January 15, 2021

The Honorable Charles E. Schumer
Democratic Leader, U.S. Senate
The Capitol, S-221
Washington, D.C. 20510

Leader Schumer,

This year, the American people voted in record numbers for a House, Senate, and president who believe our democracy works best when every vote is counted, and every voice is heard. Unfortunately, President Trump and his allies have spent the months since spreading dangerous conspiracy theories in an attempt to not just undermine these results, but to literally overturn them and with violent consequences. The January 6th insurrection was not only an attack on the U.S. Capitol, it was an attack on the heart of our democracy – again illustrating the urgent need for bold reforms to buttress our system so that it truly represents all Americans, and especially communities that have historically been marginalized.

Our democracy held–this time. But, as the late Congressman John Lewis once said, democracy is not a state, it’s an act. Now, with united control of government, you must act to safeguard our democracy for the long term and finally create the fair, just system Americans want and deserve.

We, the undersigned members of the Declaration for American Democracy (DFAD) coalition, call on you to join Speaker Pelosi and House Democrats in prioritizing the re-introduction and passage of the For the People Act as a first priority of the new Democratic majority and designating it as S. 1, to match the symbolic prominence it has been given in the House (H.R. 1).

This sweeping legislation would protect and expand the right to vote, end the dominance of big money in politics, and restore ethics and accountability in Washington. It passed the House with unanimous Democratic support in 2019 and had the support of every member of the Senate Democratic Caucus in the 116th Congress, including Vice President-elect Kamala Harris. President-elect Joe Biden endorsed the legislation during his campaign.

There’s no more time to wait to protect our democracy.

Far too many Americans across the political spectrum believe their government no longer works for them. They see wealthy special interests dictating policy, politicians setting the rules for their own elections and making it harder for Americans to vote, and federal officials profiting off the public interest. Some of their elected leaders literally voted to overturn the election based on lies and misinformation. The For the People Act is critical to restoring the public’s faith in our democratic institutions and ensuring everyone’s voice and vote is heard, counted, and protected.

We now have the opportunity to truly deliver on our founders’ promise of a democracy that’s of, by, and for the people. We can’t waste it.

Sincerely,

Declaration for American Democracy
20/20 Vision
Action Group Network
BOLD ReThink
Brady
Brennan Center for Justice
Campaign Legal Center
Center for American Progress
Center for Media and Democracy
Center for Popular Democracy
Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington
Clean Elections Texas
Climate Reality Project
Coalition to Stop Gun Violence
Common Cause
Communications Workers of America
DC Vote
Defend Democracy
DemCast USA
Democracy 21
Democratic Policy Center
Demos
End Citizens United / Let America Vote Action Fund
Equal Citizens
Fix Democracy First
Franciscan Action Network
Free Speech For People
Friends of the Earth
Government Accountability Project
Greenpeace USA
Herd on the Hill
Indivisible
Indivisible Beach Cities
Indivisible Media City Burbank
Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement
Leadership Conference of Women Religious
League of Conservation Voters
League Of Women Voters of the US
The Loyal Opposition
Maine AFL-CIO
Maine Citizens for Clean Elections
Mainers for Accountable Leadership
MapLight
March for Our Lives
Mid-Ohio Valley Climate Action
Missouri Voter Protection Coalition
MoveOn
NARAL Pro-Choice America
National Council of Jewish Women
NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice
New American Leaders Action Fund
North Carolina Voters for Clean Elections
Our Revolution
Pax Christi USA
Peace Action
People Demanding Action
People For the American Way
Planned Parenthood Maine Action Fund
Progressive Democrats of America
Progressive Turnout Project
Project On Government Oversight
Public Citizen
Public Wise
Publish What You Pay-United States
RepresentUs New Mexico
Rock the Vote
Service Employees International Union (SEIU)
Stand for Children
True North Research
Union of Concerned Scientists
Unitarian Universalist Association
URGE: Unite for Reproductive & Gender Equity
Voices for Progress
Vote.org
Voters Not Politicians
Westchester Citizen Therapists
Wisconsin Democracy Campaign
Woman’s National Democratic Club
The Workers Circle
Working Families Party
Writers Against Trump