Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD) released the following statement Feb. 12, in commemoration of the bicentennial birthday of President Abraham Lincoln:
“Today, we celebrate the 200th birthday of our nation’s 16th President, Abraham Lincoln. How fitting a celebration it is in this historic year, when our country came together to mark the inauguration of President Barack Obama, our second Commander-in-Chief from the Land of Lincoln, the great state of Illinois.
“President Lincoln led our nation through a most trying time, and, in doing so, helped close a chapter in American history that will forever scar our national conscience. Today, at the dawn of Barack Obama’s presidency, our nation is faced with another crisis of historic proportions. As President Lincoln did, so shall we face today’s challenges mindful of the wisdom of all who have sacrificed before us, never forgetting that each unique circumstance calls for its own extraordinary measures.
“One month before signing the Emancipation Proclamation, President Lincoln sent this message to Congress: ‘The dogmas of the quiet past, are inadequate to the stormy present. The occasion is piled high with difficulty, and we must rise with the occasion. As our case is new, so we must think anew, and act anew…and then we shall save our country.’
“It is of the utmost importance, as our nation works through this economic crisis, that Lincoln’s message of bold and decisive action resonate within the halls of this Congress. It is my hope, at this crucial moment, that Democrats and Republicans can find common ground, so that, together, we can restore our economy and put America on the road to recovery.”