WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Representative Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA) issued the following statement upon House passage of the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act:

“My reverence for a ‘government of the people, by the people, for the people’ is rooted in the same love of country that inspired me to raise my right hand in uniform,” said Houlahan. “Coined in the Gettysburg Address, this phrase carries the weight of generations of Americans who have fought for the right to vote, including those who were born long after Lincoln’s infamous speech. Now, as a representative of this beloved Commonwealth, my vote today was the next step towards a government that is truly of, by, and for the people. Because when we put our faith in the American people, we cannot fail.”

“The Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act includes provisions that Americans agree on bipartisanly. Making Election Day a national holiday, providing voter ID standards, expanding automatic voter registration – these are all things that will improve our elections for future generations. At a time when too many elected officials are sowing doubt in our democratic institutions, I’m proud to work towards a voting legacy we can all be proud of.”

“I urge my colleagues in the Senate to pass this quickly so we can return our focus to some of those issues critical to my community - keeping our schools open, helping restaurants and other small businesses most impacted by the pandemic, shoring up our supply chains, and improving the resiliency of our health care system.”

Houlahan’s effort to provide for expanded early voting hours - her first amendment offered as a Member of Congress - was preserved in the final bill text of the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act.

“After hearing from Pennsylvania families juggling unpredictable work hours, babysitters, and all of life’s daily obstacles, I was proud to work to increase early, in-person voting hours from 4 to 10 hours per day,” said Houlahan. “Combined with the 15 days of early voting the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act secures, my effort means an additional 90 hours for eligible voters to make their voices heard in their community. As we work to make our democracy more accessible to all, this is a huge win for every American.”

The Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act also establishes a duty to report foreign election interference by creating a reporting requirement for federal campaigns to disclose certain foreign contacts. Rep. Houlahan has championed similar efforts, including introducing the Stop Supporting Foreign Interference in Our Democracy Act, to explicitly prohibit a U.S. citizen from knowingly providing a foreign person or organization substantial assistance to make an illegal contribution to an American campaign.

Read the full text of the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act here and a summary here.