WASHINGTON D.C. —Today, Congressman French Hill (AR-02), released the following statement after voting against H.R. 1, the For the People Act, unconstitutional legislation that attempts to federalize national elections and undermines the integrity of America’s election process:
“The power of the vote is the cornerstone of our Republic. Enshrined in our Constitution, individual states have the primary responsibility to set the ‘times, places, and manner’ of Congressional elections. However, the federal takeover of elections passed by the Democratic majority today was not designed to protect voting rights; it was designed to protect their own political careers.
“The bill passed today would send taxpayer dollars to candidates' coffers and consultants' pockets, would politicize the historically bipartisan Federal Elections Commission, and would suppress the political speech of Americans. Surrendering state control of our elections will lead to a bigger, more overreaching federal government that our founding fathers never intended.”
Arkansas Secretary of State John Thurston said, “H.R. 1 is a very political and deeply flawed piece of legislation and represents a gross overreach of federal power that encroaches on the rights of the states. Voting rights and election security are serious issues. This legislation goes too far and would not improve the security of our elections in any way.”
Summary of H.R. 1:
(Courtesy of the House Republican Conference)
- Violates constitutional rights under the First Amendment by expanding the definition of political speech and increasing the power of the federal government to control it. Changes the makeup of the FEC from a balanced 3-3 ration to a partisan 3-2 ratio, giving democrats the ability to silence speech with which they disagree.
- Creates a 6:1 government match to any small donor contributions of $200 or less in a congressional or presidential campaign.
- Creates a new voucher pilot program that grants eligible voters a $25 in taxpayer money to donate to any campaign of their choosing.
- H.R. 1 will mandate our states to allow online voter registration, automatic voter registration, and same day voter registration.
- Diminishes the process of Election Day voting by expanding “no excuse” absentee voting and allowing for any eligible voter to be able to cast their ballot by mail with no additional safeguards to this process.
- Disregards state voter identification laws by allowing sworn statements to be used in place of identification and allowing for signature verification, which can be submitted through a photo if the voter registers online.
- Weakens the voting system of the American people by increasing the election system’s vulnerability and failing to implement the necessary checks and balances regarding who is registering to vote. H.R. 1 will force states to allow online voter registration, automatic voter registration, and same day voter registration with no penalties to any ineligible individual registered in error.
Groups opposed to H.R. 1: U.S. Chamber of Commerce, National Taxpayers Union, Associated Builders and Contractors, Americans for Prosperity, National Association of Manufacturers, Americans for Tax Reform, National Right to Life, Club for Growth, Heritage Action for America, International Franchise Association, Numbers USA, Family Research Council, Faith and Freedom Coalition, March for Life Action, Freedom Works.
