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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.

Congress now has the opportunity to erect new public structures guaranteeing stability, transparency and competition in banking.

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

If passed, each of these pieces of legislation would destabilize a regulatory system that saves lives and improves our nation.

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.

More information about CEO-to-worker pay disparities is critical for investors.

The CCPA is a climate bill, a racial justice bill, a public health bill, and an economic development bill. We need it to be all of these things.

Demos’ Race-Class Narrative (RCN) project developed an empirically-tested narrative on race and class that resonates with all working people and offers an alternative to—and neutralizes the use of—dog-whistle racism.

The Disparate Impact standard is critical to continued and enhanced opportunity to access fair credit, housing, and homeownership. Demos strongly opposes efforts to undermine this longstanding enforcement tool.

One New York State bill would interrupt the cycle of discrimination that comes with employment credit checks.

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.

Written testimony of Demos President K. Sabeel Rahman before the US House of Representatives Committee on the Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Commercial and Administrative Law