Last week, Senate Republicans exploited a loophole, the filibuster, to delay passage of the For the People Act (S. 1/H.R. 1). The For the People Act is supported by over 83 percent of Americans. It includes comprehensive, commonsense reforms to our democracy that ensure that every American has the freedom to vote, regardless of their zip code or background. It bans partisan gerrymandering, reduces government corruption, and curbs the influence of big money donors on elections and the electoral process. Yet despite bipartisan support from voters, Republicans voted to block a debate on the merits of the bill.
Yes, you heard that right, Senate Republicans refuse to even debate these commonsense reforms, and they are using every tool possible -- including the racist, arcane filibuster -- to try to stop progress. These are the same Republican senators who blocked a bipartisan investigation into the deadly January 6 attack on our country by a violent white supremacist mob. They even used the same tactic -- the filibuster.
While frustrating, we expected this. Mitch McConnell and Senate Republicans have been promising to block the For the People Act since it was first introduced in 2019. The fact that Republicans won’t even allow a debate on protecting the right to vote -- as we are seeing Republicans lead a power grab and a massive attack on voting rights in nearly every state -- further demonstrates that Republicans are not interested in bipartisanship or in protecting every Americans’ right to vote. They only care about locking in their power and will do whatever it takes to maintain that grip on power, including silencing the voices of people who oppose them, which so often means people of color.
But the battle has not been lost. This was one procedural vote. We won’t stop fighting until we pass reforms that protect the freedom to vote and ensure equitable representation. We are optimistic the Senate will pass both the For the People Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act because:
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83 percent of Americans support the For the People Act and want to protect the right to vote;
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Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi have made clear that failure is not an option, and inaction is not acceptable; and
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Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia, a frequent swing vote, is working with Senator Schumer to make some compromises. It was a good and hopeful sign that he voted with the rest of Senate Democrats to allow debate.
We know progress is still possible because the fight for the Affordable Care Act had similar ups and downs in the Senate. While frustrating, this is typical of lawmaking in Washington, and there is a path forward.
So, what do we do now? We organize.
Members of Congress are back in their districts from now until July 10. While they are on recess, we must continue to be loud and visible to keep their attention. Every senator needs to know that we will not accept failure when it comes to protecting the freedom to vote. This is how every hard-fought battle is won -- with persistence and a commitment to keep organizing. To that end, the Sierra Club is cosponsoring Deadline for Democracy rallies, phonebanks, and celebrations across the country with Indivisible, SEIU, MoveOn, and nearly 100 other organizations. Please join us -- find an event near you.
We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to change the direction of our country -- to preserve and expand the freedom to vote, and to create a democracy that works for everyone. But it will take all of us to override the minority in Congress who are attempting to block these transformational changes. Help build the country we all deserve by taking action with us.
How You Can Make a Difference:
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Call your senator: Text FTP to 69866 to get connected
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Send a message to thank President Biden and tell him we need his continued leadership
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Join the Sierra Club’s Democracy team to stay updated on what’s happening and find opportunities to take action.