STATEMENT: CAP's Michael Sozan Praises Senate Committee Markup of For The People Act

Author

Center for American Progress (CAP)

Release Date

Tuesday, May 11, 2021

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Washington, D.C. — Today, the U.S. Senate Committee on Rules and Administration completed its markup of the For the People Act, transformative legislation to strengthen the country’s democracy. Despite repeated attempts by committee conservatives to weaken the popular legislation and block it from being reported out, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has multiple procedural options to advance the legislation to the Senate floor, which he said he plans to do in the coming weeks. Committee Chair Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and bill sponsor Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) are expected to continue to play pivotal roles in the passage of this legislation, which contains scores of provisions built on bipartisan legislation at the federal, state, and local levels. Last week, Senate Democrats strengthened the legislation by adding many changes suggested by bipartisan election administrators across the nation.

In response to the markup, Michael Sozan, a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, issued the following statement:

With committee consideration complete, momentum continues to build toward passage of the For the People Act. This once-in-a-generation legislation remains deeply popular with the American people, who understand that strengthening our democracy should not be a partisan issue. Unfortunately, opponents continue to try to derail this bill, as conservatives on the Senate Rules and Administration Committee attempted to do during committee markup.

The next few months will decide what our democracy looks like for decades to come. With several states passing anti-voter legislation aimed at suppressing voters of color, and with conservatives vowing again to resort to partisan gerrymandering, the Senate must quickly pass the For the People Act.

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