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Statement

With Voter Suppression Posing Unprecedented Threat, Moms Want U.S. Senate to Pass the ‘For the People Act’ to Protect Our Democracy

March 18, 2021
MomsVote

Lisa Lederer, 202/371-1996

Statement from leaders of MomsRising, the online and on-the-ground organization of more than one million mothers and their families, on the introduction of the For the People Act in the U.S. Senate yesterday:

“Efforts by state lawmakers to suppress the votes of people of color. Extreme gerrymandering. Hard-working Americans locked out of the political process. Big money dictating our political agenda.

“Sadly, these assaults on our democracy have become commonplace. They threaten our fundamental right to vote and to make our voices heard. They threaten the future of our democracy. That’s why America’s moms are demanding that the U.S. Senate join the U.S. House of Representatives in passing the For the People Act, which would:

  • Protect and expand access to the ballot, and break down barriers to exercising our right to vote through reforms like automatic voter registration and ending racially discriminatory voter purges;
  • Make representation in government more fair by ending partisan and racial gerrymandering;
  • Help amplify the voices of ordinary Americans in our politics by establishing a small-donor matching system for federal races; and
  • Fight corruption by enacting new ethical standards for elected officials.”

-Statement of Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner, Executive Director and CEO, MomsRising

“We thank U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-New York) and U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) for introducing this bill. This is a critical moment when paid leave, gun violence prevention, childcare, fair pay, and other issues that shape our lives are on the line. Now more than ever, we need a democracy that works, where everyone participates, every vote is counted, and every voice is heard. We need the For the People Act to become law.”

-Statement of Donna Norton, Executive Vice President, MomsRising

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MomsRising.org is an on-the-ground and online grassroots organization of more than a million people who are working to increase family economic security, decrease discrimination against women and moms, and to build a nation where businesses and families can thrive. Established in 2006, MomsRising and its members are organizing and speaking out to improve public policy and to change the national dialogue on issues that are critically important to America’s families, including criminal justice reform, immigration policy reform, and gun safety. MomsRising is working for paid family and medical leave, affordable, high quality childcare and early learning, and for an end to the wage and hiring discrimination which penalizes women — particularly moms and women of color — and so many others. MomsRising advocates for access to healthy food for all kids, health care for all, earned sick days, and breastfeeding rights so that all children can have a healthy start. MomsRising maintains a Spanish language website: MamásConPoder.org. Sign up online at www.MomsRising.org — and follow us on our blog, and on Twitter and Facebook.