Office of Indiana Secretary of State Diego Morales

200 W. Washington St. Indianapolis, IN 46204

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, June 4, 2024

Secretary of State Diego Morales Testifies on Capitol Hill

WASHINGTON D.C.- (June 4, 2024) – Secretary of State Diego Morales testified on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C. today.

Secretary Morales was invited to testify in front of the House Committee on Small Business. The House Committee on Small Business held a full committee hearing titled “Weaponizing Federal Resources: Exposing the SBA’s Voter Registration Efforts.”  In the hearing, members examined the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) involvement in voter registration efforts (in the State of Michigan).

Business Services and Elections are two of the four divisions within the Indiana Secretary of State’s Office. As part of his testimony, Secretary Morales took a strong stance, explaining the roles of each of the divisions and why it is crucial that each division should remain operating individually. He also testified that states and not the federal government should be running elections.

Pursuant to Indiana law, the National Voter Registration Act, government agencies must be designated by the state as “designated voter registration services agencies” to lawfully engage in voter registration activities.  Indiana has designated (and properly trained and properly coordinates with) specific federal agencies which provide nutrition, health, housing, and disability services to clients in Indiana.  The U.S. Small Business Administration does not provide any of those services to Hoosiers. The list full-service agencies can be found in the 2024 Indiana Voter Registration Guidebook.

Secretary Morales was honored to represent Indiana in our nation’s capital.

“I certainly believe that SBA’s focus should be on its core mission of delivering services to Hoosier small businesses and not on getting involved in elections. The siphoning of resources to non-mission critical purposes, even those of good cause, or well intentioned is a disservice to intended beneficiaries,” said Diego Morales, Indiana Secretary of State.

Secretary Morales’ written testimony can be found here. Pictures are attached and approved for use.

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