Cindy Carr, cindy.carr@sierraclub.org
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, the Senate introduced the For The People Act, the landmark democracy reform package that is designed to create nationwide automatic and same day voter registration, strengthen ethics laws to curb the influence of corporate polluters, put an end to partisan gerrymandering, restore voting rights for 1.7 million formerly incarcerated people, and more.
The For the People Act passed the House earlier this month, and President Biden has already shown support for the bill, meaning that it will be signed into law as soon as it passes in the Senate. When the For the People Act becomes law, it will also protect voters around the country from the bills restricting access to the polls currently being proposed in more than 40 state legislatures.
In response, Sierra Club Democracy Program Director Courtney Hight released the following statement:
“Passing the For The People Act is critical if we are to safeguard our democracy. Once signed into law, it will rein in the undue influence of polluters, corporations, and a minority of wealthy donors in political decision making, as well as expand and protect American’s access to free and fair elections. This landmark bill will finally fortify a democracy for, and by, the people that protects the interests of communities and the planet. The Sierra Club applauds Senate Majority Leader Schumer, Senator Merkley, Senator Klobuchar, and Senate Democrats for prioritizing the critical democracy reforms that our country so desperately needs.
“We call on the Senate to move immediately to pass the For The People Act, as many of the critical issues that our nation faces -- combating the climate crisis, ensuring quality, affordable health care, creating good paying jobs, and achieving racial justice, to name just a few -- cannot be fully addressed until we fix our broken democracy.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3.5 million members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.