Senate Begins Hearings on For the People Act
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the U.S. Senate begins hearings on the historic For the People Act, a sweeping elections reform bill that would restore and strengthen voting rights across the country. In the most ambitious push to protect the right to vote since the Voting Rights Act of 1965, Democrats seek to expand access to the ballot by instating automatic voter registration, expanding mail-in voting, preventing gerrymandering and much more.
Today, the Senate Rules Committee will hold a first hearing on S. 1. Last week, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) gave floor remarks on his intention to introduce the bill in the Senate. “If our democracy doesn’t work, then we have no hope—no hope—of solving any of our other problems,” he said. “S.1. is going to be a top priority—this Congress. We will fight and fight and fight to get this done legislatively. Failure is not an option. Too darn much is at stake.”
Witnesses for the hearing include:
- Jocelyn Benson, Michigan Secretary of State
- Lee Goodman, Former Republican Chair of the Federal Election Commission
- Eric Holder, Former U.S. Attorney General and current Chair of the National Democratic Redistricting Committee
- Tiffany Muller, President and Executive Director of End Citizens United/Let America Vote Action Fund
- Trevor Potter, Former Republican Chair of the FEC and Founder and President of Campaign Legal Center
- Todd Rokita, Attorney General of Indiana and former U.S. Representative
- Bradley Smith, Chairman of the Institute for Free Speech and former Republican Chair of the FEC
- Michael Waldman, President of the Brennan Center for Justice
- Mac Warner, West Virginia Secretary of State
- Fred Wertheimer, Director of Democracy 21 and former President of Common Cause
Watch the hearing beginning at 10:00 a.m. ET.
Follow Democracy Docket on Twitter for updates on today’s hearing.