Voting Rights and Corruption

We face major challenges related to protecting the integrity of our elections and government institutions. We must defend our elections from foreign interference, protect the right of every citizen to cast a ballot, rein in dark money and special interest influence in campaigns, and ensure our elected officials are accountable to their constituents and serve with integrity.

 Our democracy is only as strong as it is representative and inclusive. That is why I am a proud cosponsor of the For the People Act. This landmark legislation would establish essential reforms, including protecting access to the ballot, reining in partisan gerrymandering, and countering the influence of large donors and dark money in our elections. In an effort to protect voting rights, I sponsored a bill to expand early voting periods for federal elections to make sure every voter is able to have their voice heard at the ballot box. This bill has passed the House of Representatives as an important component of the For the People Act.  

I also sponsored the Lobbyist Loophole Closure Act, which would prevent well-connected individuals from exploiting loopholes in federal ethics laws. These individuals have been able to be hired on as “consultants” in order to avoid registering as a lobbyist and abiding by ethical guidelines. As an important component of the For the People Act, this piece of legislation will end corrupt practices like these.

Furthermore, in response to state legislatures across the country passing restrictive voting laws, I sponsored the Stay in Line to Vote Act. This legislation would explicitly allow food and drink to be provided to voters while they wait in line to vote at polling places. Legislation like this would provide a basic level of support to voters as they wait to cast their ballot, especially in areas where long lines and wait times can deter voting.

House Committee on Ethics

When it comes to holding our elected officials accountable, I believe we must do more to ensure that no one is above the law, no matter how powerful or well-connected. When I first came to Congress, I requested to join the bipartisan House Committee on Ethics, and I have been a member ever since. Through my work on this Committee, I am determined to push for new reforms to restore a spirit of high ethical standards to our government.

As a member of the Ethics Committee, I have forged close working relationships with my colleagues across the aisle.  Together, we have created new oversight regulations that promote public confidence in Congress. It is clear, however, that our work is far from finished. We must enact reforms that reaffirm the fundamental truth that elected officials are public servants and their ultimate responsibility is to promote and protect the public interest.