Mikie Sherrill

Ms. SHERRILL

Ms. SHERRILL. Madam Speaker, regrettably, I was unable to vote on November 1st and 2nd. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 340; YEA on Roll Call No. 341; YEA on Roll Call No. 342; YEA on Roll Call No. 343; YEA on Roll Call No. 344; YEA on Roll Call No. 345; YEA on Roll Call No. 346; YEA on Roll Call No. 347; YEA on Roll Call No. 348; YEA on Roll Call No. 349; YEA on Roll Call No. 350; YEA on Roll Call No. 351; YEA on Roll Call No. 352; and YEA on Roll Call No. 353.

Ms. SHERRILL

Ms. SHERRILL. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize General Raymond Thomas Odierno, former Chief of Staff for the Army and a native of Rockaway in New Jersey's 11th Congressional District, General Odierno began his service to our country as a young man attending the United States Military Academy at West Point and went on to serve our nation for the majority of his life. He was commissioned as an officer in the Army in 1976, serving around the world to protect and defend our nation's Constitution and values. Most notably, General Odierno served three tours in Iraq, including commanding the 4th Infantry Division on his first tour in 2003, which played a major role in the capture of Saddam Hussein. In 2011, General Odierno was selected to be the Army's Chief of Staff, the highest ranking general in the Army. In this role, he guided the Army through the final withdrawal of troops from Iraq, addressed issues facing our troops including rising rates of suicide, and handled crises such as the Ebola outbreak in 2014. General Odierno's strength, strategic thinking, and commitment to service were unmatched and our country is safer because of him. He was a beloved community member of NJ-11. Whenever he returned to his hometown in Morris County, he gave back to the local community, including by meeting with the next generation of leaders at the local schools. General Odierno passed away on October 8th after a valiant battle with cancer. He will be missed by his family, friends, the NJ-11 community, and fellow servicemembers and veterans.

Ms. SHERRILL

Ms. SHERRILL. Madam Speaker, regrettably, I was unable to vote. Had I been present, I would have voted: NO on the Republican Motion to Recommit on H.R. 3110; and YEA on final passage of H.R. 3110, the PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act.

Ms. SHERRILL

Ms. SHERRILL. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Albert Edward Pelham, a beloved community leader and student advocate from my town, Montclair, New Jersey. Al was known for bringing people together. His work aided and inspired generations of Montclairians, and he leaves behind a beautiful legacy. Al was raised in Montclair and graduated from Montclair High School. He served our country in the U.S. Army before returning to New Jersey and graduating from Bloomfield College. From his leadership in the Montclair NAACP, the Montclair Neighborhood Development Corporation, Statewide Parent Advocacy Network, Montclair African-American Heritage Foundation, and more, he dedicated himself to making his community a better and fairer place. One of Al's many achievements was the creation of Project Oasis, which offers year-round educational and recreational opportunities for students. When the COVID-19 pandemic began, Al adapted the program and organized a remote learning space so that all students had access to a computer to attend their virtual classes. He also created a program for students who were suspended to provide them with academic training and counseling as an alternative to staying at home. Al worked to ensure that all students, regardless of their background, had opportunities to excel. Al fought tirelessly for racial justice and inclusivity, guiding both the Montclair NAACP and the Montclair African-American Heritage Foundation through especially difficult times in our country. In 2019, he was recognized for these efforts with the Essex County Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Leadership Award. Al's dedication to his community was matched by his deep commitment to his family. Al took any opportunity he could to be with his wife, Audrey; his children, Dwayne and Rhonda; his grandchildren, Charles and Cameron; his sisters; and extended family. On August 19, 2021, Al passed away after a battle with cancer. His selfless commitment to making Montclair a better place will not soon be forgotten. I was honored to have known Al and to have called him my friend. The counsel he gave me and so many others over the years will continue to impact us and the entire Montclair community for generations to come.

