Issue: H.R. 1, For the People Act. Question: On Passage.
Result: Passed in House, 220 to 210, 2 not voting. Democrats only scored.
Freedom First Society: H.R. 1, supported by the Democrat majority, would do several things. But its primary focus is on unconstitutionally federalizing the election process, making it easier to “steal” elections. This is just the opposite of what millions of frustrated Americans are demanding following widespread accusations of voter fraud in the November 2020 election.
H.R. 1 passed the House on a party line vote. No Republican voted in favor and only one Democrat voted nay. We do not score the Republicans for their easy “nay” vote.
We have assigned (good vote) to the Nays and (bad vote) to the Yeas. (P = voted present; ? = not voting; blank = not listed on roll call.)
Bill Summary (Congressional Research Service):
Shown Here: Introduced in House (01/04/2021)
For the People Act of 2021
This bill addresses voter access, election integrity and security, campaign finance, and ethics for the three branches of government.
Specifically, the bill expands voter registration (e.g., automatic and same-day registration) and voting access (e.g., vote-by-mail and early voting). It also limits removing voters from voter rolls.
The bill requires states to establish independent redistricting commissions to carry out congressional redistricting.
Additionally, the bill sets forth provisions related to election security, including sharing intelligence information with state election officials, supporting states in securing their election systems, developing a national strategy to protect U.S. democratic institutions, establishing in the legislative branch the National Commission to Protect United States Democratic Institutions, and other provisions to improve the cybersecurity of election systems.
Further, the bill addresses campaign finance, including by expanding the prohibition on campaign spending by foreign nationals, requiring additional disclosure of campaign-related fundraising and spending, requiring additional disclaimers regarding certain political advertising, and establishing an alternative campaign funding system for certain federal offices.
The bill addresses ethics in all three branches of government, including by requiring a code of conduct for Supreme Court Justices, prohibiting Members of the House from serving on the board of a for-profit entity, and establishing additional conflict-of-interest and ethics provisions for federal employees and the White House.
The bill requires the President, the Vice President, and certain candidates for those offices to disclose 10 years of tax returns.
FFS Analysis: The “For the People Act” was originally introduced in the previous Congress and then reintroduced in the new 117th. It is regarded as a signature piece of legislation by the Democrat House majority.
The second paragraph of the above CRS Summary tells us enough to know that this is horrible legislation: “Specifically, the bill expands voter registration (e.g., automatic and same-day registration) and voting access (e.g., vote-by-mail and early voting). It also limits removing voters from voter rolls.”
H.R. 1 is clearly an unconstitutional federal intervention in state matters, imposing new federal mandates on the states and removing the ability of states to determine voter qualifications and the accuracy of voter registration rolls. It would also undermine state procedures to protect election results.
The bottom line is that H.R. 1 is another attack by the socialist Left on the ability of our nation to elect conservatives and constitutionalists.