Press Releases

30 Progressive Groups Demand Senate Cancel Recess

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Friday, July 10, 2020

PRESS CONTACT:
Ryan Thomas
[email protected]
(763) 954-0470

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A coalition of progressive groups and grassroots organizations led by Stand Up America have written an open letter to Senate Majority Leader McConnell (R-KY), Senator Roy Blunt (R-MO), and Senator Richard Shelby (R-AL) demanding that Senate leadership immediately end congressional recess and recall senators to the Capitol to swiftly pass legislation providing election assistance grants to every state.

Over 30 organizations—including Color of Change, Common Cause, Fair Fight Action, Indivisible, MoveOn, Let America Vote, League of Women Voters, Public Citizen, and Unidos—signed the letter saying that, “Given the urgency, the Senate must immediately return to business to consider legislation—including the HEROES Act—that grants states funding to administer safe, fair, and accessible elections this fall.”

“As COVID-19 cases surge, state and local officials from cash-strapped states are begging Congress for more election funding, but Senate Republicans have blocked nearly every effort to help states safely administer their elections this fall. It’s hard to see their opposition as anything other than blatant voter suppression in the middle of a pandemic,” said Stand Up America Founder and President Sean Eldridge. “The Senate must heed the dire warnings of these state and local election officials, and Mitch McConnell should immediately recall senators from recess to protect our democracy before it’s too late.”

Since March, Stand Up America and coalition partners have ramped up grassroots pressure on Congress to provide election assistance grants to the states, successfully winning $400 million in federal funds earlier this year. However, since states have already exhausted these funds, the coalition is now calling for the Senate to immediately approve the $3.6 billion in additional funds included in the HEROES Act passed by the House of Representatives to expand mail-in voting, make polling places safe for in-person voting, and increase online voter registration.

A copy of the open letter can be viewed here.