[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 10 (Friday, January 14, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E39-E40]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            NASA ENHANCED USE LEASING EXTENSION ACT OF 2021

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. JAMIE RASKIN

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, January 13, 2022

  Mr. RASKIN. Madam Speaker, I include in the Record the following 
letters of support for the Senate Amendment to H.R. 5746.


                                                 Democracy 21,

                                 Washington, DC, January 13, 2022.
       Dear Representative: Democracy 21 strongly supports and 
     urges you to vote for the House Amendment to the Senate 
     Amendment to H.R. 5746, the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis 
     Act and for the rule to bring it to the House floor.
       The right of every eligible American to vote and have their 
     vote properly counted is the cornerstone of our democracy. 
     This fundamental right and our democracy are at grave risk 
     today.
       In 2021, Republican-controlled state legislatures across 
     the country enacted a wave of unprecedented voter suppression 
     and election sabotage laws in the name of ``election 
     integrity.'' More are expected to be enacted in 2022.
       The state laws stemmed from the Trump Big Lie that the 2020 
     presidential election was stolen from him, even though there 
     was not a shred of evidence to support his demagogic claim. 
     Trump's own top government security officials found that the 
     2020 election ``was the most secure in American history.''
       The Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act would override the 
     state voter suppression laws for federal elections and combat 
     the state election sabotage laws that empower partisan 
     election officials to rig the results of federal races. The 
     Act would also prevent partisan gerrymandering and provide 
     essential campaign finance reforms.
       The Act would protect the right of every eligible American 
     to vote and preserve our democracy.
       Democracy 21 strongly urges you to vote for the Freedom to 
     Vote: John R. Lewis Act.
           Sincerely,
                                                  Fred Wertheimer,
     President.
                                  ____



                                                        Demos,

                                                 January 13, 2022.
       Dear Representative: We write in strong support of the 
     House Amendment to the Senate Amendment to H.R. 5746, the 
     Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act, which will ensure that 
     voters can safely and freely cast their ballots, protect 
     against election sabotage, stop partisan gerrymandering, and 
     limit the influence of dark money in politics so that 
     billionaires can't buy elections.
       Nineteen states enacted 34 new laws that restrict access to 
     the ballot box in 2021 alone and more are under consideration 
     today. Candidates are running for top election offices 
     peddling the Big Lie. States are passing racially 
     gerrymandered maps that dilute the power of Black and Brown 
     voters. This legislation would fight back against all these 
     attacks and ensure the ability for every American to 
     participate in safe, accessible, and transparent elections.
       Demos is a think tank that powers the movement for a just, 
     inclusive, multiracial democracy. Demos means ``the people'' 
     and is the root word of democracy. Our name reminds us that 
     America's power is derived from the diversity of its people, 
     and that we do not have democracy unless all of our people 
     can participate meaningfully in the political process.
       The Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act is a major step in 
     the direction of ensuring all Americans can participate in 
     our democracy. Our organization fully endorses this bill and 
     urges you to support this legislation.
           Sincerely,
                                               Taifa Smith Butler,
     President, Demos.
                                  ____


                                              People's Action,

                                                 January 13, 2022.
     Contact: Megan Essaheb, Director of Federal Affair.

People's Action Urges a Yes Vote on the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis 
                                  Act

       People's Action strongly supports the House Amendment to 
     the Senate Amendment to H.R. 5746, the Freedom to Vote: John 
     R. Lewis Act, which will ensure that voters can safely and 
     freely cast their ballots, protect against election sabotage, 
     stop partisan gerrymandering, and limit the influence of dark 
     money in politics so that billionaires can't buy elections.
       Nineteen states enacted 34 new laws that restrict access to 
     the ballot box in 2021 alone and more are under consideration 
     today. Candidates are running for top election offices 
     peddling the Big Lie. States are passing racially-
     gerrymandered maps that dilute the power of Black and Brown 
     voters. This legislation would fight back against all these 
     attacks and ensure the ability for every American to 
     participate in safe, accessible, and transparent elections.
       People's Action fully endorses this bill and urges you to 
     support this legislation.
       People's Action is a national network of 40 state and local 
     grassroots power-building organizations united in fighting 
     for justice. We are a multi-racial, multi-generational, 
     working-class coalition working to build the power of poor 
     and working people across rural, suburban, and urban areas to 
     win change through issue campaigns and elections.
                                  ____



