Distinguished chairman, Ranking Member of the Homeland Security committee, congressman Benny Thompson of mississippi. Congressman thompson has been a champion for protecting the homeland of our country. And really has been a persistent advocate, dissatisfied sometimes in what has happened. Hell talk about that. But as we go into the fourth of july weekend, were here to talk about something, about our democracy. And what our founders sacrificed for us to be able to have the sacred right to vote. How that has been fought for over the years. For women, for the africanamerican community, for women later and what it means to have an assault on it by a foreign power. Before i yield to mr. Thompson, though, i just wanted to Say Something about the Health Care Bill. As you know, Mitch Mcconnell is postponing his very damaging, the vote on this bill and its a setback for them, but its not a victory for us. This is progress, in terms of exposing the bill for what it is. But more needs to be done. And well again, the republicans will probably go behind closed doors, as they are, to write a bill and well know what it is when we see it. But if they do as the house did, they will only make matters worse what does that mean . Higher costs for fewer benefits, terrible age tax, undermining medicare. Stealing from medicare and medicaid i should have said. And gugt key protections. Thats what they want the American People to swallow. As they do this, theyre making an assault on medicaid, which is again there are dangers to children and other living things, should they succeed. If you are a senior in a nursing home, if youre a child, with a severe disability or complex diagnoses, the list goes on and on. One in ten veterans takes advantage of medicaid, one in ten of our veterans, so it hurts children, seniors, veterans, families and our country. Every sector of the Health Care System is opposed to their bill. You wonder how could they cook this thing up . Well you know, all of this is to give a tax cut to the wealthiest people in our country. While they take health care away. The biggest transfer of wealth in our countrys history, 800 billion from working families to the wealthiest and corporate america. Here we are, its the end of the first two quarters of the year, but say almost six months that the republicans have been in this session of congress, over five months since the president has been in office. No jobs bill. No infrastructure bill. No tax reform bill. No Health Care Bill. No legislation to uphold the full faith and credit of the United States of america. No nothing, except again taking away protections for clean air and clean water for our children. So again, it is its a poor record that they have. And one would wonder why, why as they cant get something done. One of the things that they have not done is paid sufficient attention to the assault on our electoral system that the russians perpetrated in the last campaign. For one example. Theyre doing it in other countries, they may have done it here before. They hacked our democracy, 21 state and local election systems were penetrated. Unless we act, they will do it again. The integrity of our democracy at stake and on this weekend as we go into the fourth of july, we think it is our patriotic duty to honor the declaration of independence, life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness, thats what our Health Care Bill is about. Our democracy, the integrity of our elections, that is essential to a democracy as well. We couldnt be better served, and protect the American People, the oath we take to protect and defend our constitution. American people globally here at home and the rest. And by our distinguished Ranking Member on the Homeland Security committee, mr. Benny thompson. You know him, whom i presented earlier. He has really, hes going to speak for himself, but i want to say how much we appreciate his relentless, strong leadership in protecting every aspect of our, the American People, including the integrity of our voting system. He has the idea, and we all supported the idea of a task force and he is joined by bob brady, a Ranking Member on the Homeland Security committee. So it is a task force on Election Security to tell us about it, i yield to the distinguished gentleman from mississippi. Mr. Thompson. Thank you very much, madam leader. Our system of democracy is admired by people all over the world. How we select our officials. Is something most countries would want to emulate. But finally, theres broad admission that russians have had something to do with how that process of selecting our official works. And so we looked at it, committees have finally decided to begin the process of looking backward, in terms of what happened. Some of us are concerned that were not looking forward, we have elections in 2018. We dont know to what extent the russians have really compromised our systems. We feel that something should be looking at that. Those 21 states, that have been identified so far as having some intrusion on their system. And in a sense, we have from secretary johnsons standpoint, identified our election system, as critical infrastructure. And we have offered assistance to states to look at it and see whether or not we can be helpful. We think its important that this Task Force Made up of congressmen brady, with House Administration and myself, and a number of other people that we will hear from as we look and really try to find out exactly what has happened, how do we recommend corrective activity. Corrective action. So on our committee, weve done a resolution of inquiry. Asking for data as to what has gone on. And obviously that resolution of inquiry failed on a partisan vote. Republicans voted against it. Democrats voted for it. So basically, this task force is the only option available to us right now. To really collect the data, talk to witnesses, have hearing, bring in state officials, local officials, experts in cyber, as to whats going on. With the end result of publishing a report that we hope that can become the basis for legislation. And hopefully we can correct whatever inaccuracies or intrusions that have gone on. For our 2018 election. And its incumbent on the leadership in the white house to sit and try to blame president obama for not doing something and here we are, latter part of june going into the fourth of july recess, and theres nothing definitive from the white house addressing this. We think now is the time to act and establishment of this task force is what we propose to do. Hearings, collection of data. Talking to witnesses is how we propose to do it. If republicans decide, they really want to come and join us, they absolutely welcome to do it. But we think in light of no activity, were left with no choice but to establish this task force and move forward. Thank you. Thank you very much. Any questions on the Task Force First . On how we go forward with that . Again im very proud of the ongoing efforts that mr. Thompson has been making in this regard. And again were finding out things that we need to know before, for example, how many states have been compromised in all of this. 21 of 21 states, and some states dont even realize that they have been, yet. So confidence in the electoral