Week of April 5, 2021
Focus Area: Voting Rights
Oppose These Bills in House Elections Committee:
Criminalizing the Distribution of Applications for Ballot by Mail: HB 3080 by Oliverson
HB 3080 would make it a criminal offense for any person to distribute an application for ballot by mail to another who did not solicit the form. Churches would be prohibited from distributing such applications for its members that are 65 or older as many did in the 2020 primary and general election.
Urge the House Elections Committee to oppose HB 3080 on Thursday, April 8
|
Chair |
Rep. Cain, Briscoe |
(877) 355-0549 |
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Vice Chair |
Rep. Gonzalez, Jessica |
(877) 317-4168 |
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Rep. Beckley, Michelle |
(877) 378-0537 |
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Rep. Bucy III, John |
(877) 814-0516 |
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Rep. Clardy, Travis |
(877) 406-6922 |
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Rep. Fierro, Art |
(877) 411-3516 |
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Rep. Jetton, Jacey |
(877) 471-5783 |
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Rep. Schofield, Mike |
(877) 369-0013 |
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Rep. Swanson, Valoree |
(877) 421-0554 |
Criminalizes Distribution of Applications to Vote by Mail: HB 4331 by Jetton
HB 4331 would criminalize “paid vote harvesting,” however the definition of “paid vote harvesting” is so vague and overbroad that it criminalizes civic engagement by 501c3 nonprofit organizations. The way the bill is written would make it a felony for a donor, foundation, membership organization, or a church to have a position on a ballot measure and distribution applications to vote by mail.
Urge the House Elections Committee to oppose HB 4331 on Thursday, April 8
|
Chair |
Rep. Cain, Briscoe |
(877) 355-0549 |
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Vice Chair |
Rep. Gonzalez, Jessica |
(877) 317-4168 |
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Rep. Beckley, Michelle |
(877) 378-0537 |
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Rep. Bucy III, John |
(877) 814-0516 |
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Rep. Clardy, Travis |
(877) 406-6922 |
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Rep. Fierro, Art |
(877) 411-3516 |
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Rep. Jetton, Jacey |
(877) 471-5783 |
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Rep. Schofield, Mike |
(877) 369-0013 |
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Rep. Swanson, Valoree |
(877) 421-0554 |
Shorter Mail-In Ballot Receipt Deadline: HB 3281 by Paul
HB 3281 would shorten the mail-in ballot receipt deadline to where a mail in ballot must be received by the last day or early voting. Current law allows a mail-in ballot to be counted if it is received by 5 pm the day after the election so long as it is postmarked by election day.
Urge the House Elections Committee to oppose HB 3281 on Thursday, April 8
|
Chair |
Rep. Cain, Briscoe |
(877) 355-0549 |
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Vice Chair |
Rep. Gonzalez, Jessica |
(877) 317-4168 |
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Rep. Beckley, Michelle |
(877) 378-0537 |
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Rep. Bucy III, John |
(877) 814-0516 |
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Rep. Clardy, Travis |
(877) 406-6922 |
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Rep. Fierro, Art |
(877) 411-3516 |
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Rep. Jetton, Jacey |
(877) 471-5783 |
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Rep. Schofield, Mike |
(877) 369-0013 |
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Rep. Swanson, Valoree |
(877) 421-0554 |
Requires Access to a Copier to Vote by Mail: HB 2478 by Harris
HB 2478 would require an elderly or disabled person to obtain access to a copier and submit a photocopy of an acceptable form of voter ID or a reasonable impediment declaration for both the application and ballot by mail.
