On Anniversary Of Insurrection, Sierra Club Calls On Senate To Pass Critical Democracy Legislation

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WASHINGTON, DC -- Today, as the country marks the one-year anniversary of the violent attack on the US Capitol, the Sierra Club again calls on the Senate to protect and strengthen our democracy by passing the Freedom to Vote Act, the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act (VRAA), and the Protect Our Democracy Act. These critical federal laws will preempt the hundreds of bad state bills that could otherwise keep millions of people from voting in upcoming elections, put in place more checks and balances, prevent presidential abuse of power as we saw under the Trump administration, and prevent future attempts to undermine and attack our elections. 

A Navigator poll conducted late last year found that a majority of Americans support the Freedom to Vote Act, and more than two in three support each provision in the legislation. The VRAA is supported by 70% of voters nationwide, according to a survey conducted by Lake Research in 2021. 

In response, Sierra Club President Ramon Cruz issued the following statement: 

“A full year after white supremacists nearly destroyed the bedrock of our democracy in an attempt to overturn a free and fair election, the Senate has still not passed meaningful reforms to ensure a violent insurrection never occurs again. Enough is enough. The landmark Freedom To Vote Act and John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act represent the best chance to fundamentally strengthen and protect our democracy, yet both bills are currently stalled in the Senate by the Republican minority. The American people are demanding action to protect voting rights, tackle the climate crisis, and safeguard our communities, and by passing these two bills, our country will be closer than ever before in achieving those goals. The Sierra Club calls on the Senate to pass the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act immediately.”

About the Sierra Club

The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of 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.