Statement on S.1 Introduction
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today the For the People Act (S.1), was officially introduced in the U.S. Senate. Lisa Gilbert, executive vice president of Public Citizen, released the following statement:
“Even before Trump’s ‘big lie,’ our democracy needed a drastic overhaul to stop the corruption of our political system, end secret spending in politics, slow the revolving door between public service and special interests, and improve access to the ballot. And the need has only become more urgent as the attacks on our democracy rachet up. Dozens of states are attempting to pass anti-democratic legislation that would impose discriminatory voter ID requirements, limit absentee voting and drop-boxes, purge voters from the rolls, and further gerrymander our district lines ahead of the next redistricting cycle.
“S.1 is critical to restoring our democracy and is vital to stopping the undemocratic attacks on voting rights across the country. Senate Democrats must pass this bill using any means necessary, our democracy depends on it, and we are running out of time.
“If passed, lawmakers who depend on secret corporate money will no longer feel pressure to put their own needs ahead of democracy and their constituents, and the system will begin to be unrigged. This legislation will give the power back to the people.”