Senate Must Act on Democracy Reform after House Passage of For the People Act
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Kiren Marshall, [email protected]
WASHINGTON – Wade Henderson, interim president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, issued the following statement after the House passed the democracy reform package H.R. 1, the For the People Act:
“The right to vote is our most fundamental right. It is the right upon which all our other rights rest, and the right that protects our democracy. Right now, our democracy does not work for all of us equally. Wealthy elites have outsized influence, while everyday voters, many of whom are Black and brown, poor, or living with disabilities, are waiting in hours-long lines and having to jump through hoops to make their voices heard. This is not what democracy looks like.
“We commend the House of Representatives for passing the For the People Act, which will bolster our democracy by breaking down barriers to voting, expanding access to the ballot box, and ensuring the challenges voters faced last year won’t happen in the next election. This bill is a critical step towards strengthening our democracy, and we urge the Senate to take up this legislation swiftly.”
Read The Leadership Conference’s letter urging Congress to pass H.R. 1 here.
The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights is a coalition charged by its diverse membership of more than 220 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 220-plus member organizations, visit www.civilrights.org.