In response to the introduction of the Freedom to Vote Act, Greenpeace USA Democracy Campaign Director Folabi Olagbaju said:
“With a heat record-breaking summer, unparalleled wildfires raging, and unprecedented hurricanes, today’s introduction of the Freedom to Vote Act has not come a moment too soon. Our democracy should be a powerful tool for advancing solutions to the existential threat posed by climate change, but it has been hijacked by corporate interests. The same billionaires who are polluting our air and water, are also polluting our politics. They are spending millions to push their toxic agendas, elect their allies, and keep anyone who disagrees with them blocked from the polls [1]. Black and Brown communities, working families, and the health of the planet suffer the worst consequences.
“It appears the Freedom to Vote Act contains the main pillars of the For the People Act, like getting polluters’ money out of politics, setting national standards for us to safely and freely cast our ballots, ensuring every vote is counted, and protecting Black voters and voters of color from racist voter suppression. Today’s announcement is a major step in fixing what is broken in our democracy.
“The Senate must act swiftly and President Biden must use every lever of power and influence at his disposal to get this done. We cannot let the handful of Senators who tried to block an investigation into a deadly attack on our Capitol use the same filibuster loophole to block legislation that the majority of Americans across the political spectrum have demanded to protect our freedom to vote.
“The House already passed sweeping legislation to protect our freedom to vote and realize the promise of democracy for all. It is time for the Senate to finish the job! Our democracy is at a tipping point and we have no time to waste. We will continue to mobilize our supporters to ensure that the Senate now delivers for the American people so all our voices are heard and that we and generations to come can all have a green planet we can thrive on.”
ENDS
Notes
[1] Dollars vs. Democracy: Companies and the Attack on Voting Rights and Peaceful Protest
Contact:
Valentina Stackl, Greenpeace USA, [email protected], (734) 276-6260
