Underwood-Backed Legislation to Restore Democracy and Fight Corruption Passes the House

WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (IL-14) today announced the For the People Act (H.R. 1), legislation she co-sponsored in the House of Representatives, has passed. The historic legislation will end the culture of corruption in Washington, reduce the role of money in politics, and ensure voting is free, fair, and easy.

"Our political system has become increasingly focused on the powerful, drowning out the voices, experiences, and needs of families like the ones in the 14^th District. Today the new majority said loud and clear: not anymore. The American people deserve more from Congress, and should be able to have faith that the government works for them, not special interests."

The For The People Act is a three-pronged, historic package of legislation that will:

• Hold public officials accountable to serving the public interest – breaking the influence economy in Washington and increasing accountability by expanding conflict of interest law and divestment requirements, slowing the revolving door, preventing Members of Congress from serving on corporate boards and requiring presidents to disclose their tax returns. H.R. 1 also strengthens ethics enforcement by closing loopholes for lobbyists and foreign agents, empowering watchdogs, overhauling the Office of Government Ethics and creating a code of ethics for the Supreme Court.
• End the dominance of big money in politics – ending the dominance of big money in our political system by requiring transparent disclosure of big-money contributors and special interests; creating a powerful matching system for small donations that amplifies citizens' voices in politics and breaks the special interest stranglehold on Congress; pushing back on Citizens United; and strengthening oversight of campaign finance by tightening rules on super PACs, empowering the Federal Election Commission's enforcement abilities, and repealing GOP rules that prevent government agencies from requiring commonsense disclosure of political spending.

• Restore our democracy and ensure clean and fair elections – improving access to the ballot box by combatting institutional barriers to voting, creating nationwide automatic voter registration, ensuring that individuals who have completed felony sentences have their full rights restored, expanding early voting and absentee voting, and modernizing the U.S. voting system; by building the constitutional record necessary to restore the Voting Rights Act; and by prohibiting voter roll purges and ending partisan gerrymandering. H.R. 1 also protects our election systems from attack by enhancing federal support for voting system security, increasing oversight over vendors and developing a national strategy to protect our democratic institutions.

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