Ms. SHERRILL

Ms. SHERRILL. Madam Speaker, I thank Chairwoman Speier for yielding. I appreciate it. I rise today to talk about the childcare crisis facing our Nation, and by extension, our national economy. I rise today to share the stories from working mothers in my district, to outline the disastrous impact maintaining the status quo will have for families and communities and businesses, and to instill a sense of urgency for addressing this childcare crisis, because prior to COVID, women represented over half the working people in this Nation. Over half. So let's be clear, when working moms are losing ground, that is the American middle class losing ground. And the current reality of the American childcare system is endless waitlists for spots that may never open up. The current reality is unreasonable costs that eat away at 20, 30, 40 percent of a working parent's paycheck. In fact, I have a constituent who has two children in childcare and pays over the amount of their paycheck in childcare. And in over half of the States in this Nation, center-based infant care costs more than in-State college tuition. That is what is facing families today. And the current reality is to make it work, often for families-- including my own family--the only way you make it work is with the help of grandparents or friends. So God help you, if you don't have that safety net in place. The current reality is that too many moms are being forced to leave their jobs because they simply can't make it work. And if we don't act, too many of those moms will not be able to re-enter our workforce. Two weeks ago, I convened a round table to have an in-depth conversation with working women in NJ-11. The stories I heard on that call mirror the experiences of women across my district, of the women serving alongside me in this legislative body, and they mirror my own experiences over the past 16 years as a working mom raising my four children. Anyone who has had a child in the last few decades knows that the barriers to entry for childcare in America begin before your first child is even born. You are only pregnant for 9 months, but mothers have told me about 2-year waiting lists and a dearth of available options. That situation got worse during the pandemic, with many centers closing down or going out of business. And that is the current reality when things go according to plan. During that round table, we heard from too many people who had changes in their lives which upended their whole childcare plan. During that round table, I heard from a professor who told me about how her search for childcare became twice as hard when she and her wife found out they were expecting twins. It got even harder than that when they were born premature and had health concerns that required in-home care. She and her spouse were forced to make the impossible choice to cut their income in half so one of them could stay at home or to incur the astronomically high cost of in-home care. That is the catch-22 our families are facing too many times today. I have a working mom and a councilwoman in my district who faced a similar dilemma. When she had her son, she was lucky enough to find a great childcare center with space for him, but the price of quality care was steep. She was in the position where her salary was just above the cost of care. Like far too many women, she considered leaving the workforce simply because the costs were unjustifiable. But in her case, she couldn't afford not to work. And she is lucky she didn't stop because we know that for women who quit the workforce for even 1 year, that is a 40 percent pay cut over the next 15 years. This issue is about the family budget, the bottom line, the ability to make ends meet. And for too many families, the exorbitant costs of childcare place them just steps away from financial ruin. My councilwoman was lucky to find good childcare near where she lived, but what happens when you move? Well, we heard from another working mom about that. She and her husband had great daycare for their 1-year-old that they really loved. They were one of the lucky ones. Unfortunately, when they decided it was time to move, they couldn't find anywhere with space near their new home. So for months before they got off the wait list at a new center, they left their house every day at 6:30 a.m. to drop their child off at the old daycare center before starting their own long commute to work. But even with that daycare system, she still needed help from a family member to pick up her son when the daycare center closed hours before she and her spouse finished work. And this dilemma has only gotten worse during COVID with childcare centers scaling back their hours due to workforce shortage issues. All of these barriers come with a direct economic cost. This isn't just a woman's issue. This isn't just a children's issue. This is a critical economic issue facing our Nation. In September alone, 26,000 women lost jobs while more than 200,000 men gained jobs. And that is not to mention the more than 300,000 women who left the workforce entirely that month. We are leaving hundreds of billions of dollars of potential economic growth and improved GDP on the table by failing to fix this crisis and continuing to force women out of the workforce. And we are certainly not solving the workforce crisis facing communities all across this country. Tonight, you will hear from many of us outlining the stories that we ourselves and our constituents face, the concerns that the very real obstacles and challenges with childcare across this country are hampering too many women in the workforce. We are jumping through hoops and making tough financial decisions, calling on friends and family members just to find and maintain affordable and quality childcare. And as a result, our families are suffering. The progress women have made in the workforce and in our society is suffering. Our economic recovery post pandemic is suffering. But it doesn't have to be this way. We have the opportunity to make crucial investments in our childcare system to ensure that no family in this Nation pays more than 7 percent of their income on childcare. This budget plan represents an important start to helping working women stay in the workforce after having a child, help those who left re-enter, and keep more money in the pockets of hardworking families across this country. And we can do all this as we ignite our economic recovery and build back better.

