense of cynicism hoodie want to ruth come out and vote . To use private emails to share information to make those historical claims that you described . To get up thing go the next day many of whom the live through the Civil Rights Movement to hold up a mirror to america to see itself and it makes them cynical that they should participate in the process other is that since of urgency around a the dismantling of the phony commission. I would just add the reality is they will issue a report of some sort to hyperinflated that they did with the evidence out of New Hampshire to claim to contain undetected voter fraud. It is important to a talk about how insulting that testimony was that chris kovach cattle longstanding antiimmigrant agenda in arizona and was to amend the national Voter Registration act. Than for states to purge voters and it in georgia on this topic. And then to be targeted to keep pay very careful eye on. Thankyou senator called char and to convene this. In for your willingness to come to share your experience and insight. I am frustrated by the Judiciary Committee failure twofold Day Committee for Voting Rights. I think it is important to the future of our democracy getting to the bottom of what happened also about ongoing actions domestically and to suppress Voter Suppression and voter activity but we have seen a Civil Rights Division after six years of litigating the case. And then two months later a federal judge shows with such intent was eating vast Civil Rights Division abandon that claim . The attorney general sessions and has said in opposition with a vigorous prosecution of the Voting Rights act. To have less enthusiasm. But to abandon that claim that carries with it the stability of a remedy and the Voting Rights act that they heard them talk about in the city of pasadena and those of have been found to engage in discrimination. And with that discrimination and redistricting and so it faces san continues to face the of possibility and in my view the attorney general hopes to undermine that Important Committee remedy to those legislatures discriminatory act. When is it your view is it is there any further reason to believe it was an attempt to avoid liability . It was fairly extraordinary for the Justice Department to reverse that position as they had over six years to prosecute aggressively a claim with Racial Discrimination and then had prevailed that was of unprecedented action that was an effort to avoid that that turned up the federal courts and what was indicated. And then to you toil away for years said that with true the claim. Other senators are eager. In targeted africanamericans the changes were passed so how can we help americans appreciate tactical or minor changes to discriminate against fellow americans . And what about the right to vote . And how they reached conclusions of both the new with carolina and the texas case as well. And with those judges at the appellate and District Court level to reach conclusions that these votes are motivated by intentional discrimination. And by those that were appointed by the president of both parties. In we can understand why judge sessions would try to prevent that from being subject to prevent that yet again. But the public needs to understand after presentation is through trisyllable sides. Thank you for the opportunities. Thanks to all of you for being here. And since the Supreme Court voted those act to Voter Suppression it has accelerated. These barriers are designed to shed africanamericans latinos and and the other targeted groups to keep them out of that democratic process. And now just from protecting voters the president of the United States issues the power of his office and then president of the Electoral College and he is sensitive about it. And to strike back with the claim because millions of people voted illegally. And then to leave the advocacy work and then to back up that president s claim no. With those claims came about they were on it almost immediately to issue a report called on citizens voting. The of those local and administrators. So you have looked at the data. According to moodys best available data how prevalent are they engaging in voter fraud . With a consensus that illegal voting is extremely rare. And then somebody getting struck by lightning . I just want to be clear the president decided to establish a commission to study voter fraud to be focused to justify the state level. So i just want to ask how the states have passed laws to make it harder for citizens to vote . 20. Are there any that have been invalidated by federal courts . Many. And from 2014 that federal courts have found that states or local jurisdictions enacted laws for the of purpose of intentional discrimination. Is supposed to Police Unconstitutional efforts. Has the trump the administration and demonstrated it keeps the problem of Voter Suppression seriously . It has taken unprecedented action that carrier lawyers were litigating to establish and with that texas case and then to reverse that decision. And with that seems to be the opposite. But what about Voter Suppression . And in terms of suppressing. And then to get the information from states from the purging of kurds. But more and more americans are worried about widespread voter fraud. So that idea of coordinated efforts is really scary. And it is totally made up. But when the president of the United States uses his bullhorn a lot of people start to pay attention. And then Jeff Sessions has made a career to undermine civil rights protections and 11 years ago passing bus the Voting Rights act and 90 o. To every level of government if we care to bring the country together in to vote in a democracy and and those right to vote with oversight with the department of justice in the Civil Rights Division and we should be doing everything we can to avoid giving legitimacy to the Integrity Commission. To make sure america understands. I was thinking bad based on your exchange maybe we need a commission may be if we were struck by lightning. [laughter] to remove the of their preregistration of voters everywhere act. Thanks for your leadership. Thanks to all of the witnesses. Is good to you be here as the founding tenet the right to vote the strength of the democracy proves that participation it is incredibly disturbing at the very least in dangerous for the Top Administration to take measures and then to ruth focus with those attacks the president is trying to do manufacture voter fraud to justify his attempts that Voter Suppression. And we might fight that decision we cannot remain on defense. And to increase those opportunities of Voter Participation. And then with the district of columbia said to have Voter Registration and why i support that to expand reforms nationwide and why