While you were sleeping last night, the Senate was a flurry of activity. 

First, with a party line vote of 50-49, the Senate agreed to pass a $3.5 trillion budget resolution through an exception to the filibuster.

Then at 4 a.m., Senator Schumer asked to discharge the For The People Act from the Rules committee and have it brought to the floor for debate. Every Senate Democrat voted in favor but at 4:24 a.m., Ted Cruz managed to single-handedly block debate of the For the People Act until the Senate reconvenes in September.

A majority vote is enough to approve trillions of dollars in spending, but, somehow, it’s not enough to protect our democracy? It’s ridiculous. If the Senate can pass a $3.5 trillion budget with a majority vote, it should be enough to secure our voting rights.

Instead, Senate Republicans stopped even a conversation on the For the People Act before the entire Senate packed up for the summer.

Summer vacation doesn’t change the fact that our democracy is in crisis. This year, 18 states have passed 30 new restrictive voting bills. 

Majority Leader Schumer said this morning that “voting rights will be the first matter of legislative business when the Senate returns to session in September. Our democracy demands no less.”

But we’re not waiting until September to take action. From now until then, we’re building pressure to force Senate Democrats and President Biden to support getting rid of the filibuster to protect our voting rights. 

Here’s what’s ahead this month:  

• Tomorrow, we’re hand delivering nearly 400,000 signatures to demand President Biden speak out against the filibuster. There’s still time for you to add your name if you haven’t already!
• The week of August 23rd, the House comes back in session to (hopefully) pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act. You can read up more here on how the John Lewis Voting Rights Act would help stop future voter suppression.
• On August 28, we’re going to March On for Voting Rights. You can find an event near you here.
• All month: We’re going to continue phone banking voters to drive calls to key senators like Kyrsten Sinema and demand they take a stand against the filibuster. We’ll also be giving you ways to contact your local media to place letters to the editor.

I know that when we come together, we can win. The For the People Act—the most expansive voting rights bill since the Civil Rights Movement—has already made it further than it’s ever gone before. Every Senate Democrat voted in favor of moving the bill forward this morning. The only thing standing in our way is the filibuster.

Grateful to be in this fight with you.

Brett Edkins
Political Director, Stand Up America