Friend,

Our democracy is stronger when everyone can make their voices heard. That's what I believe – and ever since this team sent me to the Senate, that's what I've been fighting for. Now I'm coming up on my 100th day in office (can you believe it?), and I wanted to personally share all of the progress we've been making – and all that's on the horizon for the next 100 days.

I know it's been a challenging year, but I hope this newsletter gives you hope that the work we've put in for a brighter future is beginning to show results. Thanks for your continued support. 

This year alone, GOP lawmakers have introduced more than 360 new voter suppression bills in 47 states – including the shameful law in Georgia, which imposes harsh voter ID requirements on absentee voting and makes it illegal to provide food or water to voters in long poll lines. This is not what democracy looks like – this is Jim Crow 2.0, and I'm fighting back with all my might.

Just this week, I testified in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee to speak out against this all-out assault on our democracy – and to press the urgent need to defend voting rights across the country. I've also co-sponsored the For the People Act, which would expand voting rights, get dark money out of politics and so much more.

With our very democracy at stake, the Senate must act now. And I won't rest until every eligible American can be heard at the ballot box. 

Everyone in this country deserves equal representation in Congress. That's why I'm all in to make Washington, D.C., a state. 

The historical refusal to grant D.C. statehood is a part of the larger effort to disenfranchise Black and brown communities. Nearly 700,000 people – the majority of whom are people of color – call Washington, D.C., home, but they have no representation in Congress. It's an injustice that must be ended.

I'm working to make that happen by co-sponsoring SB 51, the Washington, D.C. Admission Act, which would make D.C. our 51st state. The fight for our democracy is taking place on many fronts, and this one is crucial. I'll keep you in the loop as I push to make this happen. 

Great news for Georgia, friend: After resolving a contentious trade dispute, SK Innovation will complete construction of its $2.6 billion factory in Jackson County – which will employ 1,000 Georgians by the end of this year, producing batteries for electric vehicles and bringing us closer to a clean-energy future.

I'm proud that I was able to work with SK Innovation, the Biden administration and local stakeholders to pave the way for a deal – which is paying off in a big way for the people of our state.

False narratives and hateful rhetoric have consequences. This past year has brought a disturbing wave of attacks against the AAPI community – not the least of which was last month's shooting in Atlanta, in which eight people, including six women of Asian descent, were tragically murdered.

We all know hate when we see it. Our country needs a coordinated federal response to address this crisis – so I'm proud that the Senate just voted overwhelmingly to pass the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act I co-sponsored.

This bill will help make it easier to report hate crimes and make it quicker for victims to find justice, among other things. And I authored a special provision in the legislation to include the names of the Atlanta shooting victims, to make sure their lives aren't forgotten. 

Friend, that's my wrap-up for the month. Rest assured that, with your support and your best interests in mind, I will continue fighting every day in the Senate to build a brighter future for Georgians and for our nation.

All my best,

Sen. Rev. Raphael Warnock