[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 116 (Thursday, July 11, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4779-S4780]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           ELECTION SECURITY

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, yesterday the entire Senate had the 
opportunity to meet in classified session for a briefing on election 
security. We heard from the Director of National Intelligence, the FBI 
Director, Acting Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, and 
other key administration officials about our recent progress and 
ongoing work to protect our democratic process from interference.
  The takeaway was perfectly clear. After 2016, this new administration 
kicked into high gear. Alongside our efforts in Congress, all levels of 
government worked proactively to make sure that 2018 was not a repeat 
of 2016.
  Far from letting up, the executive branch is continuing to work hard 
in advance of next year's Presidential election. We know our 
adversaries will not be letting up, so we aren't letting up either.
  I want to underscore my appreciation for the tremendous work that so 
many officials across our government have been doing to protect our 
democracy and impose costs on adversaries who dare to interfere. 
Threats remain, but yesterday's briefing was an instructive 
counterpoint to the doom and gloom hyperbole we often see in the media.
  Good news doesn't sell newspapers. Although I doubt it would get much 
coverage, I am proud of the work of our government and what they have 
done to shore up our defenses of American democracy and deter foreign 
influence and interference.
  I believe our colleagues feel the same way. At one point during 
yesterday's briefing, applause broke out in the room for the work of 
one of our agencies--bipartisan applause in the briefing yesterday 
about what was done in 2018, after which it was largely incident free.
  Many of the details of yesterday's briefing were classified and 
should remain so, but much of what was discussed were the specific 
details and the full impact of steps that are already public knowledge.
  Here in Congress, we have taken legislative action to enhance 
interagency coordination on cybersecurity, expedite security clearances 
for election officials, and allocate hundreds of millions of dollars in 
direct aid to State election officials--direct aid to State election 
officials.
  With the new resources that we provided, the Department of Homeland 
Security dramatically strengthened its information sharing and security 
partnerships with the State and local authorities that operate 
elections in the United States. Participation came from all 50 States 
and 1,400 localities, and the direct aid to States helped the 
authorities who were on the frontlines conducting elections update 
their systems, strengthen their defenses, and maintain vigilance.
  These and other actions have been part of a coordinated, government-
wide, Federal, State, and local campaign to shore up our defenses. I 
would anticipate that every Member who attended the classified briefing 
likely

[[Page S4780]]

came away feeling confident that big steps forward have taken place in 
the last 2\1/2\ years.
  Thanks in large part to these measures, the 2018 elections went more 
smoothly than 2016, and as we look to 2020, it is encouraging to learn 
how seriously the administration is taking the threat and proactively 
working to counter it because we know the threat is not going anywhere. 
Foreign adversaries are going to keep at it, so I am glad the 
administration is so focused on staying strong and remaining vigilant.
  Of course, as I said yesterday, the roots of the issue run deeper 
than our elections themselves. A foreign adversary like Russia didn't 
just wake up one day in 2016 and decide to interfere in the American 
democracy. The meddling was an outgrowth of a long pattern of weakness 
and naivete that permeated all 8 years of the Obama administration.
  Punching back against this misbehavior, and deterring future episodes 
like it, has also meant taking broad steps to strengthen America's 
posture abroad and to get more realistic about our relationship with 
the Russians. Obviously, nearly 30 Russians and Russian corporations 
have been indicted by the Special Counsel for election meddling.
  More broadly, we have a new national security strategy--an improved 
roadmap for our global presence that takes seriously the need to check 
great power competitors like Russia and China.
  We are recommitting to the alliances that preserve American values 
around the world, reforming NATO to meet 21st century threats, and 
equipping our allies and partners who are on the frontlines of Russia's 
geopolitical prospecting. Congress and the administration have worked 
together to restore our Armed Forces and unwind harmful funding 
restrictions that cut readiness and limited our commanders. So not just 
our efforts on election security but, really, our entire foreign policy 
have made strides under the leadership of this administration.
  To conclude, yesterday's briefing made it clear that our work has led 
to huge progress--huge progress--but the work certainly isn't over. 
Leaders across government are continuing to explore and repair 
potential vulnerabilities and increase cooperation ahead of the 2020 
Presidential election. Congress will certainly continue to monitor this 
closely while resisting any efforts to use the failures of the past to 
justify sweeping federalizations of election law, as some on the other 
side have consistently sought to do.
  Let me say that again. Congress will certainly continue to monitor 
this closely while resisting any efforts to use the failures of the 
past to justify sweeping federalizations of election law, as some on 
the other side have consistently sought to do.
  Make no mistake, many of the proposals labeled by Democrats to be 
``election security'' are measures, in fact, for election reform that 
are part of the wish list of the left called the Democrat politician 
protection act.
  What they do is ignore the great work this administration has done 
and sweep under the rug the necessary measures this Chamber has passed.
  But speaking broadly, I think all Americans should remember this: 
What Russia really set out to do was to sow division, spark doubt, and 
trigger a crisis of confidence in our country that would extend far 
beyond the actual actions that they undertook.
  So as I have said before, as we continue taking action and shoring up 
our defenses, it is also vital that we not fall into precisely--
precisely--the trap that Putin and company have laid. It is vital that 
Americans not take the bait on fear and division and ultimately do 
Russia's work for them.
  Our country is strong. American democracy is strong. Our elections 
are already safer and more secure, and the important work continues. 
Our adversaries will not let up, so we are not letting up either.

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