Congressman Cohen Votes for Presidential Election Reform Act

WASHINGTON - Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), a senior member of the Judiciary Committee who was in the House chamber when insurrectionists attempted to disrupt certification of the Electoral College vote on January 6, 2021, today voted for the Presidential Election Reform Act.

The vote on passage was 229 to 203.

Congressman Cohen made the following statement:

"As Chairman of the Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties, I am determined to see that Presidential elections are conducted and counted accurately. Insurrectionists tried to stop our most recent certification of the Electoral College vote after then-President Trump sought to have Vice President Pence interfere with or postpone it. This bill makes clear the Vice President has no such authority and should ensure the will of the people is carried out."

The Presidential Election Reform Act (PERA) will reform the Electoral Count Act to ensure that Congress counts the votes as required by the Constitution, including by ensuring that Congress receives a single accurate electoral certificate from each state, requiring that States select electors in accordance with state law existing as of the date of the election, providing a federal judicial remedy in the event that a state governor refuses to certify the lawful result of a presidential election, and in other ways. The reforms do not benefit either political party. PERA will help ensure the events like those of January 6, 2021, are not repeated at future counts.

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