Pelosi Remarks ... 200 Days of GOP Senate Inaction on H.R. 1

Pelosi Remarks at Press Event Marking 200 Days of GOP Senate Inaction on H.R. 1, the For The People Act

September 27, 2019 Press Release


Washington, D.C. – Speaker Pelosi delivered remarks at a press event highlighting 200 days of Senate GOP inaction on H.R. 1, the For The People Act, historic legislation to reduce the role of big dark money in politics, advance fair and secure elections and restore ethics and integrity to government. Below are the Speaker’s remarks:

Speaker Pelosi. Good morning, everyone. Thank you very much for being here this morning as we observe the 200 days since we sent H.R. 1 over to the Senate.

I want to commend Congressman John Sarbanes for being such a – tremendous leadership in integrity in government, by working this issue for a long time. Then – became H.R. 1, when the Democrats had the Majority in Congress. He has been one who has seen and heard from the public how concerned they are about the role of big dark money in politics, and how it undermines their confidence that Congress can ever act to lower prescription drug prices, to protect our environment, the list goes on and on, because of that big dark money.

And, so, his role as Chair of the Democratic Reform Task Force and lead sponsor of H.R. 1 is to be commended for – anyone who wants to improve not only our – reducing the role of money in politics, but restoring the confidence of the American people in what we do here.

I also want to acknowledge the leadership of Madam Chair, the Chair of the House Administration Committee, Zoe Lofgren. She is a champion. A brilliant legal mind that we call upon in many arena – areas here and a champion of securing our elections.

We’re thrilled to be here with our Freshmen. Now, the Freshman Class, during the campaign, about one year ago, they sent a letter signed by 100 candidates – many of them, many of whom – it was like 67 or something of them became Members of Congress – stating that H.R. 1 was of the highest priority, cleaning up government.

Our agenda in the last election was For The People, quoting from the words – the brilliant words – of our Founders at the start of our Constitution: ‘We, the People.’ Our Constitution begins ‘We, the People.’ We are acting For The People.

And, with us today, are Representative Malinowski of New Jersey, Representative Neguse of Colorado, Representative of Pappas of New Hampshire, Representative Haaland of New Mexico. Do I have everyone? Yes, I do. And, many more Members of the Freshmen Class who have been leaders on this issue, but I am proud to be standing with those – and, you’ll be hearing from them momentarily.

We sent this legislation over to the Senate Majority Leader, Mitch McConnell, and it’s been sitting there in his Grim Reaper role. But, we are saying to him that the American people – ‘You may think this is dead over there, Grim Reaper’ – what a nice thing to say about yourself – ‘but it is alive and well in the public. And the people know and they will know more that you are holding this up.’

It is important to note that Mitch McConnel has said the problem is not that there is too much money in politics, the problem is that there isn’t enough money in politics. If there was ever a declaration of lack of values in terms of our democracy, with stiff competition, that stands as a prominent one.

I am now very pleased to yield to the distinguished Chair of our Task Force, a leader in restoring confidence in government and increasing the role of the people – For The People – in government, John Sarbanes of Maryland.