Chairman Bryan Steil of the House Administration Committee delivered opening remarks on Apr. 16 during a full committee hearing focused on oversight with Secretaries of State regarding voter eligibility and list maintenance.
The topic is important as it concerns the accuracy of voter rolls and efforts to ensure that only eligible voters participate in federal elections. The hearing comes amid reports of noncitizens appearing on state voter rolls, raising questions about current laws and practices.
Steil said, "Today, the Committee on House Administration continues our oversight of federal elections." He outlined recent actions, including sending letters to ten Secretaries of State in January addressing issues such as verifying citizenship when registering voters and using the SAVE database for eligibility checks. Steil added that two Secretaries—Scott Schwab from Kansas and Steve Simon from Minnesota—were present at the hearing to discuss their states' responses.
He highlighted specific cases where noncitizens were found on voter rolls or charged with voting illegally in Ohio, Iowa, Kansas, and Minnesota. Steil stated, "With several recent reports of potential noncitizens appearing on state voter rolls, it’s time to act." He pointed out flaws in federal statutes like the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) and Help America Vote Act (HAVA), saying these laws have weaknesses that can undermine election integrity. For example, he noted that under NVRA rules, illegal aliens who obtain driver's licenses are required by law to receive voter registration materials.
Steil introduced legislative reforms such as the Make Elections Great Again Act (MEGA Act), which would require states to conduct general maintenance of their voter lists at least every thirty days. He said this would help keep records accurate: "The MEGA Act updates, clarifies, and strengthens voter list maintenance standards – including a new requirement that states conduct general maintenance at least every thirty days."
According to the official website, the House Administration Committee serves as a standing committee within the U.S. House of Representatives focused on administrative matters—including oversight of House operations, federal elections across the nation, Capitol security measures after major incidents like September 11 or January 6 events—and has played a key role in passing legislation such as HAVA in 2002 allocating over $3 billion for voting system improvements.
Steil concluded his remarks by emphasizing bipartisan support for reforms: "Fixing them is something everyone should get behind... Doing so will boost voter confidence and increase participation in our elections - and that's a good thing."