Ms. SHERRILL. Will the gentlewoman yield?

Ms. SHERRILL. Madam Speaker, it truly is. And as you know, as you chair your subcommittee and hear, I'm sure, from far too many families about as the difficulties of childcare grow, the difficulties of being a fully deployable force like our United States Navy grow. So certainly, it is a national security issue, as well.

Ms. SHERRILL

Ms. SHERRILL. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the Women's Health Protection Act. For almost my entire life, Roe v. Wade has been the law of the land. And after continuous attacks on Roe for the past five decades, I, for the first time fear that it is truly imperiled. The attacks on women's health in Texas and the court's refusal thus far to protect our Constitution and women lays out a roadmap really for States across the Nation. That is why this legislation is critical, so Congress can stand in the breach and protect women and our constitutional rights across the Nation.

Ms. SHERRILL

Ms. SHERRILL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today because, for too long, women in our workforce have struggled with almost insurmountable childcare issues. Due to our lack of investment, our economy has lost too many talented women as they try to juggle the demands of work and childcare. After gaining significant ground in the seventies, eighties, and nineties, and expanding our workforce, and increasing our GDP in the process, women have not made significant gains in the workforce in the last two decades. Two decades where women faced economic penalties when they were forced to leave the workforce due to lack of quality and affordable child care. Two decades where, if we had just kept pace with some of our allies, we would have grown our GDP by another $600 billion. I rise today because women falling behind is the American middle class falling behind. Penalizing women in the workforce penalizes families and imperils opportunities for our children. And this crisis has been made exponentially worse by COVID. That is why I am calling on all my colleagues to support legislation to ensure all families have access to quality and affordable childcare. Congress needs to realize this is not simply a women's issue or a children's issue. This is a critical economic issue.

Ms. SHERRILL

Ms. SHERRILL. Madam Speaker, almost 20 years ago our country began sending brave servicemembers on deployment after deployment during the global war on terror. Around the world, they faced dangers not just from the enemy, but also from the circumstances of their service. Too many of those who served in areas of toxic exposure now bear life-long illness in exchange for the security they provided to all of us. And too many of those who faced the traumas of combat or sexual assault, now bear unseen and often debilitating burdens on their mental health. This is why I introduced two amendments to this bill. The first directs $1 million to Burn Pits Centers of Excellence, one of which is located in East Orange, New Jersey, for critical research. The second directs $10 million to expand vet center counseling services to additional locations, including in my district where a new vet center is badly needed. Our veterans deserve the best treatment available, whether their injuries are physical or mental. We owe it to them to support this funding.

Ms. SHERRILL

Ms. SHERRILL. Madam Speaker, I am proud to be rising today alongside so many of my colleagues to declare loudly that the time has come to finally address the State and local tax deduction cap for families that have been slapped with this double tax for 4 long years. In States like New Jersey, we pride ourselves on making the investments necessary to sustain our top-tier public schools, invest in infrastructure and open spaces, and support a prevailing wage for our unions. That is why people move to my State. That is why families stay for generations. But when the SALT deduction cap imposed by the 2017 Trump tax bill instituted, our ability to keep making those key investments was threatened. The SALT deduction cap affects residents in every corner of my district. It impacts families made up of teachers, first responders, and public servants. For my constituents and millions of taxpayers throughout the country, the bottom line is you don't have to be a millionaire to be impacted by SALT. The simple fact is that it has imposed a harmful double tax and has created one of the largest marriage penalties in the Federal tax code. With the SALT cap in place, States and localities face increased pressure to cut back on important investments in priorities like education, prevailing wages, infrastructure, environmental protections, and services for seniors. Those investments became harder to make when the Federal Government decided to tax New Jersey families twice. This means that more New Jerseyans' money is going to the Federal Government, instead of being invested in our local communities. The result will be less spending over time on these priorities, which would be a detriment to ensuring our economy works for everyone. I have been fighting since my first day in office to repeal the SALT deduction cap. I have helped secure passage of a repeal twice in this very Chamber. And I feel confident that so many of my colleagues understand this issue and why it is critical that we repeal it; largely because of the work and advocacy of the Members who are speaking here tonight. But we need to keep up this fight for our constituents. As we head into crunch time on infrastructure negotiations in Congress, now is the time to deliver relief for families across New Jersey and States around the country that are disproportionately impacted by this harmful double tax. Last week, I launched an initiative back in New Jersey, declaring it the Summer of SALT, to make it clear that we will do everything in our power to make it happen. There simply isn't another option for New Jersey families.

