Posted on 08/22/2018 9:14:47 AM PDT by Kaslin
The United States, first and foremost, is a “Government of the people, by the people, for the people.” Our democracy was founded on a simple principle – that each citizen’s vote matters. Free and fair elections and the belief that every citizen has the right to choose his or her representative have long been the bedrock of our democratic process. When citizens are given a reason to question these principles, or the sanctity of our elections is threatened, the health of our democracy suffers. We cannot stand by and allow that to happen.
I’ve represented my constituents in Congress for 10 years and have had the privilege of being selected to serve on the House Intelligence Committee by both Speakers Ryan and Boehner. I’ve sat with my colleagues in the SCIF – a secure room many stories beneath the Capitol – and received sensitive briefings on our clandestine operations around the globe. My work on the House Intelligence Committee and our investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election has made one thing undoubtedly clear – Russia attempted to breach our election systems to sow discord, cause chaos, and undermine our democracy. The threats facing our nation are real and I have no doubt that Russia, and others, will continue working to interfere in our elections.
If I can leave Congress with one warning for the future – it’s that this is not the end. These attacks will continue. If it’s not Russia, it will be someone else. We must be prepared.
The Constitution empowers our state and local election offices to carry out our elections, and it is imperative that the federal government provide them with the resources they need to harden and protect our election systems from cyberthreats. That is why I, along with my colleagues Reps. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.), Jim Himes (D-Conn.), and Terri Sewell (D-Ala.), introduced the Secure Elections Act, which will provide local communities and state governments with these resources. The funding provided by this bill will allow our communities to proactively close vulnerabilities and prepare for the future rather than sit around and wait for the next attack.
The Secure Elections Act, also introduced in the Senate by James Lankford (R-OK) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), would allow states and local jurisdictions to voluntarily apply for grants to replace outdated voting machines and modernize their election systems. The bill also streamlines the process that the federal government uses to share relevant cybersecurity threat information with state and local governments and directs the Department of Homeland Security to ensure that state election officials are appropriately cleared to receive important classified information.
Safeguarding our elections must be a priority for Congress because it affects each and every elected official who is chosen by their constituents to serve. We have a responsibility to ensure that there is never a doubt in any American’s mind that the election they voted in was free and fair. We owe this to our children, future generations of Americans, and all those who have fought or given their lives to protect our nation and our values.
There are absolutely no excuses for this. It should have been remedied long ago.
But forget voter ID laws. That’s, uh, that’s ,uh, racist or something. Or disenfranchises someone or something. Or intimidates someone or something.
Democrats only care about Power so they can destroy our Constitutional Republic.
If it takes Vote Fraud and Illegal Invaders stealing the Votes of Sovereign American Citizens, so be it.
Tough crap if it intimidates anyone. This whole mess should have been fixed long ago.
Look at the stupid bill these useless @ssholes have proposed here. It's all about spending taxpayer money, and nothing else.
What, the Uniparty, who works so hard to subvert the integrity of elections, actually protect same? “Here, Mr. Fox; take the keys to the poultry house.”
NO! Elections should be funded, run, and secured locally
Screw this RINO who wants to introduce the funding, control, and corruption of the Federal, progressive, crony, Deep state
Amen. This prick raised all the fear-mongering slogans and cliches needed to dupe people into happily accepting federal takeover of all elections - Russia, threat, security, and “for the children”
Pigs fly now and this pig is sporting lipstick ....
POTUS is one of us. Q is with him. Q is letting ‘we the people’ know what is happening behind the scenes. The swamp is being drained. Sealed indictments waiting for right time. Huber and his 400 attorneys are piling up proof and charges. ‘ We have everything. We have the servers. These people (the left) are stupid. Trust the plan. Military tribunals. WWG1WGA’. MAGA
There! Fixed it.
A lot of the headaches that we are experiencing with our election systems would probably go away to a large extent if patriots would support Pres. Trump in leading the states to repeal the ill-conceived 17th Amendment.
The 16th Amendment can disappear too.
Sorry. Wrong article.
You are exactly right.
The Dems will do everything they can to never allow another defeat like Hitlery had.
Please God, make it so!!!!!!!!!!!
Yes our voting system is vulnerable and should be updated recognizing the current concerns about cyber security. However I am more concerned about hanging chad, 120 year olds who regularly vote, voting non-citizens, ballot box stuffing than Russia, China, or Iran changing ballot totals at some state voting office computer.
Congress Must Will Safeguard Our Their Election Systems.
Congress should safeguard our elections by mandating government-issued photo ID - that proves citizenship - in all elections that affect federal elected office. This should include showing a photo ID to submit early ballots and mail in ballots. To prevent the hypothetical voter suppression that democrats clutch their pearls over, this law should also mandate a mechanism providing for easy access to photo ID for those citizens who lack an ID.
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