Washington DC -- Tonight the US House of Representatives passed the For the People Act (HR 1) on a party-line vote. The For the People Act would strengthen our democracy by expanding and protecting voting rights and access to the ballot, reducing the power of corporate donations in elections, ending partisan gerrymandering, and introducing ethical standards for lawmakers. The Senate’s companion bill, S 1, will soon be introduced.
Clean Water Action President and CEO, Bob Wendelgass, released the following statement:
"Our democracy is under threat. Hundreds of bills that will make it harder to vote, dilute the power of the people, and disempower Black, Indigenous, and other voters of color have been filed in state legislatures across the country. The For the People Act is exactly what we need. By expanding access to the ballot, reducing the influence of dark money on our politics, and ending partisan gerrymandering, the For the People Act is the antidote to the anti-democratic forces doing everything they can to stifle the voice of the people.
The Senate must take up its version of this transformational legislation as soon as possible. Protecting and strengthening our democracy is too important for partisan politics. We, the people deserve to have our voices heard."
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Since our founding during the campaign to pass the landmark Clean Water Act in 1972, Clean Water Action has worked to win strong health and environmental protections by bringing issue expertise, solution-oriented thinking and people power to the table.