Pelosi Remarks at Press Event Ahead of Passage of H.R. 1, The For The People Act
Contact: Speaker's Press Office, 202-226-7616
Washington, D.C. – Speaker Nancy Pelosi joined House Democrats for a press event on the steps of the Capitol ahead of the passage of H.R. 1, the For The People Act, an historic reform package to restore the promise of our nation's democracy, end the culture of corruption in Washington and reduce the role of money in politics to return the power back to the American people. Below are the Speaker's remarks:
Speaker Pelosi. It is my honor to stand in for Joe Neguse.
[Laughter]
I thank all of our freshmen, every single one of them, for the message they delivered on the campaign trail, for the determination they have brought to the Congress of the United States. We are so excited today, as I think you can detect, on this cold day on the outside, we will go to the inside where the political climate will be much warmer for the American people because of the action we will take today.
We are thrilled to be here again on the steps of the Capitol, waving our flags, with this outstanding freshman class in a show of great unity. When our freshman took their oath, they made a difference, ensuring the priorities of their communities would be the priorities of the Congress.
Now, today, we are honoring the people's trust as we pass our transformative H.R. 1, the For The People [Act]. Excuse me. H.R. 1 restores the people's faith that government works in the public's interest, the people's interest, not the special interests. That faith, that confidence is a treasure that is fundamental to a democracy – that people believe – they believe that the actions taken here will be in their interest.
That is what this legislation will help to restore. It ends the dominance of big, dark, special interest money in politics and it empowers small donors and the grassroots. It ensures clean, fair elections and fights voter suppression. It cleans up corruption, returning integrity to Washington, DC.
Let us be very clear: this is a fight that we are taking a vote on today, but it is a fight that we will not end until we win it because it is a very fight for the Constitution. It honors the vision of our Founders, gives hope to the American people that their interests are served – and so – when we break the grip of special interests and put the power back in the hands of the people.
Let me salute our colleague John Lewis who we will hear from on the Floor shortly for the fight that he made for expanding the opportunities for voting in our country. We are all in his debt. But not only the fight he made then, sacrifices he and so many others made, but also the brilliance that he has brought to this legislation in the form of provisions that would end voter suppression which exists in our country so sadly.
And let us thank John Sarbanes. He had a vision. He had a vision.
[Applause]
He has a vision that honors, again, the vision of our Founders about a democracy. He knows his subject very well and therefore had a plan. A strategic plan to take us to today and here. In the course of the campaigns, the freshmen connected with the American people who told them that they wanted their voices to be heard. What great messengers, our freshman class, great messengers they are!
To the Congress, For The People! So this is, in our view, a historic day, a pivotal day, a day that will make a difference as we go forward. And to those, as Congressman Phillips said, ‘Yes, it is a power grab: a power grab on behalf of the people!' But let us look to the Senate, and say, ‘When we pass this bill, it's not just what happens on this Floor, it's the message it sends to the American people.'
Our inside maneuvering will have succeeded today because of the outside mobilization of the American people, For The People. So the Senate, as you receive this bill, you will also be receiving the aspirations, the mobilizations, the persistence, the relentlessness of the American people to have government work for them, For The People.
This is a fight we're engaged in, we're not going to end until we win, and we can save a lot of time by the Senate just agreeing to the For The People agenda.
Let's hear it for the freshman class and all of the difference they are making For The People.
Has our friend Joe Neguse gotten here? Well, Joe Neguse – we'll hear from him on the Floor of the House.
So many voices from the freshman class, it's pretty exciting. Let's go down to the Floor, take the vote, send it to the Senate, hopefully to have a path to the President's desk.
Again, For The People. Let us waive our flags.
Thank you all very much.
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