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House Judiciary Committee Considers the For The People Act, Taking Us One Step Closer to Restoring Democracy

Jan. 29, 2019

House Judiciary Committee Considers the For The People Act, Taking Us One Step Closer to Restoring Democracy

Statement of Craig Holman, Government Affairs Lobbyist, Public Citizen’s Congress Watch Division

Note: Note: The U.S. House Committee on the Judiciary today begins discussing the For the People Act (H.R. 1) – the most sweeping pro-democracy and anti-corruption legislation of the past 50 years. It will strengthen voting rights and raise ethics standards at all levels of government. If passed, this legislation would enact automatic voter registration, call for restoration of the Voting Rights Act and replace a corrupt campaign finance system with one that relies on small donors and public funds. Public Citizen submitted written testimony to the committee supporting the bill’s passage.

The title of the legislation itself – the For the People Act – is a good reminder of who democracy is here to serve: the people. We urge committees in both the U.S. House and Senate to consider and swiftly pass this legislation of strong, commonsense enhancements for our democracy.

In 2016, many voters believed in the campaign pledge to “drain the swamp,” only to be sorely disappointed by the growing power of wealthy special interests over all levers of government in Washington DC. And voters responded in 2018.

Today, lawmakers have a chance to show the American people that America truly cares about transformational and comprehensive pro-democracy reforms by ensuring election access, restoring voting rights, reforming ethics laws and protecting the integrity of our elections.

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