Underwood Questions FBI Director Wray and Acting Homeland Security Secretary McAleenan on Election Security | Representative Lauren Underwood
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Underwood Questions FBI Director Wray and Acting Homeland Security Secretary McAleenan on Election Security

October 30, 2019

Questions follow recent field hearing in Gurnee, Illinois on election security

Congresswoman commends intelligence officials for their commitment and diligence in serving our country

WASHINGTON— Today, Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (IL-14), Vice Chair of the Homeland Security Committee, questioned FBI Director Christopher Wray and Acting Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Kevin K. McAleenan on election security in a Homeland Security hearing. The questions followed an October 15 field hearing on election security hosted in Gurnee, Illinois at which Congresswoman Underwood and members of the Committee discussed the importance of securing U.S. elections from foreign interference. During the hearing, Underwood and members of the Homeland Security Committee examined and discussed what steps the state of Illinois and the federal government are taking to enhance election infrastructure and provided Illinoisans with the resources to report misinformation and disinformation to the appropriate law enforcement officials.

"Election security is an issue that is front-of-mind in northern Illinois," said Rep. Underwood in today's hearing. "Both foreign adversaries and domestic terrorists are hard at work to undermine American democracy—and this hearing is an important part of our responsibility to ensure our federal government is fully prepared to fight back and win."

Underwood also thanked the agencies represented in today's hearing and the entire intelligence community. "Your continued work contributed to the successful operation this weekend that killed ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. We are grateful for your diligence, commitment to the mission, and service to our country," she said.

Full video of Underwood's remarks can be found here.

In Congress, Underwood is working to protect and secure the integrity of U.S. elections and strengthen our national security. Underwood is a member of Task Force Sentry, a bipartisan group of freshman lawmakers working to develop solutions and to protect the U.S. political system from attack by foreign adversaries.

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