how much they listen is an open question. >> congressman rokita, ross miller from nevada. some of the discussions this weekend in our conference have centered around the eac, obviously this organization, as you are aware, has twice taken the position that we believe that the eac should be sunsetted. there's now some discussion as to what to do in the interim. and, i was wondering if you could just offer a little bit of background as to what is happening in congress with the eac and offer any potential predictions as to what may eventually result? >> thank you, ross. well, as you all, i'm sure, know, a bill was heard in house administration to defund and otherwise sunset, repeal the enabling language that instituted the organization. i was a original co-sponsor in that bill. in that my involvement in that bill comes directly out of the two resolutions that came out of this organization that i was involved with helping to author and get passed. that bill passed committee and it went to the house floor for a vote that we needed 290 votes for. we did not get that. so it was a

>> congressman rokita, one of the issues that we have worked on very diligently and i think you worked on when you were secretary of state, which was the passage of the move act, which is about making sure that the overseas ballots are mailed out on time and that our military men and women have a way to transit them in time so that they can vote. can you give us an update on nag may be out there that, would advance that cause even futter? >> nothing's come through the committee that i know about and perhaps it should on the other hand, i think, the move act is moving and it's working. maybe you could tell me if it's not. but i think it's a pretty successful project and so, you know, i like to leave well enough alone and let it continue working. i see my good friend delbert hoseman from mississippi here, if he hasn't offered yet, or if he hasn't tried, i suspect it you should go to him and see about getting a new secretary of state delegation to the middle east, just to see, our troops i know they're coming home, but delbert led a delegation of secretary of states to the middle east to

thank you very much, congressman rokita. [applause] >> again my name is ross miller, the nevada secretary of state. i have the privilege of introducing our next speaker, thomas e. perez, assistant attorney general for the civil rights division at the department of justice. obviously much of the discussion this past conference hassentered around the move act. it's an issue for which many secretaries of state are extremely proud of our organization's efforts to advance the ability of overseas voters especially military men and women to be able to cast their ballots in a timely manner. some of the discussion focused on the interaction with the department of justice who is responsible for some enforcement of those statutes. mr. perez previously served as the secretary of maryland's department of labor, licensing and regulations which protects consumers through the enforcement of consumers rights laws. he spent his entire career in public service as a county councilmember and president. a career attorney and federal prosecutor wi

rokita. the chair: the gentleman from indiana is recognized for two minutes. . mr. rokita: i thank the gentlewoman from nbling north carolina for yielding me the time. not just the time but her continued leadership on the floor of this house and in the halls of congress. it's steady. it's dignified, it's common sense and certainly a great reflection of the people she represents. i rise this afternoon to give my strong support to this measure. during this time of economic uncertainty and high unemployment, it is more important than ever, madam chair, to make sure the federal government does not stand in the way of americans who wish to continue their education and gain the skills necessary for a more prosperous future. it's pretty simple. i believe a strong higher education system is critical to preparing american graduates for an increasingly competitive work force. in indiana my students are not just competing with people from other students from fort wayne and evansville, they are competing with students from places whose names we can barely pronounce. all over th