Contact: Brian Walsh
July
22, 2004
Office: 202-225-6265
Cell: 202-225-8893
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
House Overwhelmingly
Passes Ney Resolution Opposing
Postponement of
National Elections
WASHINGTON D.C.
– The House of Representatives today overwhelmingly passed a resolution
(H. Res. 728) sponsored by Congressman Bob Ney, that expressed the sense
of the House that our national elections will never be postponed in the
face of terrorist threats or attacks, nor will any individual or agency
be given the authority to postpone the date of a Presidential election.
In a strong, bipartisan vote Congressman Ney’s resolution passed by a
vote of 419 to 2.
“While the Civil War was
raging, President Abraham Lincoln said ‘We can not have
free government without elections; and if the rebellion could force us
to forego, or postpone a national election it might fairly claim to have
already conquered and ruined us.’ I could not agree more with that
statement,” Congressman Ney said. “The House of Representatives today
spoke with one, strong voice in stating emphatically that terrorist
threats or terrorist attacks will not affect the functioning of our
democracy and the process of our elections. The ability of the United
States to conduct regularly scheduled federal elections even during the
most difficult and trying of times, such as during the Civil War and
during World Wars I and II, is a hallmark of the strength and resiliency
of our democracy. In light of recent stories that some might be looking
into if or how our elections could be postponed, my colleagues and I
felt it was important to endsuch talk immediately. No person and no
federal agency will ever be given the power to postpone our elections,
and no terrorist will affect our elections. I am very grateful my House
colleagues joined me in sending this important message today.”
Speaker of the House J.
Dennis Hastert had expressed his support for Congressman Ney’s
resolution, stating, “This resolution will send a message around our
Nation and around the world that the
United States will not be bullied by
terrorism. The will and confidence of the American people remains
strong and undeterred, and on November 2nd we will once again
show the world why the United States is the world’s strongest and
greatest democracy.”