Congress has only four weeks left to legislate before the midterm elections in November. Instead of using this valuable time to get the real work of the people done (legislation to lower costs, properly fund the government, or help our families better care for one another) the Republican majority is focused on dishonest messaging bills – empty words designed to distract and divide us. Today, I refused to take the bait.   

 

H.Res.1490, an ostensible resolution to “condemn socialism,” calls out the harm of totalitarian regimes, reaffirms the importance of free and fair elections, and recommits us to protecting our Constitution. All valid concerns – concerns we have already voted on, and that I have already voted for. Then the resolution nonsensically concludes that, because of these concerns, we need the SAVE America Act, an unrelated Act that I have already voted against. Several times.   

 

This bill takes two separate ideas and asks us to vote on them as if they are related. In other words, it’s a desperately laid trap by a flailing Republican majority. I am not here in Washington to play games with the people’s precious time. So, today I voted PRESENT on H.Res.1490. Because I already voted for a resolution condemning authoritarian socialist regimes and because I already voted against the SAVE America Act. 

 

This “resolution” is purely symbolic and does not have the force of law. It is not binding nor is it likely to even get a vote in the Senate. It does nothing substantive to fix our economy or help our families, or to protect our elections from foreign or domestic interference or to prevent oppressive governments of any ideology.  

 

If Speaker Johnson is truly interested in protecting our elections, he should bring real voting rights legislation for a vote instead of meaningless resolutions that may look like we're taking action but in fact, are not. If Congressional Republicans want to protect us from authoritarian rule, they should take real action to reign in President Trump’s lawless administration.   

 

Whatever your agreements or disagreements with H.Res.1490, please know that my focus is delivering actual, tangible policies to make our economy work for all of us, to protect our elections, and to defend our democracy.