Good evening, everyone. I know theres some people still coming in, but its time to s good evening, everyone. I know some people are still coming in, but it is time to get on with it. I am david welch, the inaugural director of the Stubblefield Institute for civil Political Communications at Shepherd University. Welcome. [applause] welcome to our first installment forums, and eating with Donna Brazile and mercedes schlapp, the state of political discourse in todays america, moderated by mary hendrix. Throughout the Academic Year there will be several more forums so please go on our Facebook Page and our website for updates. The mission of the institute is to study and promote how intelligent, authentic and civil political discourse can play an essential role in our nations ability to better meet challenges and solve problems and offer a platform on a opposite viewpoints can be respected and legitimized in ways that avoid negative labeling and alienation. Moreover, we seek to demonstrate
Everyone. I know theres some people still coming in, but its time to get on with it. Im david welch, the inaugural director of the Stubblefield Institute for civil Political Communications at Shepherd University, and welcome [applause] and welcome to our first installment of the american conversation series public forums, and eating with Donna Brazile and mercedes schlapp, the state of political discourse in todays america, moderated by mary hendrix. Throughout the Academic Year there will be several more forums so please go on our Facebook Page and our website for updates. The mission of the institute is to study and promote how intelligent, authentic and civil political discourse can play an essential role in our nations ability to better meet challenges and solve problems and offer a platform on a opposite viewpoints can be respected and legitimized in ways that avoid negative labeling and alienation. Moreover, we seek to demonstrate that civil Political Engagement in these challeng
To revise and extend their remarks and that any written statement be made part of the record. Hearing no objection so ordered. We are here today to examine a state of Voting Rights and election and administration in america. The right for to vote is sacred. We take our responsibility to protect access to the ballot seriously. The subcommittee, our committee as a whole, is charged with overseeing the administration of federal elections. This country has a long history of failing to ensure equal and unencumbered access to the ballot for all citizens. While states and localities have a significant role in carrying out elections, congress cannot abdicate these Critical Response abilities to ensure every eligible american can access the ballot box. Cast to the ballot free from disconnection and suppression and has a steadfast space in our democratic process that there ballot will be counted as cast. Since the beginning of the 100 16th congress the subcommittee has been Holding Hearings acro
We are a small academic Publishing House attached to the largest Baptist University in the world in waco texas. We are very focused, almost all of the 40 books we published each year are focused on academic conversations surrounding religion. Melissas book is a natural fit for our listand we are proud to be the publisher of it. I suspect that for many of you linda rogers needs no introduction at all. She served as special assistant to president barack obama and executive director of the White House Office of faithbased and neighborhood partnerships. She holds a law degree from the university of pennsylvania and she serves as visiting professor at Wake Forest University school of divinity and a nonresident senior fellow at the brookings institution. She has received an honorary doctorate from Wake Forest University and the johnleland center for theological studies. 11 years ago Melissa Rogers coauthored her first book at Baylor University press, an ambitious volume called religious free
Three minutes to ask questions. Many members will be allowed to make openings Committee Members will be allowed to make Opening Statements. Hearing no objections, so ordered. The chair recognizes herself for five minutes for an opening statement. First of all thank you, everyone, for being here this morning. It is an honor for those of us that are not from chicago to be here on a very serious issue. This is the very first energy and Commerce Committee hearing on the gun violence epidemic in our country. As a Public Health issue. And this subcommittee has jurisdiction over Public Health issues in our country jurisdiction over Public Health issues in our country. I want to represent recognize members who were present chicago and the region, starting with bobby rush, whose district we are in. Thank you, bobby, very much for inviting us, asking the subcommittee to come here. Congresswoman robin kelly, who is here to my left. Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky from the chicago region. Enter and t