The leaders of the House Blue Dog Coalition and the House Blue Dog Task Force on National Security on Thursday sent a letter to House and Senate leaders calling for action to prevent foreign interference in U.S. elections and to secure election systems.
The House Blue Dog Coalition, a group of 26 moderate Democrats, urged congressional leaders to “put politics aside and pursue bipartisan solutions” to bolster election security ahead of 2020.
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“We are calling on Congress to take further action to secure our elections, punish Russia for its attempts to meddle in the 2016 and 2018 elections, and deter our adversaries from meddling in future U.S. elections,” the leaders of the Blue Dog Coalition and the Task Force wrote. “The threat to our national security could not be more clear.”
The letter was sent to Speaker Nancy PelosiNancy PelosiPelosi accuses Pence of ‘selling out the Constitution to line Trump’s pockets’ Overnight Health Care: Watchdog details severe trauma suffered by separated children | Judge approves B CVS-Aetna merger | House Dem Caucus chair backs ‘Medicare for All’ House Democratic Caucus chairman announces support for ‘Medicare for All’ MORE (D-Calif.), House Majority Leader Steny HoyerSteny Hamilton HoyerOn The Money: China poses high-risk test for Trump | White House wish list includes border wall funds | Greenspan sees negative rates on horizon | Google to pay 0 million fine to FTC over kids’ privacy on YouTube White House wish list includes money for Trump wall Congress set for chaotic fall sprint MORE (D-Md.), Minority Leader Kevin McCarthyKevin Owen McCarthyHow Trump can avoid a GOP fumble on health care that could derail his reelection Republicans suffer whiplash from Trump’s erratic week Steve King defends remarks on rape, incest MORE (R-Calif.), Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellTwo coal miners demand McGrath stop using their images in McConnell attack ad Jerry Moran: ‘I wouldn’t be surprised’ if Pompeo ran for Senate in Kansas Jim Carrey: Osama bin Laden ‘doesn’t hold a candle to Mitch McConnell’ on US deaths MORE (R-Ky.) and Senate Minority Leader Charles SchumerCharles (Chuck) Ellis SchumerPush on ‘surprise’ medical bills hits new roadblocks FEMA chief: Transfer of agency funds for immigration ‘not affecting our preparedness whatsoever’ Pelosi, Schumer call on McConnell to take up background check bill after Texas shooting MORE (D-N.Y.).
The House has passed two major election security bills earlier this year, both along party lines.
The SAFE Act, passed in June, would provide states with $600 million for election security efforts, and would also ban voting machines from being connected to the internet and from being manufactured outside the U.S. The House also approved the For the People Act, which includes sweeping language on election security and voting reform.
Both bills have been blocked from a vote in the Senate by Republicans, who cite concerns around federalizing elections.
Senate Democrats launched a sustained campaign this summer to pressure Republicans to allow votes on these bills and others on election security, with Schumer sending a separate letter Thursday to Senate Democrats emphasizing election security going into the fall.
The House Blue Dogs noted that all members of Congress have “sworn to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, both foreign and domestic,” adding that “it is our sacred duty to uphold that oath to our country.”
“A lack of action by Congress to secure our elections would embolden our adversaries and pose a danger to the national security of the United States,” the House Blue Dogs wrote. “Americans must have confidence in the security of our country’s electoral process in order to ensure full faith in every election’s result, no matter the outcome.”
The letter was signed by Blue Dog leaders Reps. Stephanie MurphyStephanie MurphyBlue Dog Democrats urge action on election security Lawmakers urge DNC to name Asian American debate moderator Democratic leaders seek to have it both ways on impeachment MORE (D-Fla.), Lou CorreaJose (Lou) Luis CorreaBlue Dog Democrats urge action on election security House Democrats unveil bill to ensure citizenship for children of service members Members to have little time to question Mueller MORE (D-Calif.), Kurt SchraderWalter (Kurt) Kurt SchraderBlue Dog Democrats urge action on election security The Hill’s Morning Report: Trump walks back from ‘send her back’ chants House approves bill raising minimum wage to per hour MORE (D-Ore.), Jefferson Van Drew (D-N.J.), Tom O’Halleran (D-Ariz.), Anthony Brindisi (D-N.Y.) and Kendra HornKendra Suzanne HornBlue Dog Democrats urge action on election security Centrist House Democrats press for committees to follow pay-go rule The Hill’s Morning Report: Trump walks back from ‘send her back’ chants MORE (D-Okla.).