                              Project on Government Oversight,

                                                 January 13, 2022.
     House of Representatives,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Representatives: I write on behalf of the Project On 
     Government Oversight, in strong support of the House 
     Amendment to the Senate Amendment to H.R. 5746, the Freedom 
     to Vote: John R. Lewis Act, which will ensure that voters can 
     safely and freely cast their ballots, protect against 
     election sabotage, stop partisan gerrymandering, and limit 
     the influence of dark money in politics. This legislation is 
     necessary to protect the freedom of all Americans to elect 
     their leaders.
       POGO is a nonpartisan independent watchdog that 
     investigates and exposes waste, corruption, abuse of power, 
     and when the government fails to serve the public or silences 
     those who report wrongdoing. We champion reforms to achieve a 
     more effective, ethical, and accountable federal government 
     that safeguards constitutional principles.
       The freedom to vote is under threat across the country. In 
     2021 alone, 19 states enacted 34 new laws that restrict 
     access to the ballot box. More are under consideration today. 
     Candidates are running for top election offices spreading 
     dangerous and debunked claims of widespread voter fraud. 
     States are passing racially gerrymandered maps that dilute 
     the power of Black and brown voters. This legislation would 
     fight back against all these attacks and protect the 
     foundational right to participate in safe, accessible, and 
     transparent elections.
       Elections allow citizens to choose their leaders--and to 
     vote them out of office if they abuse their power or act 
     corruptly. Undermining Americans' ability to cast their 
     ballots weakens the single best tool we have to hold our 
     government and its leaders accountable. Our elected officials 
     need to stop everything else they are doing and prioritize 
     efforts to preserve our democracy.
       The Project On Government Oversight fully endorses the 
     Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act and urges you to support 
     this legislation.
           Sincerely,
                                                   Danielle Brian,
     Executive Director.
                                  ____



                                             Stand Up America,

                                                     New York, NY,
                                                 January 13, 2022.
     Hon. Nancy Pelosi,
     Speaker of the House of Representatives,
      Washington, DC.
       Dear Madam Speaker and Members of the House of 
     Representatives: We write in strong support of the House 
     Amendment to the Senate Amendment to H.R. 5746, the Freedom 
     to Vote: John R. Lewis Act, which will ensure that voters can 
     safely and freely cast their ballots, protect against 
     election sabotage, stop partisan gerrymandering, and limit 
     the influence of dark money in politics so that billionaires 
     can't buy elections.
       Nineteen states enacted 34 new laws that restrict access to 
     the ballot box in 2021 alone and more are under consideration 
     today. Candidates are running for top election offices 
     peddling the Big Lie. States are passing racially-
     gerrymandered maps that dilute the power of Black and Brown 
     voters. This legislation would fight back against all these 
     attacks and ensure the ability for every American to 
     participate in safe, accessible, and transparent elections.
       The Stand Up America community has made over 100,000 calls 
     to Congress in support of the John Lewis Voting Rights Act 
     and the Freedom to Vote Act, the provisions of which are both 
     included in this Important new legislation.
       With the energy of our 2 million members behind us, our 
     organization fully endorses

[[Page E40]]

     this bill and urges every member of the House of 
     Representatives to immediately pass this important 
     legislation that is critical to protecting our democracy and 
     our freedom to vote.
           Sincerely,

                                             Christina Harvey,

                                               Executive Director,
                                                 Stand Up America.