introduce a preregistration of an act to help voters to become more civic the engage if we allow them to become free registered to vote at the age of 16 tour proved as accuracy of Voting Rights across the country. Good to see you. Currently 20 different states included less rigid off people to pray register prior to 18. Can you discuss how the young people can influence Voter Engagement . As they talked about in my Opening Statement you have that participation in muffled ready to be enacted almost as if now you are part of the team for like teenagers or voters to say am i allowed to be here . With preregistration in you have that. So that if they experience this it will help them it is the fear of missing out we know what people to miss out on elections. If you are registered a 16 where are they . The dmv to get the registrations and now they are automatically registered with the traneighteen when they turn 18. That is why it is important so in West Virginia to register at the age of 17 and vote in the primary if he will be 18 on order for the general election. Those are ways to encourage young people to get involved you addressed a the context with the black community specifically according to the pew research 35 percent of black eligible voters are young people . To you think that would affect voter turnout . I think that is why it is so important to affirmatively register it to the electorate but the protection of voters because you dont want to baitandswitch and then have them subjected to what we see around the country not just boater added a vacation but redistricting perhaps to be an aggressive effort to give them opportunities and that all young people should register with the tourney team. And then to guarantee that they can participate in the political process and theyre not subject to those tactics for those that try to ensure registered voters dont have power. There is an issue dear chinatown not the attempt at disenfranchisement debt leftover of where and this is in in this district that they could never elect a member to represent them. What is wrong. I was the first Asian American elected to office. Is a Different Community but one that is a real issues so in addition they can go vote there also protected by the Voting Rights act that is why hand in hand read registration and access. Has you noted was the Fastest Growing beans growing demographic of eligible voters. In with the benefits and early on in the democratic process. To have a tremendous the a positive defect with that connection to use cooling and can register. To have on the Latino Community because it could be the children of immigrants who are not yet naturalized. To have that provided to them through high school through the dmv but then to the border and overseas and spent a lot of time translating for my mother she became a citizen in her 50s. With those asianamerican communities. In those that was bin current split to encourage those parents. And you are right if the children become engaged to bend to take that step. And with that firstgeneration immigrant worried that you dont have the time and it is a continuum i totally agree to start with making that registration and easier and then to have that electoral structure for a meaningful vote to be cast for them to believe their vote does not count. Then that gerrymandering. What about this idea to allow them to preregister . In withy naacp . With that Latino Community. The live we suggest this. And i do have to say this but there was the study done of 1 billion votes between 2014 ad of 1 billion votes between 2000 and 2014. There is much more weight given to a commission on integrity if they were concerned with russian interference with that same composition and those intelligence agencies with the election. And then that legitimizes anything so when asked a question whether not at 16 they should be given in a diploma but they should be given the diploma and a card that says of what is important to vote across america every School Public or private we should all have that and in addition to the fact with the abcs of boating and Voter Participation in the past to be a holistic approach the attorney general is almost gleeful when it comes to new pulling back on Voter Registration and enforcement almost like he is over joyful many of us view this time as another reconstruction that if you understand the history of america, there was a compromise of 1877 in which one individual gets the election of the presidency if certain things were done down south. It was a dilution of power and also indicated those that would protect the rights of africanamericans. There is a backlash. Be honest to everything that was done relative to this. They are becoming more black or brown if we like better not. That intimidates the of president than the attorney general so is in line with that it is all connected. With that boater enforcement to enforcing that dissent descend decree so end 2017 so you cannot separate what has occurred from what is occurring. That is designed to frustrate and eliminate the vote when you make it so difficult for them to access who wants to go or stand in line . How many seniors want to drive to use money for pharmaceutical products to pay for the state issued ids . Ed is the black or brown or white in a process that brings everybody to the table diploma and Voter Registration that means you are in. That is an american insurer so i think we can resolve this but it has to be holistic. But we still have these other issues then senator we have a problem. I am saying it will require all of us to be committed i like oversight. Oversight. Oversight. They are working out a site to make sure they can take back what they think they have lost. When i hear lets make America Great again who are they talking about to that degree reconstruction and period . What part are you talking about . Lets make america a fair. I yield back. But i just want to note for the record we have 16 members with Us Democratic senators said many of whom have introduced legislation like senator duckworth end those who have signed on to sponsor those efforts is foundational whether voting is suppressed by the efforts of the forint country foreign country either way. I am hopeful by taking this opportunity the Senate Republican colleagues can join with us in formal hearings of legislation more integrity and more resources that will allow us to say to everyone has an american in citizen we have the right to vote. [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] the presiding officer the senator from florida. Mr. Rubio mr. President , two weeks ago this very evening i had just finished my time as the presiding officer over the senate and made the decision that early the next morning i would be returning to