Campaign, Election, & Government Reform
The Supreme Court's 2010 Citizens United decision put in place unrestricted corporate spending creep into our electoral system. This ruling also provides an unfair financial advantage to large corporations during our elections. Additionally, in Shelby County v. Holder, the Supreme Court struck down a key provision of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 that required some jurisdictions to receive federal preclearance before enacting changes to voting laws.
Since these rulings, dirty maps, dirty money, and voter suppression floods our electoral system. I am devoted to working toward an election system that is open and fair for all Americans. This system must be wholly American, free of interference from foreign adversaries who would seek to influence our elections for their own gain.
What I am Doing for You
I am an original cosponsor, voted for, and the House passed, the Protecting Our Democracy Act (117th). This comprehensive legislation includes a sweeping package of reforms that would strengthen America's democratic institutions against future presidents, regardless of political party, who seek to abuse the power of their office for corrupt purposes.
I introduced H.R. 1266, the Duty to Report Act (117th), which would require federal candidates, their families, and their campaigns to inform the FBI of any efforts by a foreign power to provide dirt on a candidate's opponent. For years, America has helped protect against terrorist attacks by telling Americans, "If you see something, say something." The same should go for protecting our elections against foreign interference. Provisions of my bill were included in the House-passed Protecting our Democracy Act.
I introduced H.R. 1264, the Corporate Duty to Report Act (117th), which would make it a crime for a corporation to knowingly receive funds for an independent expenditure or a foreign national without reporting it to the FBI. It also would be a civil violation for a corporation to knowingly receive money to run a political communication without reporting that outside communications are independent expenditures or made by a foreign national. Provisions of my bill were included in the House-passed Protecting our Democracy Act.
I introduced H.R. 1265, the Enhancing Protections for Whistleblower Anonymity Act, to impose criminal penalties on any federal official who knowingly communicates the identity of a whistleblower, or information which would reveal such a person's identity, to the general public. Whistleblower safety must be paramount. In fact, for decades Republicans and Democrats have universally agreed that exposing whistleblowers to harm undermines policies that encourage those to come forward with allegations of serious wrongdoing. Provisions of my bill were included in the House-passed Protecting our Democracy Act.
I cosponsored and voted for H.R. 1, the For the People Act (117th), which passed in the House. This bill makes it easier, not harder, to vote by implementing automatic voter registration, requiring early voting, vote by mail, reauthorizing the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and ensuring the integrity of our elections. The bill curbs big money's influence by requiring all political organizations to disclose large donors and revamping the Federal Election Commission to ensure there's a cop on the campaign finance beat. And H.R. 1 takes real action to "drain the swamp" by extending conflict-of-interest laws to the President and Vice President by requiring the release of their tax returns, closing loopholes that let former members of Congress avoid cooling-off periods for lobbying, breaking the revolving door between industry and the federal government, and establishing a code of conduct for the Supreme Court.
I wrote several portions of H.R. 1, including 1) clarifying that operating fake polling places or drop boxes to prevent another person from registering to vote is a serious federal crime; 2) putting Congress on record opposing efforts to intimidate or engage in deceptive practices to dissuade students from exercising their right to vote; and 3) requiring schools to make voting information more accessible to students online and through social media.
I'm an original cosponsor of, voted for, and the House passed, H.R. 4, the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2021 (117th), to strengthen the Voting Rights Act of 1965 - which was weakened by a pair of Supreme Court rulings over the course of the last decade - to limit states from restricting voting access.
I'm an original cosponsor of H.R. 5076, the Preventing Presidential Election Interference Act (117th), to extend the Hatch Act - which prohibits using one's official authority to involve oneself in a federal election - to cover the president and vice president.
I'm an original cosponsor of H.R. 2301, the Automatic Voter Registration Act (117th), to require that states ensure anyone who provides identifying information to the state motor vehicle authority is automatically registered to vote. The bill improves on current law by shifting the burden for registering to vote from the individual to the state, ensuring that more eligible voters are able to make their voices heard.
I'm an original cosponsor of H.R. 1059, the America Votes Act (117th), to protect citizens who face disenfranchisement because of restrictive state voter identification laws. The bill establishes new federal protections for voters arriving at polls to affirm their identity by submitting a sworn written statement, even if they do not have government-issued identification. Voters who sign a sworn, written statement can vote using a standard – non-provisional – ballot.
I cosponsored H.R. 347, the Presidential Tax Transparency Act (117th), to require sitting presidents and vice presidents, and major party candidates for the presidency and vice presidency to publicly disclose their ten most recent federal income tax returns.
I cosponsored H.R. 1366, the Protect the Youth Vote Act of 2021 (117th), to block systematic efforts across the country to suppress the voices of young Americans. The bill would outline specific practices that violate the 26th Amendment, which lowered the voting age from 21 to 18; provide authority for courts to retain jurisdiction in areas where they have found that a state or jurisdiction violated the 26th Amendment; let voters or the Attorney General receive preventative relief against actions that violate the 26th Amendment; require transparency on any violations of the 26th Amendment and reasonable public notice for voting changes; and allow the Attorney General authority to request federal observers where there is a serious threat of youth voter suppression.