“By blocking debate on the Freedom to Vote Act, the most important voting rights bill in a generation, conservatives have once again made clear that they support the racist anti-voter bills and partisan gerrymandering that’s happening across the country. It’s incredible to see these supposed ‘leaders’ of our democracy so actively working to undermine it.
“Republican Senators are not acting in good faith by using a loophole to delay one of the most popular and important bills of a generation during today’s Senate procedural vote. But we know, every single moment of progress in our country’s history has been met with resistance and required Americans to rise up to demand change. This moment is no different.
“The Freedom to Vote Act is a widely popular bill that protects our freedom to vote, prevents billionaires from buying our elections, and ensures that people, not polluters, can elect leaders who govern in our interests. A majority of Americans across the political spectrum overwhelmingly support this bill, and it must continue to move forward quickly. This bill cannot come a moment too soon, since 19 states have already enacted 33 laws that make it harder for Americans to vote. The Freedom to Vote Act will stop these kinds of racist anti-voter bills dead in their tracks.
“A healthy democracy is a precondition for a healthy environment. When everyone’s vote counts, our government becomes more accountable and capable of meeting the urgent demand for racial justice and enacting solutions to the rapidly accelerating climate crisis. We only have a handful of years left to reduce the power of fossil fuel companies polluting our communities, our climate, and our democratic systems before we will rocket past climate thresholds and find ourselves at a catastrophic point of no return — unless we first fix our broken democracy.
“This is not the end for the Freedom to Vote Act. Now, the Senate must do whatever it takes to pass this bill. The freedom to vote is too important for outdated procedures or loopholes, like the filibuster, to stand in the way. Momentum is on our side. We are closer than ever to passing the Freedom to Vote Act in the Senate and putting it on President Biden’s desk. We have no time to waste. Now is the time for the Senate to do its job.”
###
ENDS
Contact: Valentina Stackl, Senior Communications Specialist, Greenpeace USA, [email protected], (734) 276-6260
