House Delivers on Democracy Reform, Senate Must Follow
March 8, 2019
For Immediate Release
Contact: Kristen Voorhees, [email protected], 202.548.7166
WASHINGTON – Vanita Gupta, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, issued the following statement after the (bipartisan) passage of democracy reform package H.R. 1, the For the People Act:
“This week marks the 54th anniversary of Bloody Sunday, when Representative John Lewis – along with 600 voting rights activists – were viciously beaten on their march in Selma. Their efforts led to the passage of the Voting Rights Act later that year. The passage of H.R. 1, the For the People Act, represents another crowning achievement in ensuring our democracy works for everyone. The bill’s transformative provisions will ensure that elections in America are free, fair, and accessible for all.
“People turned out in record numbers during the 2018 election to reject the assault on voting rights and cast their ballot for democracy reform. Now that the House has passed H.R. 1, it is incumbent upon the Senate to take up this critical legislation, and for Congress to restore the Voting Rights Act.”
The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights is a coalition charged by its diverse membership of more than 200 national organizations to promote and protect the rights of all persons in the United States. The Leadership Conference works toward an America as good as its ideals. For more information on The Leadership Conference and its 200-plus member organizations, visit www.civilrights.org.