Do Not Let The Filibuster Kill S.1

Tell Your Senators to Pass S.1 - For the People Act

Please join with Unitarian Universalists for Social Justice and our allies in the Faithful Democracy community of organizations in calling for support of S.1 - For the People Act of 2021, and insist the Senate filibuster rules can not be permitted to stop this bill from passing.

While we would like to see this bill pass with bi-partisan support, that appears to be very unlikely based on the nine to nine vote on the bill in the Senate Rules Committee, during mark-up on May 11th, and results of the cloture vote on June 22nd. These confirm the statements we have heard and read from many senators. Our updated position is that the current filibuster rules must not be allowed to prevent S.1 from passing.

If passed S.1 will:

• Make it easier for all citizens to vote;
• End gerrymandering so that electoral districts are fairly drawn;
• Reduce the impact of big money in politics; and
• Hold government officials accountable with new ethics standards. 

Over the past many years, we've watched as faith in our democracy and the power of the American people have been abused and diminished. On January 6th, 2021, we witnessed the shameful culmination of this with a siege on the very halls of our democracy. If that wasn’t enough, as of May 14, 14 states have enacted 22 new laws with provisions that make it harder for Americans to vote and 61 additional bills to restrict the vote are moving through 18 state legislatures.

Our 5th UU Principle, “The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large” compels us to advocate for a healthy inclusive democratic process. 

As during the early period of advocacy, we ask you to:

• Call and leave your senators a message of support for S.1, AND
• Send an email message to your senators using our Action Alert form
• But now we must state clearly -- the filibuster rules must not prevent this bill from passing

Let them feel the public pressure of our principled concern in support of S.1!