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Why we need to prioritize passing H.R.1 along with H.R.4 and legislation granting statehood to Washington, D.C. (H.R.51) as the first items of business in the 117th Congress.

H.R. 1, the For the People Act, is the boldest and most comprehensive proposal to strengthen our democracy since the aftermath of Watergate.

"With the Supreme Court split four-to-four on so many critical issues, the stakes could not be higher."

Thank you for this opportunity to submit testimony regarding the damage that Citizens United and the rise of Super PACs has done to our system of democratic government.  In the text below I will discuss why rules that govern the role of money in politics are important to our democracy; the impact of Citizens United and related decisions on our electoral system; and what Congress can and must do to promote the core American value of political equality.

Testimony of Demos' Democracy Program Legal Director on restoring contribution limits in Vermont, delivered before the Vermont House Government Operations Committee on February 5, 2008.

Testimony of Democracy Program Director Brenda Wright before the Boston City Council on Campaign Finance Reform

Our current system of campaign finance reform suppresses the political power of people of color and that lack of political power has had proven, lasting consequences.

We are concerned that given Ms. DeVos’ track record to privatize public education and her lack of a clear position concerning the affordability crisis in higher education, the committee cannot properly assess whether Ms. DeVos is fit to run the U.S. Department of Education.

We support rulemaking to require public companies to disclose to shareholders the use of corporate resources for political activities.

We write to urge you to reject President Trump’s nomination of Judge Neil Gorsuch to a lifetime appointment on the nation’s highest court.

We're asking Florida to immediately implement new procedures as a result of this crisis

We urge Ohio to take immediate action to ease and modify absentee ballot
laws so that thousands of voters are not disenfranchised during Ohio’s March 17, 2020 primary.

The global coronavirus pandemic threatens to disrupt the Presidential
Preference Primary election in Florida. The extension of vote-by-mail options and other accommodations at polling places is necessary.

Notice letter to the Ohio Secretary of State that aspects of the state's COVID-19-related election directive violate the National Voter Registration Act of 1993.

Brief submitted on behalf of Ohio A. Philip Randolph Institute and the League of Women Voters of Ohio 

Notice Letter to Missouri Governor Michael Parson and Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft Re: New June 2, 2020 Municipal Election Date Due to COVID-19

This presentation outlines the ways that student debt both contributes to, and is a cause of, America’s historic and persistent racial wealth divide.

Over 100 community, civil rights, consumer, and student advocacy organizations urge House and Senate leadership to insist on student debt cancellation for all borrowers during negotiations over the next coronavirus relief package.

The For the People Act can begin to address the longstanding racist exclusions in our democracy with policy solutions that are proven to advance racial equity.