Today, the Declaration for American Democracy coalition and 22 member organizations issued statements calling for August recess to be delayed until the For the People Act is passed.

Statements from members of the Declaration for American Democracy coalition are below. Member organizations include Campaign Legal Center, Citizen Action of New York, Clean Elections Texas, Common Cause, DemCast USA, Democracy 21, End Citizens United / Let America Vote Action Fund, Faithful Democracy Coalition, Face the Music Collective, Franciscan Action Network, Free Speech For People, Greenpeace USA, League of Women Voters of the US, Missouri Voter Protection Coalition, NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice, Network for Responsible Public Policy, People for the American Way, Stand Up America, SiX Action, The Workers Circle, Un-PAC, and Wisconsin Faith Voices for Justice.

“President Biden and Majority Leader Schumer know that time to pass the For the People Act (S1) is quickly diminishing. It is critical that this legislation is enacted before the 2022 midterm elections and before partisan maps that would disenfranchise voters for the next decade, especially voters of color, are drawn.

“We call on Sen. Schumer to delay Senate recess until the bill is sent to the president’s desk. We also call on President Biden to use the full power of the Oval Office to ensure that the For the People Act is signed into law before the end of summer and to not let the Jim Crow filibuster stand in the way.

“One of the major tenets of a fully functioning democracy is that the public interest, not special interests, guide decision-making. More than 80% of Americans across party lines support the For the People Act, and it is time for the Senate and the Biden Administration to rise to the occasion and respond to the will of the people: Recess can wait; our democracy can’t.”

“Passing the For The People Act should be an immediate top priority of Congress. As the Federal Election Commission continues to fail to enforce campaign finance laws, as states pass new laws that restrict voting access, and as corruption issues (highlighted by the recent arrest of Trump donor Tom Barrack) remain unaddressed, passing the For the People Act should be a top priority. Congress ought to act to create the conditions for more accountability and less corruption in our political system—so Americans can have our voices heard. They should not kick the can down the road while our rights and our democracy is endangered. The August recess can wait. The For the People Act should not and cannot wait.”

“Failure is not an option when it comes to creating a democracy that works for all of us. We look forward to thanking Majority Leader Schumer back home in New York after he gets the For the People Act passed.” 

“On July 12, 2021, Texas Democrats walked out of the State Capitol and flew directly to Washington, D.C. to highlight the fact that only passage of the federal bill, S.1, the “For The People Act,” stands between Texans and some of the most extreme, far-right policies in the country.

But time has almost run out – particularly because of the upcoming mid- August date of the release of the Census data for redistricting and the need for elections departments to get prepared for the primaries. It is critical to delay the August 6 Congressional recess until the legislation is passed that will ensure every American’s voice is heard and every vote is counted. The Texas legislators are fighting not only for ALL Americans but for our democratic form of government.

“Our freedom to vote continues to be under attack as partisan state legislators and dark money groups keep rigging the system to prevent Americans—mostly Black and Brown voters—from having their voices heard. The Senate must do its job and stay in Washington, DC, until it passes a comprehensive voting rights and anti-corruption bill—the For the People Act. We appreciate Leader Schumer’s commitment to keep the Senate in session when he said last week: ‘I’m going to bring up voting rights…for future votes on the floor and we’re going to keep at it until we get it done.’”

“In the last year, we’ve seen a full-scale assault on the democratic process – from propagation of the Big Lie, to the physical siege of the US Capitol, to an unrelenting barrage of state-level legislation intended to strip Americans of the freedom to vote and – in some cases – even hand politicians the power to overturn the will of the people if the vote doesn’t go their way. Activists across the country are working around the clock to ensure that these incursions on our freedom to vote are stopped. But the clock is ticking, and time is running out. The US Senate is in a uniquely powerful position to protect the American people by passing the For the People Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, which would go a long way to restoring our freedoms. We ask that Leader Schumer hear our call and lead. Do whatever is necessary to get voting rights legislation passed. Recess can wait. Democracy cannot.”

“Congress must cancel its August recess if legislation to protect the right to vote has not yet been enacted. The voter suppression and discrimination laws enacted in states all over the country will potentially result in millions of Americans losing their ability to vote in federal elections. These state suppression and discriminations laws are aimed at Black, brown, other minorities, disabled, elderly and young voters. The sacred right to vote is the essence of our democracy. It is a moral right to which every eligible citizen is entitled. It would be irresponsible for Congress to go on vacation without acting to protect the right of every eligible voter to vote in future federal elections.”

