Washington, D.C. – In the wake of the U.S. Senate’s vote to not remove President Donald Trump from office for soliciting foreign interference in the 2020 elections, 63 members of the Declaration for American Democracy coalition today called on the U.S. Senate to fix our democracy and pass the For the People Act (S. 949), which was passed nearly a year ago in the House (H.R. 1).
The groups made the call in a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. Senate Republicans’ refusal to hold the president accountable for his attempt to use foreign actors to influence our elections sends a clear signal to foreign leaders, big corporations, and wealthy elites that they too can be above the law. The For the People Act (H.R. 1/S. 949), a once-in-a-generation House-passed bill, co-sponsored by 47 senators, would significantly reduce corruption and put the power back into the hands of the people.
Jana Morgan, campaign director of Declaration for American Democracy, said, “Both Democratic and GOP lawmakers alike acknowledged that Trump solicited foreign interference in the 2020 presidential election. The For the People Act, a set of transformational and comprehensive democracy reforms, has provisions that would reduce the ability of foreign governments to interfere in U.S. elections, decrease the influence of big money in politics, and ensure every eligible voter can securely cast a vote free from barriers. It is time that we have a government that represents the people, not just wealthy donors and corporations.”
The full letter is linked here and pasted below:
February 10, 2020
Re: Members of the Declaration for American Democracy coalition call on Senate Majority Leader McConnell to protect our democracy and bring H.R. 1 to the floor
Dear Senate Majority Leader McConnell:
We write to you today to express our concerns about the state of our democracy following the impeachment trial of President Donald J. Trump in the U.S. Senate. Senate Republicans’ refusal to hold the President accountable for his attempt to use foreign actors to influence our elections sends a clear signal to foreign leaders, big corporations, and wealthy elites that they too can be above the law. We urge the Senate to look to the future and swiftly act on policy solutions to fix our broken democracy and ensure the cycle of corruption is not allowed to continue.
To rebuild faith in our democracy, we must usher in a new era of accountability for our elected officials that puts the voices of voters over the interests of corporate donors and powerful special interests. The undersigned members of the Declaration for American Democracy coalition call on the U.S. Senate to finally advance the For the People Act (H.R. 1). This set of transformational, comprehensive democracy reforms, which already passed the U.S. House and has the support of 47 Senators, will protect and expand people’s right to vote, take power away from big money and lobbyists, and restore ethics and accountability. It is time for our government to reflect the will of all Americans, not just the wealthy and powerful.
Perhaps most urgently, President Trump’s attempt to coerce a foreign government to interfere in the 2020 elections highlights the immediate need to secure our elections. H.R. 1 includes critical policies that would protect our elections from foreign interference by using hand-marked paper ballots, risk-limiting audits, and enhanced penalties against entities that provide deliberately false information about elections. In order to restore integrity to our elections and to ensure our vote is secure, the Senate must pass H.R. 1 prior to the 2020 election.
For too long, the wealthy and powerful have manipulated our democracy to serve their own interests. The result is a lack of progress on key issues voters care about, such as lowering the price of prescription drugs, grappling with the crisis of climate change, and reducing the epidemic of gun violence. Without legislative action to curb the current culture of corruption, our country cannot effectively address the challenges everyday Americans face.
Our democracy is at stake. It’s time to take action and pass H.R. 1 to put the power back in the hands of the American people.
Sincerely,
American Federation of Teachers
Arkansas Valley Indivisible
Arvadans for Progressive Action
CCAG
Center for American Progress
Center for Popular Democracy
Church World Service
Clean Elections Texas
Coalition to Preserve, Protect & Defend
Coffee and Civic Action
Common Cause
Concerned Citizens of Clear Creek County, CO (Indivisible Group)
Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd, U.S. Provinces
CREW
CWA
D3
DC Vote
DemCast USA
Democracy21
Democracy Initiative
Democracy Matters
Denver Action Committee
Disciples Center for Public Witness
End Citizens United Action Fund
Faithful America
Fix Democracy First
Franciscan Action Network
Generation Progress
Georgia Alliance for Social Justice
Greenpeace USA
HAZMAT America
Indivisible
Indivisible CO-5
Indivisible CO-7
Indivisible Denver
Indivisible Kansas City
Indivisible Longmont
Indivisible Highlands Ranch, Colorado
Indivisible Montezuma Alliance for Unity
Indivisible North Denver
Indivisible Southglenn
International Corporate Accountability Roundtable (ICAR)
LadyDems Colorado Springs, CO
Living United for Change in Arizona (LUCHA)
Mainers for Accountable Leadership
MomsRising
Montrose Indivisible
National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd
NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice
New Mexicans for Money Out of Politics
North Carolina Voters for Clean Elections
Northside Indivisible
Pax Christi USA
People For the American Way
Progressive Leadership Initiative
Progressive Turnout Project
Public Citizen
SEIU
Sierra Club
Stand Up America
Voices for Progress
Wisconsin Democracy Campaign
Yuma and Friends Indivisible Group
The Declaration for American Democracy is a diverse coalition of more than 145 democracy, environmental, labor, faith-based, good government, civil rights, and other groups focused on advancing the structural changes necessary to ensure our democracy reflects, responds to, and represents voters.
