Schakowsky Statement on Passage of H.R. 1 - The For The People Act

WASHINGTON - Today, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, a Senior Chief Deputy Whip, and Vice-Chair of the Democracy Reform Task Force, released the following statement on passage of H.R. 1, the For the People Act:

“Today, the House passed a monumental reform package that will benefit all Americans. I am so proud to have cosponsored, voted for, and help pass H.R. 1, the For the People Act. This once-in-a-generation bill will expand access to the ballot box, reduce the influence of big money in politics, and strengthen ethics rules for public servants, including the President.

In recent years we have seen voting rights trampled on, especially within our most vulnerable populations. H.R. 1 will restore the Voting Rights Act to the strong anti-discrimination law that Congress intended it to be, ensuring that everyone, regardless of race, religion, gender, disability, age, and background will have equal and easy access to the polls. It will prevent the arbitrary purge of voter rolls, a problem we saw in many precincts leading up to the mid-term election.

Unlike the Republican’s first major bill in the last Congress when they were in the majority, H.R. 1 (the Tax Scam of 2017) which gave huge tax cuts to the wealthiest Americans, and greatly increased the national debt, the Democrats are returning power back to individuals. Our bill empowers small-donors and ends the dominance of big money in our politics. It will put in place tougher standards to fight corruption so that our nation’s public officials are truly working for the people. It will also help ensure our elections are secure from foreign influence as we saw in the 2016 election and force all Presidents to disclose 10 years of their tax returns. This much-needed legislation will restore faith in our democracy at a time when people question whether their vote counts. I call on my colleagues in the Senate to do their jobs and give the people the change they demand. It’s your move Leader McConnell."

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