“This year alone, 18 states have already passed 30 new laws to restrict access to the ballot and the only way to protect the freedom to vote is for Congress to respond by passing the For the People Act. Recess can wait–but our democracy can’t. Senate Democrats must not go home until they pass federal voting rights and anti-corruption legislation and send it to President Biden’s desk.”

“It would be unconscionable for the Senate to break for recess without addressing the ongoing assaults on our democratic systems happening across the nation. S.1 would protect voting rights, prevent 10 more years of extreme partisan gerrymandering, shed light on dark money and strengthen ethics rules for elected leaders. The wellbeing of our democracy is a moral issue of the utmost importance: it’s about the dignity of voters and about the ability of the people to choose their leaders and the future for next generations. There is a path to passage and the power to make it happen–what we need is the political will and the courage.”

“When we suppress the right to vote for some, we deny the freedom to vote for all. When politicians attack our most sacred Constitutional right, they’re silencing our voices (the majority’s voice) and substituting minority rule by a wealthy few, because all rights *depend* on voting rights. Tell your Senators to pass the For the People Act now—no matter what it takes: including not taking an August recess and not letting the filibuster take away your freedom to vote. Senators can catch up on summer reading after our voting rights are protected.”

“As Franciscans and Franciscan-hearted individuals, we believe that we can’t just wait for heaven, we must actively build the Kingdom of God here on earth. At the Franciscan Action Network, one way we build the Kingdom is to advocate with those on the margins. The Senate must also not merely “wait for heaven” they must pass critical legislation immediately, especially the For the People Act. Our democracy is at stake, and every American must have an equal say at the ballot box and not be drowned out by big money. There is no time to waste. Recess can wait: the Senate needs to do its job.”

“Our democracy is on the line. The Senate must not go on recess in the midst of this voting rights crisis. Senators have a duty to protect and defend the constitutional right to vote, the bedrock of our democracy, and they must cancel their recess to ensure that they end the filibuster and pass now the For the People Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. Too many people in our nation have fought and died for the right to vote. Senators must honor their memory and carry out their responsibility to protect our democracy at this critical moment in our history.  There can be no recess until the Senate has done its job to address this crisis.”

“We only have a handful of years left to reduce the power of fossil fuel companies polluting our communities and democratic systems before finding ourselves at a catastrophic point of no return — unless we take immediate steps to fix our broken democracy. But a handful of extremist politicians are busy putting up barriers to silence our voices and block progress based on what we look like or where we live. There is no question that our democracy is at a tipping point and the For the People Act (S.1) is our best chance to safeguard our future. Our Senators must do whatever is necessary to get the For the People Act passed. Recess can wait. Our planet cannot.”

“Our democracy is in crisis. Congress cannot afford to take a recess from their most important work: defending the voting rights of the American people. We the people — particularly those of us who, because we are Black, brown, female, or disabled, are being targeted by anti-voter bills — are counting on Congress to stand up for our rights and do their job. Democracy isn’t something you wait for; it’s something you fight for. Now.”

“With states around the country – including Missouri – attempting to make voting harder, particularly for voters of color, low-wage workers, seniors, young voters and voters with disabilities, the For the People Act will provide critically needed democracy safeguards. The provisions are particularly needed in states like Missouri where voters already face many barriers to the ballot. The time to act is now. Missouri voters cannot wait any longer for their access to democracy.”

“As a person of faith who sees and celebrates the human dignity in every person, I am called to oppose policies and practices that suppress peoples’ voices or votes in our democracy. In less than a month, the Census Bureau will release data for states to begin the redistricting process — for the first time without the racial gerrymandering protections of the 1965 Voting Rights Act in place. Between now and then, the future of our democracy hangs in the balance.

“To avoid harmful, extreme gerrymandering in redistricting across the country, the Senate must join the House in passing S.1, the For the People Act before they leave for recess. If they fail to do this, then they are failing to attend to their most basic moral obligation: protecting our foundational democratic institutions. We the People will keep striving to create the multi-racial, representative democracy we envision. Recess can wait, our democracy cannot.“

“Please no recess. You have work to do in making sure all eligible voters get to vote without tough hurdles. You have the opportunity to make voting positive and even joyful by providing peace of mind to voters in states now being subjected to constraints. And let’s end gerrymandering, one of the more reprehensible tactics to silence voices. The For the People Act is a big Act and covers many important voter related issues. It is time to do the right thing.”