Urge the House Elections Committee to oppose HB 2478 on Thursday, April 8
|
Chair |
Rep. Cain, Briscoe |
(877) 355-0549 |
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Vice Chair |
Rep. Gonzalez, Jessica |
(877) 317-4168 |
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Rep. Beckley, Michelle |
(877) 378-0537 |
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Rep. Bucy III, John |
(877) 814-0516 |
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Rep. Clardy, Travis |
(877) 406-6922 |
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Rep. Fierro, Art |
(877) 411-3516 |
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Rep. Jetton, Jacey |
(877) 471-5783 |
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Rep. Schofield, Mike |
(877) 369-0013 |
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Rep. Swanson, Valoree |
(877) 421-0554 |
Centralize Voter Registration at the Secretary of State’s Office: HB 1026 by Middleton
HB 1026 would remove voter registration duties from the county and centralize voter those functions at the Texas Secretary of State’s Office. In 2019, the Secretary of State attempted to remove nearly 100,000 naturalized citizens from the voter rolls. Counties objected and prevented the disenfranchisement. Additionally, in the 2020 primary, a staff person at Texas Impact, who was a college student at the time, had her voter registration erroneously transferred back to her parents’ address by the Secretary of State and was unable to vote.
Urge the House Elections Committee to oppose HB 1026 on Thursday, April 8
|
Chair |
Rep. Cain, Briscoe |
(877) 355-0549 |
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Vice Chair |
Rep. Gonzalez, Jessica |
(877) 317-4168 |
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Rep. Beckley, Michelle |
(877) 378-0537 |
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Rep. Bucy III, John |
(877) 814-0516 |
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Rep. Clardy, Travis |
(877) 406-6922 |
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Rep. Fierro, Art |
(877) 411-3516 |
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Rep. Jetton, Jacey |
(877) 471-5783 |
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Rep. Schofield, Mike |
(877) 369-0013 |
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Rep. Swanson, Valoree |
(877) 421-0554 |
Omnibus Elections Bill: HB 6 by Cain
HB 6 contains many of the provisions of SB 7 which would empower disruptive poll watchers and disempower election judges. HB 6 also contains provisions from SB 7 which would prohibit nonprofits, including churches, from distributing applications for mail ballots and taking positions on ballot measures.
Urge the House Elections Committee to oppose HB 6
|
Chair |
Rep. Cain, Briscoe |
(877) 355-0549 |
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Vice Chair |
Rep. Gonzalez, Jessica |
(877) 317-4168 |
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Rep. Beckley, Michelle |
(877) 378-0537 |
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Rep. Bucy III, John |
(877) 814-0516 |
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Rep. Clardy, Travis |
(877) 406-6922 |
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Rep. Fierro, Art |
(877) 411-3516 |
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Rep. Jetton, Jacey |
(877) 471-5783 |
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Rep. Schofield, Mike |
(877) 369-0013 |
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Rep. Swanson, Valoree |
(877) 421-0554 |
Keep Opposing Omnibus Voter Suppression
Omnibus Elections Bill: SB 7 by Hughes
We expect SB 7 to make its way to the House now that it has passed the Senate. SB 7 would affect your voting rights in the following ways:
- Counties would be prohibited from providing nonprofits – including churches – applications for mail-in ballots.
- Civic engagement by 501c3 nonprofit organizations would be criminalized in a vague and overbroad definition of “paid vote harvesting.” It would be a felony to take a position on a ballot measure and distribute applications to vote by mail.
- If a voter applied but never received a mail ballot, that voter would be required to vote provisionally—diminishing the likelihood that the voter’s ballot would count.
- Signature verification committees would be able to use “any known signature” to reject a mail ballot, which means a 25 year old driver’s license signature could be used to reject the ballot of an elderly person whose signature is evolving due to age, medical condition, or medication.
- Election judges would be subject to criminal penalties and civil lawsuits for the removal of disruptive partisan poll watchers.
- Partisan poll watchers would be allowed to engage in disputes with the election judge causing even longer lines, which disenfranchise people with jobs and childcare constraints.
- Partisan poll watchers would not be deterred from recording practically anything in a polling location, including sensitive personal information.
- Partisan poll watchers would be authorized to record inside your car if you are voting curbside.
- Partisan poll watchers would face no penalties for violating the secrecy of your ballot by recording it.