Ms. SHERRILL. Sure. So as you know, the people in my district pay State and local taxes, and that is what funds our great public school system. New Jersey has the best public school system for 2 years running in the Nation; types of things like that, services that our New Jersey families care so much about. And now the Federal Government is taxing that money. So you are getting taxed twice in New Jersey, to really put downward pressure on our ability to fund those great public services.

Ms. SHERRILL. Exactly.

Ms. SHERRILL. Yep. Exactly.

Ms. SHERRILL. And now not able to deduct that.

Ms. SHERRILL

Ms. SHERRILL. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize Nikhil Badlani, a talented and compassionate 11-year old boy from West Orange, NJ whose enthusiasm and laughter brought joy to all who met him. Nikhil was an excellent student. He received straight A's and had an advanced understanding of science and math. From the time he was three years old, Nikhil knew all there was to know about dinosaurs and he brought his passion and curiosity for understanding the world into the classroom. Beyond his studies, Nikhil was a talented musician and at the age of 11 he was already excelling at both the piano and trumpet. His talent was undeniable and he was accepted to play trumpet with the Youth Orchestras of Essex County. Nikhil also loved the theater and he was a captivating actor. It is impossible to fathom that on June 11, 2011 Nikhil was tragically killed when a distracted driver failed to stop at a stop sign. Nikhil is fondly remembered by his friends and family for his talent, energy, and kindness. Nikhil's life inspired his family to create the Nikhil Badlani Foundation in his honor, which provides lessons for musicians, scholarships for graduating seniors and brings traffic safety awareness and advocacy to our community. In the years since his passing, community members have come together to celebrate his life and promote traffic safety in his honor. As this year marks ten years since that tragic day, South Orange Township will commemorate this milestone with a moment of silence at the crash site before unveiling its new name, ``Nikhil's Way.'' Nikhil will never be forgotten.

Ms. SHERRILL

Ms. SHERRILL. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 3233, which creates a bipartisan independent commission to investigate the attacks on the Capitol on January 6. Why do we need this commission? We need this commission because the American people must understand exactly what happened so we can all forge a more resilient democracy. We need this commission because, on January 6, I was lying on the floor to avoid possible shooters in this very Chamber, holding a gas mask in one hand and a phone in the other as I called my husband in case I didn't make it home. We need this commission because, despite our own experiences, despite video footage, despite testimony by police, it has been suggested that this was simply a normal tourist event. Well, we have a lot of tourism where I am from. People visit our beautiful shore and historic sights, and no tourist event I have ever seen looks like that day. As The New York Times reported: The pure savagery of the mob was breathtaking, as cataloged by injuries inflicted. One police officer lost an eye; another, the tip of his finger. Still another was shocked so many times with a taser gun that he had a heart attack. Madam Speaker, we need this commission.

