The House passed the For the People Act, or H.R. 1, on Friday with a party-line vote of 234-193. The measure would give $1.5 billion in new voting technology funding. Led by Rep. John Sarbanes, D-Md., the bill includes provisions to enable automatic voter registration, strengthen resources to combat cybersecurity threats on elections, and make Election Day a national holiday for Federal workers.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., noted that the measure was essential in restoring the voters’ trust in Congress.
“It is fundamental to our democracy that people believe–they believe–that actions taken here will be in their interest. That is what this legislation will help to restore,” Speaker Pelosi said.
Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Va., wrote on Twitter that the legislation was “an important step in protecting our democracy, cleaning up corruption, bringing transparency to campaign contributions, and draining the swamp.”
The bill will move to the Senate chamber where it is expected to stall out. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., has opposed the bill and made it clear that the measure will not get a vote in the Republican-led Senate. Earlier this week, the White House released a statement saying President Trump would veto H.R. 1 if it were to pass in the Senate.
