Val Demings

06/22/2021 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 06/22/2021 17:20

Rep. Demings Comments on Senate Filibuster

Washington, D.C.: Today Rep. Val Demings (FL-10) released the following statement after Republicans in the Senate used the filibuster to block a debate on S.1, the 'For The People Act,' which Rep. Demings cosponsored in the House.

Said Rep. Demings, 'They blocked a debate because they know they're on the wrong side. Outrageous lies are being told about the For The People Act, but the simple truth is that it would protect the right to vote, get big money out of politics, strengthen ethics laws, and protect our elections from foreign interference. The American people support these measures with massive bipartisan majorities.

'John Lewis called the right to vote 'precious, almost sacred.' It is the foundation of all our rights and freedoms. Experts on international history and politics have warned that 'our entire democracy is now at risk,' and 'history will judge what we do at this moment.'

'Republicans in the Senate are scared senseless that more democracy is bad for their political futures. They're too afraid to even allow a debate. We don't need to agree on everything, but let's have the conversation, work together where we can, and pass legislation that strengthens our democracy. We cannot allow procedural games to block efforts to protect the rights and freedoms for which generations of Americans struggled and died.'

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