“More than 50 years ago, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. wrote poignantly about how it feels to be told to ‘wait’ for justice and equal rights, in his letter from a Birmingham jail.  For the Senate to go on August recess without addressing the voting rights emergency in this country would be to tell us to ‘wait’ once again.  There is no more time to wait.  Every day that passes brings more efforts by Republican-controlled states to suppress the votes of Black and brown Americans.  So we are saying to senators, your recess can ‘wait’; voting rights for all Americans can’t.  Do not leave Washington without passing the For the People Act. This is a moment in history when all Americans will be watching what you do, and we’ll remember.”

 “State legislators in Texas have literally fled the state in a last-ditch effort to protect Texans’ freedom to vote—with the hope that the Senate will act now to pass legislation that will stop the rampant voter suppression efforts in Texas and elsewhere. They, and we, are running out of time to protect our freedom to vote, our elections, and the sanctity of our democratic process. The American people, especially those long left out of equal participation in our democracy, cannot wait for the Senate to return from a month long break before they pass urgently needed legislation like the For The People Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act.”

“Across the country, state legislators have gone above and beyond to protect our freedom to vote – from traveling to DC to deploying every tactic in their arsenal to stop, slow down, or amend bills that would hurt voters. Legislators are running out of options and are imploring Congress to step up and enact national standards to ensure that we can safely and freely cast our ballots, have our voices heard, and elect leaders who deliver on our priorities.”

“The work of protecting our democracy can’t afford to take a vacation right now, and neither can the Senate! State legislative attacks on voting rights—on free and fair elections—are escalating nationwide, threatening the very foundation of our democracy. Hundreds of bills have been specifically crafted to suppress the votes of people of color. Congress has a duty to protect every single American’s right to vote no matter our race, our language, our physical ability, our income, or our zip code.

“As a Jewish social justice organization whose founders came to the United States fleeing persecution and violence, our tradition carries within it the history of people who risked everything to escape from repressive governments.  We know the terrible price that is paid when people are not afforded the rights and protections of a strong democracy.

“Congress must not stand idly by as these attacks upon our fundamental right to vote accelerate. Our Democracy can’t wait; recess can! We call upon Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to keep the Senate in session and not let the filibuster stand in the way of passing the For the People Act.”

“Passing the For The People Act is existential for young people. Solutions to all of the issues that our generation cares about – including climate change, crippling student debt, and ever-widening income inequality – will be blocked until we get big money out of politics and make it easier for young people to vote. Our democracy is crumbling, and if we don’t rise to this once in a lifetime opportunity to fix it by passing long overdue structural reform, it will collapse. We call on our Senators – in fact, we beg them – to delay recess, and do whatever it takes now to pass the For The People Act into law.”

As people of faith, we believe the right to vote is sacred.  It is a moral imperative that every eligible vote gets cast and every voice is heard! Democracy is under assault across the country, and Congress must act before we lose it entirely.  Here in Wisconsin, over 20 egregiously anti-democratic bills have been proposed, and several have already passed, in our legislature.  Only the veto power of our Governor stands between us and extreme voter suppression that will affect the elderly, disabled, indefinitely confined, and communities of color.  Wisconsin is one of the most gerrymandered states in the union and there is little hope of any meaningful change on the state level.  We must have federal law that will undo the tremendous damage being done to voting rights across the country.  This is no time to take a break.  We call upon Senator Schumer and the Senate to pass the For the People Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, no matter what it takes.  Just get it done!

America is at a crossroads. For the past decade, we’ve seen a shift away from government representation for the people to representation for the billionaires and corporate interests.

Voter suppression laws have silenced the voices of voters and entire communities, while billionaires and corporate interests continue to spend big to influence our elections and advance their agenda. This administration is pushing the limits of executive power to the brink, normalizing rampant corruption, disregarding the rule of law, while attacking the pillars of civil society itself.

From this broken political system, we have the opportunity to build something new, where everyone has a meaningful say in decisions that impact their jobs, housing, health, and safety.

This is our Declaration for American Democracy: