Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee Statement on House Passage of H.R. 1, the For the People Act

Press Release

Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, a senior member of the House Committees on Judiciary, Homeland Security, and Budget, released this statement following House passage of H.R. 1, the For The People Act:

"Earlier today, the House passed H.R. 1, the For The People Act. Put simply, this is the single most import democracy reform bill in a generation. I am proud to be an original co-sponsor of this legislation, participated in countless hearings and markups and proudly cast my vote this morning for this landmark legislation.

"This bill is good not only for the reforms it makes for the citizenry and its engagement between the government and the people, but also because it strengthens the vitality of our civic life, and the responsiveness of our democracy. This bill contains a multitude of salutary improvements, including: automatic voter registration, nationwide early voting, public financing of elections and an end to congressional gerrymandering. All of these provisions affirm the principle that all who can vote should vote and that their vote should not be diluted--either by improperly or inappropriately drawn districts or by the scourge of big money in politics. After its introduction, the Majority Leader of the Senate claimed that the bill was a "power grab"--he is right: it is a power grab from the corporate interests, and for the American people.

"Today's vote was made possible by one of the largest classes of freshmen Democrats elected to the Congress in history, fueled by the largest margin of victory for a midterm election. The voters sent a clear message --that they wanted their democracy free from corporate influence of other nefarious interference. I urge my colleagues in the Senate to approve this bill expeditiously, and send it to the President to be signed it into law."

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