[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 109 (Thursday, June 28, 2018)]
[House]
[Pages H5966-H5967]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      WE NEED TO RESTORE DEMOCRACY

  (Mr. SARBANES asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. SARBANES. Mr. Speaker, today, too many Americans feel that their 
own democracy doesn't respect them, that they are left out and locked 
out of their own democracy.
  That is why Democrats today are introducing the By the People 
Resolution, a broad set of reforms, a declaration of principles that we 
need to restore democracy and give people their voice back, in three 
broad categories of reform:
  Voter empowerment, voting rights; making sure that it is easier, not 
harder, to access the ballot box and to cast your vote.

[[Page H5967]]

  Ethics and accountability, because we need transparency in our 
government. We need to obey the rules, observe the norms. That is 
critical to have trust in government on the part of the people.
  And lastly, campaign finance reform, because big money and special 
interests have way too much influence up here on Capitol Hill, and we 
need to do something about it.
  We can do this. With a bold set of reforms, we can make sure that 
Americans feel respected, and we can return, finally, to a government 
of, by, and for the people.

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