[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 22 (Thursday, February 26, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E254-E255]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   INTRODUCTION OF ELECTION ASSISTANCE COMMISSION BOARD OF ADVISORS 
                              APPOINTMENTS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOHN B. LARSON

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 26, 2004

  Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize two 
outstanding individuals who have dedicated their lives to encouraging 
all Americans to participate in our government through the voting 
process. Under the authority granted to me by the Help America Vote Act 
of 2002 (HAVA), I have appointed two election experts, Joseph F. 
Crangle of Buffalo, NY and Hilary O. Shelton of Washington, DC, to 
serve as national voting procedure advisors to continue improving the 
election process in the wake of the 2000 elections.
  HAVA established a four-person body called the Election Assistance 
Commission (EAC). I

[[Page E255]]

am appointing Mr. Crangle and Mr. Shelton to the Board of Advisors, 
which will serve essentially as the EAC's board of directors. The board 
consists of 37 members representing a range of groups involved in 
elections.
  I am very confident that with their decades of election experience 
and dedication to the voting process, Joseph Crangle and Hilary Shelton 
will have a tremendous impact on the EAC. It is my hope that they and 
the other 35 members of the board will examine the many issues involved 
in administering fair and accurate elections in this country, including 
the concerns that have been raised regarding the security and 
reliability of electronic voting systems.
  I am grateful for the advice of my colleague from New York, 
Representative Charlie Rangel, who informed me about Mr. Crangle's 
decades of experience and dedication to the election process. It is 
truly an honor for me to appoint him for this position.
  Joseph Crangle served as chairman of the Erie County Democratic Party 
from 1965 to 1988; as chair of the New York State Democratic Party from 
1971 to 1974; as a delegate to every Democratic National Committee from 
1968 to 1992; and as a member of the Democratic National Committee's 
Executive Committee from 1972 to 1988. Mr. Crangle is regarded as one 
of the leading experts in the country on voter registration and ``get-
out-the-vote'' programs. He is an attorney for the law firm of Colucci 
and Gallaher, P.C. in Buffalo, NY.
  Hilary Shelton's commitment to improving our election system was 
evident during the development of the Help America Vote Act. He worked 
tirelessly during the entire legislative process to ensure that this 
bill became law.
  Mr. Shelton is the Director of the Washington Bureau of the National 
Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Prior to 
working for the NAACP, he was the Federal Liaison Assistant Director of 
the Government Affairs Department of The United Negro College Fund. In 
addition, he worked for the 9.5 million member United Methodist Church 
advocating on numerous public policy issues including civil rights, 
access to higher education, and voting rights. He serves on the 
national boards of directors for the Center for Democratic Renewal, the 
Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, and the U.S. Census Advisory 
Board.
  Members of the Board of Advisors serve a 2-year term in a strictly 
advisory capacity; they have no rule-making authority. Once all the 
appointments have been made and the EAC is fully functional, the board 
will begin its duties.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting Mr. 
Crangle and Mr. Shelton as they begin their positions on the Board of 
Advisors. They are truly two of the best advocates in the country for 
our election process. I am confident that future generations of voters 
will be inspired to make their voices heard, because of the 
contributions of these two remarkable Americans.

                          ____________________