[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 40 (Wednesday, March 3, 2021)]
[House]
[Page H1022]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           REQUIRING VOTER ID STRENGTHENS ELECTION INTEGRITY

  (Mr. CLYDE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. CLYDE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my strong opposition 
to H.R. 1 because it violates the U.S. Constitution. It usurps the 
rights of States to establish and administer their own elections.
  As we speak, Georgia lawmakers are working to make smart and targeted 
reforms to Georgia's election laws, like picture identification for 
absentee voting. Such reforms are critically important.
  H.R. 1 would not only nullify Georgia lawmakers' efforts, but it 
would also mandate that all States provide no-excuse absentee voting 
with absolutely zero safeguards.
  I read the bill to see what I needed to do to obtain and cast an 
absentee ballot under H.R. 1. I was shocked to learn I needed nothing: 
no witness signature, no picture identification. Nothing is required.
  Just tell that to TSA the next time you try to get on an airplane, or 
to your local gun dealer when you try to buy a gun. In fact, if we are 
going to eliminate a valid government-issued photo ID for 
constitutional voting rights, then let's eliminate the need for photo 
ID to exercise your Second Amendment too.

  The hypocrisy by the liberal left to eliminate voter ID is stunning. 
Trust starts by States taking steps to verify that all votes are legal 
and cast by eligible voters. That is why we must verify citizenship and 
require picture identification.
  I commend our Georgia lawmakers for strengthening the integrity of 
our Georgia elections, and I am proud to support those efforts by 
voting ``no'' on the Federal takeover of elections.

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