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For Immediate Release
Contact:

Anushka Sarkar, press@standupamerica.com

Over 150 Pro-Democracy Groups To Schumer: "Do Not Wait Any Longer" to Change Senate Rules, Pass Voting Rights and Democracy Legislation

WASHINGTON
Today, Stand Up America and over 150 national and local pro-democracy organizations in the Declaration for American Democracy and Not Above The Law coalitions released a letter urging Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to pass voting rights and democracy reform legislation "by whatever legislative means are required." The co-signers applauded Schumer's announcement that he would pursue changes to the Senate rules by Martin Luther King Jr. Day if Republicans continue to block debate on voting rights.
"In the year since insurrectionists violently attacked the U.S. Capitol, we have witnessed ongoing and increasingly dangerous efforts to chip away at the foundation of our democracy, from anti-voter bills already signed into law in 19 states to partisan takeovers of local election administration. Still, the Senate has not been able to pass even a single piece of legislation to strengthen our democracy and protect fair and free elections because Republicans are abusing the chamber's filibuster rule to stop them," wrote the organizations.
"We are encouraged by your recent statements that Senate Democrats are seriously considering restoring the Senate to pave the way for voting rights protections. We believe that changing the rules to bypass Republicans' continued obstruction is the only way to pass meaningful democracy legislation, and we urge you not to wait any longer," they continued.
Full text of the letter is below:
Dear Senate Majority Leader Schumer,
In the year since insurrectionists violently attacked the U.S. Capitol, we have witnessed ongoing and increasingly dangerous efforts to chip away at the foundation of our democracy, from anti-voter bills already signed into law in 19 states to partisan takeovers of local election administration. Still, the Senate has not been able to pass even a single piece of legislation to strengthen our democracy and protect fair and free elections because Republicans are abusing the chamber's filibuster rule to stop them.
The undersigned organizations write to urge Senate Democrats to pass the slate of democracy and voting rights legislation before Congress, by whatever legislative means are required. These bills include the Freedom to Vote Act, the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, the Protecting Our Democracy Act, and D.C. statehood, among others.
The Freedom to Vote Act would reverse many of the anti-voter laws passed this year--protecting the freedom to vote for all Americans, stopping partisan gerrymandering, limiting the influence of dark money so that billionaires can't buy elections, and preventing partisan politicians from sabotaging future elections;
The John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act would restore and strengthen our freedom to vote by ensuring that any changes to voting rules that discriminate against voters based on race or background are federally reviewed, so we all have an equal say and our rights are protected;
The Protecting Our Democracy Act would restore checks and balances and prevent future presidents from abusing their power for personal gain or obstructing the transition of power; and,
The Washington, D.C. Admission Act would grant the more than 700,000 residents of our nation's capital a meaningful voice and a vote in Congress, both of which D.C. residents were denied on Jan. 6, 2021. Statehood would also allow D.C. to control its National Guard, which can be called upon immediately to protect our Capitol and other critical sites.
We are encouraged by your recent statements that Senate Democrats are seriously considering restoring the Senate to pave the way for voting rights protections. We believe that changing the rules to bypass Republicans' continued obstruction is the only way to pass meaningful democracy legislation, and we urge you not to wait any longer.
On Thursday, thousands of Americans from all walks of life will take part in more than 250 vigils to mark the one year since the attack on the Capitol. Speakers will discuss what they felt as they watched insurrectionists attack the Capitol Building in an attempt to overturn a free and fair election. Last January, our nation came too close to not having a peaceful transition of power. One year is enough. We cannot wait until the next violent attack to safeguard our nation. By then, it might be too late.
