Fix Our Senate: “To honor John Lewis, protect our voting rights, and pass strong federal legislation, Senate Democrats need to address the filibuster—before it’s too late.”
WASHINGTON, DC — The following is a statement from Eli Zupnick, spokesman for Fix Our Senate reacting to the House of Representatives passage of “The John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2021” (H.R. 4).
“The H.R. 4 vote is another reminder of what’s at stake for our democracy, another example of Republicans’ resistance to voting rights, and another clear indication that the filibuster is the only thing standing in the way of strong federal legislation to protect Americans’ voting rights.
Senate Democrats have pledged that voting rights will be their first order of business post-recess. Given the stakes, they should return to Washington as quickly as possible with a plan to address the filibuster and deliver on these essential bills. Republicans’ unanimous opposition today, on the heels of Senate Republicans using the filibuster to block the Senate from even debating the For the People Act, reminds us that Americans’ voting rights will only be protected if Democrats take on the filibuster.
Before today’s vote, the White House weighed in with a Statement of Administration Policy in support of H.R. 4, noting that ‘the sacred right to vote is under attack across the country.’ We are glad the White House supports this critical legislation and recognizes the threats our democracy is facing. Now we need President Biden to help get voting rights over the finish line by calling on Senate Democrats to eliminate the filibuster as a weapon Mitch McConnell and Republicans can rely on to keep our democracy rigged and protect their own power.
To honor John Lewis, protect our voting rights, and pass strong federal legislation, Senate Democrats need to address the filibuster—before it’s too late.”