Ms. SHERRILL

Ms. SHERRILL. Madam Speaker, I rise on tax day. Teachers, cops, single moms, seniors, veterans, middle-class Americans--I am here to speak for all of them today, to be their voice in the fight against a tax provision that punishes States like New Jersey for investing in its residents. In States like mine, our State taxes go toward paying for top-tier public schools, investing in infrastructure and open spaces, and supporting a prevailing wage for our unions. That is why people move here. That is why families stay for generations. But without the ability to deduct State and local taxes, calling New Jersey home is becoming less and less viable for our middle-class residents. Seniors are rethinking retiring in New Jersey; married couples are rethinking starting a family in New Jersey; young people are rethinking moving back to New Jersey after college. The bottom line is, you don't have to be a millionaire to be impacted by the SALT cap, and New Jersey families are getting taxed twice. The time is now to bring relief to everyday middle-class New Jersey residents who are getting crushed by this cap.

Ms. SHERRILL

Ms. SHERRILL. Madam Speaker, l rise to recognize Dianne Greff, public school teacher and North Jersey Council President of the Navy League of the United States, for her lifetime of service to her students, her community, and to New Jersey. Dianne's commitment to service began when she was 18 years old, when she enrolled at William Paterson University in Wayne, New Jersey, to study education and fulfill her dream of being a public school teacher. Upon her graduation in 1959, Dianne set off on her 40-year career as an educator, helping to shape the lives of thousands of New Jersey students. She was awarded the New Jersey Governor's Teacher of the Year Award before retiring in the early 2000s. Dianne's impact on Passaic County extended beyond education. As President of the North Jersey Council of the United States Navy League, she worked to support America's Navy service members. The Navy League aids military families while spouses or parents are deployed, honors enlisted personnel, and adopts ships and shore commands. While Dianne was president of the New Jersey chapter, there were over 300 active members. Later in life, Dianne committed herself to helping our seniors. She was elected the President of the Saint Mary's Active Senior Ministry in Pompton Lakes, New Jersey. She also served on the Board of Trustees for the Golden Age Circle of Wayne, and advised the Mayor as a member of his Wayne Township Senior Citizen Advisory Committee. There was never a moment in Dianne's life when she wasn't trying her hardest to help other people. Whether for students, service members, veterans, seniors, or immigrants, Dianne went the extra mile to help them achieve their dreams or have a good life. Dianne passed away on January 29, 2021. Her legacy will live on in all of the lives she touched in Passaic County and across New Jersey. The world is a kinder, better place because of Dianne Greff.

Ms. SHERRILL

Ms. SHERRILL. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize former Fire Chief Mark Janton for 50 years of service at the Boonton Fire Department. As we prepared this winter to recognize Mark Janton, alongside two of his fellow firemen, the community received the sad news that Mark passed away after a two-year battle with cancer. Mark devoted his life to his community and to serving his neighbors. It's his dedication that made Boonton, and New Jersey, such a special place, and is something that I know we are all so grateful for. Mark first joined the Boonton Fire Department in 1971. Over the years he rose through the ranks, serving as Firefighter, Lieutenant, Captain, Battalion Chief, Deputy Chief, Chief, and Chief Driver for Maxfield Hose and Engine Company No. 1, aka The Workhorse. Mark's memory lives on in the impact he made on his town and the people who loved him. I also want to extend my deepest condolences to Mark's family: his children, grandchildren, and his high school sweetheart, Kathy. Fifty years is a lifetime of service. I want to honor Mark for everything he has done for his town, Boonton, New Jersey. He will be remembered fondly.

