November, 03 2021, 03:58pm EDT
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Valentina Stackl, Senior Communications Specialist, Greenpeace USA, vstackl@greenpeace.org
Greenpeace Response to John Lewis Act Cloture Vote
In response to Senate Republicans trying to use a loophole to delay the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, Greenpeace USA Democracy Campaign Director Folabi Olagbaju said:
"The John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act would restore and strengthen our freedom to vote by blocking discriminatory voting policies before they go into effect, so we all have an equal say in our future.
WASHINGTON
In response to Senate Republicans trying to use a loophole to delay the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, Greenpeace USA Democracy Campaign Director Folabi Olagbaju said:
"The John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act would restore and strengthen our freedom to vote by blocking discriminatory voting policies before they go into effect, so we all have an equal say in our future.
"By blocking debate on the two most important voting rights bills in a generation, the John Lewis Voting Rights Act and Freedom to Vote Act, Republican lawmakers have once again made clear that they support racist anti-voter bills and partisan gerrymandering instead of the people. It's incredible to see these supposed 'leaders' of our democracy so actively working to undermine the power of our vote.
"Republican Senators are not acting in good faith by using a loophole to delay one of the most important bills of a generation during today's Senate procedural vote. But as 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.
"19 states have already enacted 33 laws that erect barriers to the ballot box for millions of Americans. Together, the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the Freedom to Vote Act protect the most frequently disenfranchised voters and create the most effective shield against future attacks on our sacred right to vote. Together, this widely popular, common-sense legislation would stop 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. But we have to fix our broken democracy first.
"This is not the end for the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act or Freedom to Vote Act. Now, the Senate must do whatever it takes to pass these bills. The late Rep. John Lewis fought his entire life for the protection of fair, democratic principles, and the House and Senate must act now to honor his legacy by passing the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act alongside the Freedom to Vote Act. Failure is not an option."
Greenpeace is a global, independent campaigning organization that uses peaceful protest and creative communication to expose global environmental problems and promote solutions that are essential to a green and peaceful future.
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The Massachusetts Democrat introduced the Accountable Capitalism Act, explaining that for much of U.S. history, corporations reinvested more than half of their profits back into their companies, working in the interest of employees, customers, business partners, and shareholders.
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