process, confidence that peoples votes will be counted as cast is very important. But if we have a disruption of the system because of foreign intervention, thats an attack on our country, its an attack on our democracy, so thank you, mr. Chairman. Announcing when well be having some meetings soon. I informed the speaker this morning of the fact that you had taken the lead on this and you have the support of that caucus as we go forward. Thank you. You talk about the agenda, being tripped up. And the Health Care Bill. You hear the president s tweets this morning. You view that as give them tripping over themselves because they are having trouble legislatively. And then the president tweets some very controversial things like he did this morning. That adds to their problems, because they happen to be bantering the questions on the other side about what the president is tweeting . The president is such a prolific tweeter, i dont know what tweets youre referring to. The one of brzezinski this morning. That saddens me, its so beneath the dignity of the president of the United States to engage in such behavior. I dont know why the republicans they can tolerate almost anything. A candidate beating up a reporter and then cheering him on as he arrives in congress and tweets at the president of the United States. They set a low standard for Public Officials in terms of their demeanor. Its really sad. The president of the United States. Something wrong there. Yes, maam . On the Health Care Bill yesterday, you said ignoring the needs of gods creation is to dishonor the god who made us. Do you believe that Defunding Planned Parenthood excuse me. Do you believe that Defunding Planned Parenthood would dishonor god . I think Defunding Planned Parenthood disrespects every woman in this country. Disrespects every woman from making her own decision about deciding on her family. It should be between her dra, her god, her family. Respecting the dignity and worth of every person. And their ability to make decisions to answer for their behavior. Yes, sir . You have the highestranked elected woman in our countrys history and following up on chads question, im curious to know whether you agree with senator feinstein, who suggested that the tweet was sexist. Do you think on its face it was a sexist tweet from the president . I think its so blatantly sexist, i dont think theres any question about it. Sad to say i am still the highestranking woman. I thought that was going to be resolved in november. Instead we have a person in the white house, who not only doesnt happen to be a woman, but happens to disrespect women. Thats too bad. Yes, maam . John kelly was speaker ryans press conference and said some of the members of congress had threatened him. He didnt name any names, didnt take any questions. But i know that when he met with house democrats, it was a little, there was some tension there. Do you know of any of your members threatening the dhs secretary . And whats your overall response to that . Well you know, in our committy on two different occasions, hes been before the democratic caucus, to have a difference of opinion, on an area is not a threat. Im not aware of any specific threats. I think if the secretary feels that he was threatened, i think he should make our leadership aware of it. And if he genuinely thinks it was a physical threat, he should reported it to the authorities. Beyond that i just think his characterization of the meetings that i have been in, did not warrant or threaten, just a difference of opinion. Generals are used to a level of deference that members of congress are not necessarily used to bestowing on cabinet officers. So perhaps being asked questions in a followup question, seems threatening to him. But thats the democratic way. And certainly theres no, there was never any kind of an attempt to do that. But its strange that he would say such a thing. Yes, sir . Whats your take on the holdup with the russian sanctions bill. The speaker said before its a constitutional technicality. Theyve said theyre prepared to vote on it again. Are you concerned that theres pressure being put on by the white house to water down the bill . Or do you agree with the speaker that theres a technicality that theyre trying to iron out. When were asked by the president of the ukraine to be aggressive in terms of sanctions, on russia, the speaker said yes, the Senate Passed the bill, its just a blue slip problem. If its just a blue slip problem, that can be resolved. If they get into substance, thats a problem. And this bill passed the senate 982, how much more bipartisan can you get to that . 982. And when it came here, a blue slip, thats a process question. Most people in the country dont know what that means. Nor should they waste their time figuring it out. Onlies that it has to go back. With a process change in it and then the senate will vote on it and it will go to the president s desk. If in fact theyre using process as an excuse for substance, that would be a problem. But the speaker said to you today, its just process, then we should be able to do it today. Do you think it should be voted on before the president goes and likely have a oneonone meeting with president putin . It should have been done already, its overdue. Its not like were doing anything around here that the calendar is so full of activity and legislative accomplishments. This is something that came again with strong bipartisanship in it. And i think that the blue slip speaker says its a reason. It can be resolved right now. If its an excuse, who knows how long it would take. It would send a strong message to Vladimir Putin that we are serious about these sanctions. I always say what is it that the russians have on donald trump eernl personally, politically or financially that we have to pussyfoot around when it comes to sanctions on russia. Tonight second provisions go into effect of the president s travel ban. Perhaps mr. Thompson, as well as you, leader, can comment with your thoughts, will it improve security in the United States . Well they released the information yesterday. I think a lot of us concerned about the direction in terms of who actually can come in, grandparents cant come in. But professors can. Were not sure if fiances can come in. We asked for the written directions thats been provided the state department. And we have yet to receive it. But i think theres are some things that need to be flushed out. I dont think any of us are concerned about not wanting bad people to be kept out of this country. So we will work with this administration on anything they come forward with. As long as it passed legal muster. And as long as the directions are clear. And i think some of that even with what the court said is yet to be determined. As we go into the fourth of july, as long as legal muster, as long as its constitutional. I was concerned, because they wouldnt let grandchildren in. You can imagine how that affected me. Thank you all very much. Happy fourth of july to all of you. A reminder, we have more live coverage coming up. President trump and Vice President mike pence are heading to the department of energy this afternoon where theyre expected to talk about the energy agenda. Well have it for you at 3 15