Ms. SHERRILL

Ms. SHERRILL. Madam Speaker, I would like to recognize Morris County Administrator John Bonanni and Passaic County Administrator Anthony J. DeNova for receiving the first-ever County Administrator Lifetime Achievement Award from the New Jersey Association of Counties (NJAC). This award was created to highlight and honor the lifetime of dedication and hard work public officials like Bonanni and DeNova have brought to our communities in North Jersey. John Bonanni is known for his deep commitment to Morris County, as a lifelong resident from Boonton and over 30 years of service in county administration. John does not like to be in the spotlight, but this award reflects how we all depend on his quiet, behind the scenes leadership. Early on in the coronavirus pandemic, he acted fast to protect those at high risk: long-term care residents, seniors, and people with disabilities. He was instrumental in securing funding for Morris County and other counties from the state's allocation of the Corona virus Relief Fund to cover critical expenditures on testing, PPE procurement, and crisis pay for first responders. Anthony J. DeNova has deep roots in Passaic County and his dedication to and love for the community he has lived in his whole life shines through in the work he does each day. You would be hard-pressed to find anyone who does not consider Tony their friend. Under his leadership, strong county budgeting has barred any tax increases for his constituents, while still funding the county's most important programs. When the pandemic hit, he worked swiftly to set up testing sites and at-home testing for all Passaic residents. With the COVID-19 vaccine distribution underway, he has worked diligently to get vaccination sites up and running and get shots into arms. County Administrators play a vital role in our counties and communities. John Bonanni and Anthony DeNova dedicated themselves to public service and improving the everyday lives of the residents of Morris and Passaic counties. Their leadership was critical in guiding NJ-11 through the darkest day of the pandemic. It has been a pleasure working with both of them over the past two years and I look forward to the years ahead. This lifetime achievement award is well-deserved.

Ms. SHERRILL

Ms. SHERRILL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to express my deep gratitude to a departing member of my staff, Jill Jensen. Dr. Jill, as she is known in our office, came to Capitol Hill as a Brookings Legislative fellow from the Department of Defense. We were all excited to have someone with her deep expertise and experience as a part of our team, and we were looking forward to her contributions to my work on the Armed Services Committee. As with so many things this year, the pandemic upended our plans. In late February and early March, as COVID-19 picked up speed and congressional offices started to respond, Dr. Jill quickly became an indispensable member of our team. Not only is she an expert in defense policy, but Dr. Jill has a doctorate in public health. She quickly stepped up to the plate to lead our office's response to the pandemic, coordinating weekly calls with local health care providers and public health experts, spearheading the Regional Recovery Task Force, and providing invaluable insight and advice to me and the other members of my team. While leading our response efforts during the COVID-19 crisis, Dr. Jill still managed to be a critical member of our defense team. Her ideas and hard work led to several provisions' successful inclusion in the National Defense Authorization Act, and now, even as her fellowship in our office winds up, she is still coming up with creative ideas for new and important legislation. Beyond her expertise, excitement to learn about the Hill, and creativity, Dr. Jill is simply a joy to work with. She is always positive, attacking new challenges with a smile on her face. She is always willing to put her shoulder to any task, whether it is drafting new legislation that will impact the lives of thousands of service members or organizing our office suite after a move. Her optimism and insight kept many of us on track in those first days of the pandemic, and her excitement about arcane congressional processes was always a breath of fresh air. Our office's loss is the Defense Department's gain, and as she ends her fellowship and returns to the Department, I wish her the very best of luck. I am confident we will be saying ``I knew her when . . .'' very soon.

Ms. SHERRILL

Ms. SHERRILL. Madam Speaker, it has been more than 250 days since we passed the CARES Act, and it is past time that we pass a second round. When this pandemic hit, despite being in one of the most partisan times in our Nation's history, we came together in Congress to pass badly needed help for the American people: PPP loans for small businesses; State and local funding to help with contact tracing, testing, and grants to those in need. We passed an eviction moratorium so people could stay in their homes and nutrition aid for the millions of families who suddenly are experiencing food insecurity. Now that we have good news about vaccines, now that we have hope for the future, we have to pass another round of help so businesses can make it through the winter, children can have access to food, families can stay in their homes, and kids can get back to school. There is a bipartisan deal that the Senate and House Members are on board with, a deal that would provide relief to millions. Let's once again show the American people that we are there for them when it counts.

Ms. SHERRILL

Ms. SHERRILL. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H.R. 4990, the bill now under consideration.