- Partisan poll watchers would face no penalties for editing and publishing the video in misleading ways.
- The Secretary of State would be given broad new powers to fine local election officials even if there is a good faith dispute over whether a voter is eligible like during the attempted and erroneous voting purge in 2019.
- Voting in a temporary structure, parking lot, parking garage, or motor vehicle (other than curbside) would be prohibited even in the event of a disaster.
- Would create new causes of action for disgruntled candidates to allege fraud in court after an election.
Urge your state representative to oppose SB 7.
George Floyd Act Update
Support Police Reform: HB 88 by Thompson
Known as the George Floyd Act, HB 88 would be the most comprehensive set of police reforms being proposed this session and includes many of the provisions listed in Texas Impact’s Legislative Agenda.
Urge the House Homeland Security & Public Safety Committee to advance the George Floyd Act to the Calendars Committee
|
Chair |
Rep. White, James |
(877) 394-5611 |
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Vice Chair |
Rep. Andrews Bowers, Rhetta |
(877) 369-4805 |
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Rep. Goodwin, Vikki |
(877) 322-6119 |
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Rep. Harless, E. Sam |
(877) 455-6141 |
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Rep. Hefner, Cole |
(877) 495-5085 |
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Rep. Morales, Jr., Eddie |
(877) 801-2416 |
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Rep. Patterson, Jared |
(877) 293-4957 |
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Rep. Schaefer, Matt |
(877) 206-5904 |
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Rep. Tinderholt, Tony |
(877) 615-5303 |
Renewable Energy
Support Renewable Energy: HB 3624 & HB 3696 by Deshotel
House State Affairs hearing Thursday, April 8
|
Chair |
Rep. Paddie, Chris |
(877) 257-1147 |
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Vice Chair |
Rep. Hernandez, Ana |
(877) 512-2166 |
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Rep. Deshotel, Joe |
(877) 741-2061 |
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Rep. Harless, E. Sam |
(877) 455-6141 |
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Rep. Howard, Donna |
(877) 211-3251 |
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Rep. Hunter, Todd |
(877) 281-8912 |
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Rep. King, Phil |
(877) 415-5501 |
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Rep. Lucio III, Eddie |
(877) 231-0081 |
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Rep. Metcalf, Will |
(877) 382-1102 |
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Rep. Raymond, Richard |
(877) 516-1087 |
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Rep. Shaheen, Matt |
(877) 208-0117 |
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Rep. Slawson, Shelby |
(877) 237-5792 |
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Rep. Smithee, John |
(877) 369-8518 |
Oppose Interconnection & Ancillary Services Costs Which Hurt Renewable Energy: HB 4466 by P. King & HB 4502 by Vasut
House State Affairs hearing Thursday, April 8
|
Chair |
Rep. Paddie, Chris |
(877) 257-1147 |
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Vice Chair |
Rep. Hernandez, Ana |
(877) 512-2166 |
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Rep. Deshotel, Joe |
(877) 741-2061 |
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Rep. Harless, E. Sam |
(877) 455-6141 |
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Rep. Howard, Donna |
(877) 211-3251 |
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Rep. Hunter, Todd |
(877) 281-8912 |
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Rep. King, Phil |
(877) 415-5501 |
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Rep. Lucio III, Eddie |
(877) 231-0081 |
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Rep. Metcalf, Will |
(877) 382-1102 |
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Rep. Raymond, Richard |
(877) 516-1087 |
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Rep. Shaheen, Matt |
(877) 208-0117 |
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Rep. Slawson, Shelby |
(877) 237-5792 |
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Rep. Smithee, John |
(877) 369-8518 |
Other Bills with Hearings in Committee
Removing Racist and Unconstitutional Deed Restrictions: HB 1202 by Jetton
This bill would provide a process for removing unconstitutional restrictive covenants from deeds for real property, such as prohibitions on selling property to a person on the basis of race.
