The AGF Applauds the Passage of HR1 by U.S. House of Representatives
Today, just one day after the 54thanniversary of Bloody Sunday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed HR1 by a vote of 234-193. Also known as the For the People Act, HR1 is dubbed the most comprehensive democracy reform package in a generation.
The bill proposes sweeping changes to our electoral and campaign finance systems and prioritizes good governance. The legislation would bolster voting rights by calling for the national expansion of early voting, redistricting reform, Election Day to be a federal holiday, and automatic voter registration.
While the 2018 Midterm Election saw a spike in youth voter turnout, students continue to face unique challenges to participating in our democracy and are one of the most disenfranchised populations. Thanks to advocacy by Vote Everywhere Campus Teams at Spelman College and Georgia State University, the Students Learn Students Vote Coalition Members, including The Andrew Goodman Foundation, and leadership by U.S. House Representatives Raja Krishnamoorthi, John Lewis, Zoe Lofgren, and John Sarbanes, HR1 also includes provisions from the Help Students Vote Act to expand youth voting. If HR1 is enacted into law, colleges and universities will be more empowered to educate their students about voting and provide greater access to the ballot box.
Legislation like HR1 brings us a step closer to delivering on a promise of an inclusive and equitable democracy. Only by prioritizing every citizen’s right to vote—regardless of age, race, or income—and a government that is for the people, not for special interest, will we ever realize America’s true potential. That’s why The Andrew Goodman Foundation is committed to living the legacy of Andrew Goodman, James Chaney, and Michael Schwerner by fighting for every vote to be counted. We applaud the U.S. House of Representatives for passing HR1 and showing all Americans that their voices matter.