Ms. SHERRILL. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise today to speak in support of H.R. 4990, the Election Technology Research Act. This bipartisan legislation, which I was proud to introduce alongside my friend Representative Gonzalez, Chairwoman Johnson, and Ranking Member Lucas, is a practical, commonsense bill that would yield important results for the security of our elections. Madam Speaker, 48 days from today, Americans will exercise one of their most important duties in a democratic society and vote. Amidst a global pandemic, targeted attacks on our democracy by our adversaries, and political unrest, Americans deserve to know that our elections are secure. Last summer, the Science, Space, and Technology Committee held a hearing with voting technology and election administration experts to discuss U.S. election system technologies and research recommendations made in the 2018 National Academies report, Securing the Vote: Protecting American Democracy. This report and the input we received during that hearing made it clear that targeted research designed to protect our voting systems is not only wise but necessary. The COVID-19 global pandemic has put stress on our healthcare system, caused nearly 200,000 deaths in the United States, devastated our economy, and underscored racial inequities in our society. But Americans are resilient. They will mail in their ballots or go to their polling stations to cast their vote. Why? Because they care deeply about our country and our democracy. In return, one of our jobs in government is to ensure the American people have confidence in the integrity of our election process. Nearly 20 years ago, Congress enacted the Help America Vote Act. HAVA provided funding for States to purchase new voting equipment and created the Election Assistance Commission. It also included provisions to advance research, technology, and standards development for voting systems. There are more than 10,000 voting jurisdictions across the United States. HAVA mandated that the National Institute of Standards and Technology work with the EAC to develop voluntary voting systems guidelines for voting machines. Today, all U.S. States and territories look to those guidelines to make decisions to about technology procurement and securing their elections. My legislation modernizes the 20-year-old provisions in HAVA to reflect the state of today's technology and the nature of today's election security challenges. The most important new areas of research and standards development this bill supports are online voter registration systems and electronic poll books. Forty States now offer online voter registration, and many States also use e-poll books on election day for quick access to voter information. The Election Technology Research Act also creates centers of excellence at NIST and the National Science Foundation to further study a range of important election technology challenges, including cybersecurity, privacy, reliability, and interoperability. We must strive to ensure the highest standards are in place for all technologies used in the election process. And while the overwhelming majority of election experts agree that the technology is not yet ready for secure voting over the internet, this bill does support continued research on internet voting. In addition to the security and integrity of voting equipment, voting accessibility is also important. Keeping security at the forefront, we should make it as easy as possible for all voters to cast their ballots. H.R. 4990 supports research at NSF to study ways to improve the voter interface with different voting technologies, including accessibility, ballot design, and ballot-marking devices. Beyond the ballot box, this bill supports education and training of students and design of curricula focused on organizational management and informational technology needs of the election community. Finally, H.R. 4990 directs NIST to provide technical assistance to States for their election needs, including risk assessments and risk- limiting audits. This is a bipartisan piece of legislation. The Members of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee worked to put together a bipartisan bill that represents our values and our commitment to protecting our democracy. It recognizes the simple fact that technology advances quickly. So, when it comes to something as fundamental as ensuring the security and the sanctity of our elections, it is incumbent upon Congress to pass legislation to make sure our election technology is modern, secure, and state of the art. Madam Speaker, I sincerely thank Representative Gonzalez, Chairwoman Johnson, and Ranking Member Lucas for joining me as cosponsors on this bill, as well as my other colleagues on the Science, Space, and Technology Committee and in the House for adding their names to this legislation. I urge all Members to support the Election Technology Research Act, and I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues to see it enacted in law. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time. House of Representatives, Committee on House Administration, Washington, DC, February 10, 2020. Hon. Eddie Bernice Johnson, Chairwoman, Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Chairwoman Johnson: I am writing to you regarding H.R. 4990, the ``Election Technology Research Act of 2019.'' This measure, introduced on November 8, 2019, was referred to your committee as well as the Committee on House Administration. The Committee on House Administration agrees to waive further consideration of H.R. 4990. The Committee does so with the understanding that by waiving further consideration of this bill it does not waive any future jurisdictional claims over similar measures. In addition, the Committee reserves its right to seek conferees on any provisions within its jurisdiction which are considered in a House-Senate conference and requests your support if such a request is made. I would appreciate the inclusion of this letter and a copy of your response in the Congressional Record during consideration of H.R. 4990 on the House floor. Sincerely, Zoe Lofgren, Chairperson.