House Business & Industry hearing Tuesday, April 6.
|
Chair |
Rep. Turner, Chris |
(877) 827-1922 |
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Vice Chair |
Rep. Hefner, Cole |
(877) 495-5085 |
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Rep. Cain, Briscoe |
(877) 355-0549 |
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Rep. Crockett, Jasmine Felicia |
(877) 345-8956 |
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Rep. Lambert, Stan |
(877) 701-0810 |
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Rep. Perez, Claudia Ordaz |
(877) 428-4807 |
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Rep. Patterson, Jared |
(877) 293-4957 |
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Rep. Shine, Hugh |
(877) 281-9753 |
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Rep. Thompson, Senfronia |
(877) 612-3180 |
Support Corroborating Testimony for Drug Offenses: HB 834 by S. Thompson
House Criminal Jurisprudence hearing Tuesday, April 6
|
Chair |
Rep. Collier, Nicole |
(877) 428-4806 |
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Vice Chair |
Rep. Bell, Keith |
(877) 408-0206 |
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Rep. Cason, Jeff |
(877) 377-7808 |
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Rep. Crockett, Jasmine Felicia |
(877) 345-8956 |
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Rep. Hinojosa, Gina |
(877) 805-0853 |
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Rep. Johnson, Ann |
(877) 699-6125 |
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Rep. Murr, Andrew |
(877) 736-9583 |
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Rep. Vasut, Cody Thane |
(877) 544-8717 |
Support Reforming the “Law of the Parties” for Death Penalty Cases: HB 688 by Dutton & HB 1340 by Leach
House Criminal Jurisprudence hearing Tuesday, April 6
|
Chair |
Rep. Collier, Nicole |
(877) 428-4806 |
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Vice Chair |
Rep. Bell, Keith |
(877) 408-0206 |
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Rep. Cason, Jeff |
(877) 377-7808 |
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Rep. Crockett, Jasmine Felicia |
(877) 345-8956 |
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Rep. Hinojosa, Gina |
(877) 805-0853 |
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Rep. Johnson, Ann |
(877) 699-6125 |
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Rep. Murr, Andrew |
(877) 736-9583 |
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Rep. Vasut, Cody Thane |
(877) 544-8717 |
TAKE ACTION!
NOTE: We have set up toll-free numbers for all members of the Texas House and Senate. We ask that you use those numbers and save them in your phones. Dialing this number allows us to track the volume of calls to each office. If the number stops working, please let us know so we can set up a new number.
Find toll free numbers at https://texasimpact.org/texas-legislative-contact-information-2021/
Find your elected officials via the “Who Represents Me” page at http://www.fyi.legis.state.tx.us/Home.aspx
Weekly Witness Action Alert Sample Script
See the list of toll free numbers (https://texasimpact.org/texas-legislative-contact-information-2021/) for each member of the Texas Legislature and save the number. Using the toll free number allows Texas Impact staff to track how many calls are going in to each office.
Sample Script
Hello, my name is _________________and I live in ___________. I am calling to thank Representative/Senator _____________________for his/her service this Legislative Session.
As a person of faith (or clergy) I want to be constructive in working with Representative/Senator _______________ and hope they will support/oppose Bill number.
Feel free to use any of the bullet points in the Action Alert above. If your congregation has a special connection to the issue area you are referencing, feel free to briefly reference that connection. Don’t forget to thank the staff member you are talking to at the end of the call, even if you disagree with their boss on the issue or bill—they are working hard and appreciate being appreciated!
In the past, legislative offices occasionally have blocked our toll free number because of high call volume from people of faith. If you call twice and receive busy signals, email engagement@texasimpact.org and we will update the number.
For updated information, visit www.texasimpact.org, follow us on Facebook or Twitter or contact engagement@texasimpact.org To join the Texas Impact Rapid Response Team and receive updated Texas Impact Action Alerts or a Legislative Engagement Group to be connected with other members in your district, visit: https://texasimpact.org/action-center/
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