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Quigley Responds to Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ Support of EAC Funding

July 18, 2018

Quigley: No Excuse for Intentionally Degrading the Integrity of Our Elections & the Security of Our Democratic Process

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05), released the following statement after White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders endorsed election security grants as an effective way to combat election interference. You can click here to watch or read her comments below.

SANDERS: "President Trump has actually taken action to defend our election system from meddling and interference. I will read through a few of the things we are doing… In March 2018, Congress provided the Election Assistance Commission with $380 million in funding for election assistance grants to states. These are steps that we've taken to prevent it from happening. These are steps that we have taken because we see there is a threat there."

"I never thought these words would come out of my mouth, but I encourage Republicans to listen to Sarah Huckabee Sanders," said Rep. Quigley. "Even she has acknowledged the common-sense fact that funding for election security grants, which allow states to update and upgrade their outdated election infrastructure, is a positive step forward in preventing foreign meddling. Now, it is time for my Republican colleagues in Congress to accept—and act—on this obvious truth. Russian interference in our elections is a grave national security threat, and tomorrow, I will provide Republicans with a second chance to help us responsibly address that threat by restoring funding for the Election Assistance Commission. There is no excuse for intentionally degrading the integrity of our elections and the security of our democratic process."

As Ranking Member of the FSGG Appropriations Subcommittee, Rep. Quigley introduced an amendment to reverse Republicans' election security cuts, which zeroed out $380 million in EAC funding that Rep. Quigley secured for FY18. Unfortunately, Republicans on the Rules Committee voted to block that amendment. Tomorrow, Rep. Quigley will offer the Democratic Motion to Recommit to force a vote on the amendment.