Washington, D.C. – Today, Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet released the following statement after Senate Republicans blocked the For the People Act — a comprehensive reform package to protect our democracy, tackle special interest corruption, and make government work for the American people — from moving forward:
“The American people expect their leaders in Washington to treat the future of our democracy as seriously as they do. They would find it ludicrous that the Senate will not even debate the For the People Act, a bill with reforms they broadly support. Every Republican senator who blocked debate on this bill should explain why they oppose steps to ban partisan gerrymandering, expand early voting, limit money in politics, and protect Americans’ fundamental right to vote. Today is a setback, but progress in America has never been a straight line. The attacks on our democracy will not stop, and neither can we. I am prepared to do whatever I can to find a path forward for the urgent reforms in this bill. We cannot shirk our responsibility to strengthen and sustain America’s democracy for the next generation.”
The For the People Act failed to advance by a 50-50 vote. Earlier this year, Bennet joined several Senate Democratic colleagues to introduce the For the People Act as an original co-sponsor. The vote today comes as state legislators across the country are working to pass laws limiting access to the ballot.
Watch Bennet’s floor speech on the For the People Act HERE.