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Public Citizen Supports U.S. House Committee’s Consideration of the For the People Act

Feb. 14, 2019

Public Citizen Supports U.S. House Committee’s Consideration of the For the People Act

Statements of Public Citizen Experts

Note: The U.S. House Committee on House Administration is considering today the For the People Act (H.R. 1). The bill is the most sweeping pro-democracy and anti-corruption legislation of the past 50 years. Public Citizen’s Lisa Gilbert and Craig Holman submitted written testimony to the committee in support of the legislation which focused on aspects of campaign finance, ethics and electoral reforms. The House Administration hearing also is expected to examine specific proposals in the For the People Act, including improving access to voting rights, ensuring election security and empowering everyday citizens with a public financing matching system for small donors while ending dark money and guaranteeing full disclosure of campaign contributions and expenditures.

“Our representatives have another chance in committee to prove to the American people that they value pro-democracy reforms, reject corruption of our elections and want to restore public confidence in the federal government.

Fixing our election system is the first order of business to preserve democracy. The For the People Act embodies principles like access to the ballot, restoring voting rights, reforming ethics laws and protecting the integrity of our elections. It constitutes Congress’ promise to the nation to ensure that public officials work for the people not for corporations.”

-Lisa Gilbert, vice president of legislative affairs, Public Citizen

“There is no doubt whatsoever that the U.S. Federal Election Commission is broken. The agency in charge of implementing our nation’s campaign finance laws has consistently deadlocked, leaving election laws largely unenforced. In a nation of free elections, voting rights for Americans are naturally vulnerable when the very commission responsible for safeguarding our elections is dysfunctional.

That’s why today’s hearing is focused on voter registration modernization, election security, campaign finance disclosure and protecting the integrity of elections. 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 chambers to consider and swiftly pass this legislation of strong, commonsense enhancements for our democracy.”

-Craig Holman, government affairs lobbyist, Public Citizen’s Congress Watch division

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