Manchin Must Back Filibuster Reform to Pass His Own Compromise Voting Rights Bill

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
SEPTEMBER 14, 2021

PRESS CONTACT:
Anushka Sarkar, [email protected]

With All 50 Senate Democrats In Support of the Freedom to Vote Act, the Filibuster is the Only Remaining Barrier

WASHINGTON, D.C. — This morning, Senate Democrats released the text of the Freedom to Vote Act, the compromise voting rights bill spearheaded by Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) and sponsored by Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), slated to be introduced today. Manchin’s bill maintains several of the key voting and election security measures included in the For The People Act, like creating mandatory federal minimum standards for early voting and vote-by-mail, establishing Election Day as a federal holiday, and creating new disclosure requirements for dark money groups not currently required to disclose donors.

Stand Up America Founder & President Sean Eldridge responded to the bill’s release:

“The introduction of the Freedom to Vote Act is a clear sign that the American public’s push for federal legislation to protect voting rights is working. Lawmakers are hearing us, loud and clear.

“Now that it appears that all 50 Democrats are on board with a bill to protect our freedom to vote, it’s time to get all 50 Democrats on board with reforming the filibuster to get it passed. 

“This is an historic opportunity to pass national standards for voting access and push back against the wave of Republican voter suppression across the country. Now, with a compromise bill ready to be passed, the filibuster is the only thing standing in our way. It’s time for our senators to put Americans’ freedom to vote ahead of the Jim Crow filibuster.” 

This year, Stand Up America partnered with Fair Fight Action to launch a campaign to drive constituent calls nationwide in support of the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act (H.R.4) and the For the People Act (S.1, now amended as the Freedom to Vote Act) using a joint hotline. Together, the two organizations have driven more than 150,000 constituent calls demanding federal voting rights legislation this year. Stand Up America and Fair Fight Action will continue to drive calls through the 833-465-7142 hotline until the Senate passes both the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.

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About Stand Up America
Stand Up America is a progressive advocacy organization with over two million community members across the country. Focused on grassroots advocacy to stand up to corruption and voter suppression and build a more representative democracy, Stand Up America has driven over 1.6 million calls to lawmakers, registered tens of thousands of voters, mobilized thousands of protestors, and contacted tens of millions of voters.

Website: StandUpAmerica.com
Twitter: @StandUpAmerica
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