The House of Representatives has already done its job. It is time for the Senate to do right by the American people, and improve the rules of the Senate so they can protect and strengthen our democracy. We implore our leaders in Congress to rise to the moment and honor their duty by urgently passing this slate of crucial democracy and voting rights legislation.
Sincerely,
Declaration for American Democracy
Stand Up America
(SWIM) Statewide Indivisible Michigan
20/20 Vision DC
7 Directions of Service
A Better Chance A Better Community (ABC2)
A2D2 Ann Arbor inDivisible for Democracy
Act for Democracy
Advance Carolina
Advocacy and Training Center
American Federation of Teachers
American Friends Service Committee
Anacostia Coordinating Council
Bend the Arc: Jewish Action
Black Voters Matter Fund-NC
Black Voters Matter Fund-TN
Blue Wave Postcard Movement
BOLD ReThink
Broward for Progress
CAMPAIGN FOR AMERICA'S FUTURE
Campaign Legal Center
CASA
Cause Communications
CBFD Indivisible San Diego
Center for American Progress
Center for Common Ground
Center for Popular Democracy
Change the Chamber (Lobby for Climate)
Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington
Clean Elections Texas
Clean Elections Texas
Clean Water Action
Climate Hawks Vote
Climate Reality Project
Color Of Change
Common Defense
DC Democratic State Committee
DC Fiscal Policy Institute
DC for Democracy
DC Statehood Coalition
DC Vote
DemCast USA
Democracy 21
Democracy Initiative
Democracy Matters
Down Home NC
EL CENTRO HISPANO
Endangered Species Coalition
Equal Citizens
Equal Justice Society
Fair Elections for New York
Faith in Public Life
Faithful America
Fayetteville Police Accountability Community Taskforce
Fix Democracy First
Franciscan Action Network
Free Speech For People
Future Coalition
Get Money Out - Maryland, Inc.
Government Accountability Project
Greenpeace USA
HOLLA! Community Development Corporation
IMPAXT, Inc
In Our Own Voice: National Black Women's Reproductive Justice Agenda
Indivisible
Indivisible Acton Area
Indivisible Beach Cities
Indivisible Chicago Alliance
Indivisible Howard County
Indivisible Huron Valley
Indivisible Illinois
Indivisible Livingston County
Indivisible Marin
Indivisible Northern Nevada
Indivisible Northville & Neighbors (Western Detroit Suburbs)
Indivisible Santa Fe
Indivisible Sisters
Indivisible South Bay LA
Interfaith Power & Light
J Street
Jean-Michel Cousteau's Ocean Futures Society
League of Conservation Voters
League of Women Voters DC
League of Women Voters of Arizona
Leelanau Indivisible
Lenawee Indivisible
Liberal Leadership League
Main Street Alliance
Mainers for Accountable Leadership Action
March On
MATTHEW HENSN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION/UNITED SENIORS
Metro Washington Council, AFL-CIO
Michiganders for Fair & Transparent Elections
Mid-Ohio Valley Climate Action
Missouri Voter Protection Coalition
MomsRising
NARAL Pro-Choice America
National Council of Jewish Women
National Council of Jewish Women
Native Organizers Alliance
NC Community Outreach & Wellness Center Inc
NC League of Conservation Voters
Neighbors United for DC Statehood
NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice
New Mexico & El Paso Region Interfaith Power and Light
New York Jewish Agenda
Newtown Action Alliance
NextGen America
North Carolina A. Philip Randolph Educational Fund
North Carolina Coalition - National Council of Negro Women, Inc.
North Carolina Council of Churches
North Carolina Voters for Clean Elections
Northridge Indivisible
Now We Revolution
NWSOFA-Indivisible
Our Maryland
Our Revolution
Our Revolution Maryland
Our Revolution Maryland
Pasquotank NAACP
Peace Action
People For the American Way
People's Action
Progressive Turnout Project
Protect Democracy
Reclaim Our Democracy
Represent Maryland
Rise Up WV
Rowan Concerned Citizens
Saline Indivisible
Secure Elections Network
SEIU
Stand UP Alaska!
Stand Up! for Democracy in DC (Free DC)
The National Vote
The North Carolina Housing Justice for Black Lives
The Outrage
The Social Justice Mobilizing Organizing Group
The Vocal Seniority
The Workers Circle
True North Research
Un-PAC
Unitarian Universalist Association
Unitarian Universalists for Social Justice
United Church of Christ
Unity Group of Chattanooga
URGE: Unite for Reproductive & Gender Equity
Vermont Interfaith Power & Light
Voices for Progress
VoteVets
Western Front Indivisible
What's Next Washington
Wisconsin Democracy Campaign
Wisconsin Faith Voices for Justice
WMD PPC and ACWAC
Women of Color Coalition
Women's March
Women's March
Writers for Democratic Action

Stand Up America is a progressive advocacy organization with over two million community members across the country. Focused on grassroots advocacy to strengthen our democracy and oppose Trump's corrupt agenda, Stand Up America has driven over 600,000 phone calls to Congress and mobilized tens of thousands of protestors across the country.