Testimony: HR 1 Advances the Right of Every Citizen to a Government Responsive and Accountable to Voters

Date
Case
Passing the “For the People Act” to Create a More Accessible, Transparent and Responsive Government
Issues
Campaign Finance
Ethics

WASHINGTON – Today at 10am ET, the U.S. House Committee on the Judiciary will hold a hearing on HR 1, For the People Act, a sweeping package of reforms that offers some of the most comprehensive advances our democracy has seen in decades.

Adav Noti, senior director of trial litigation and chief of staff at Campaign Legal Center (CLC), released his congressional testimony to congressional staff before his appearance before the Committee as a witness.

His testimony focuses on four parts of HR 1 that are within the Committee’s jurisdiction: (1) legislative findings regarding the Supreme Court’s decision in Citizens United v. FEC; (2) enforcement of the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA); (3) closing loopholes in lobbying registration laws; and (4) recusal of Presidential appointees.

Adav said: “These provisions independently and collectively advance the right of every American citizen to a government that is responsible and accountable to voters.”

“Campaign finance laws protect the First Amendment rights of ordinary citizens by ensuring they can participate in the political process without having their voices drowned out by wealthy corporations and individuals that hold special interests. And disclosure of campaign spending provides the public with essential information about the sources of financial support for candidates seeking public office. Ethics and lobbying disclosure laws promote responsiveness by ensuring that government officials, whether elected or appointed, act in the interests of the public rather than the officials’ own private interests. More broadly, disclosure laws in each of these contexts give citizens, journalists, watchdog groups, and law enforcement agencies the information and tools needed to detect and deter governmental misconduct, undue influence, and corruption.”

The Campaign Legal Center (CLC) has fought for each of these reforms, along with many others in HR 1, to ensure every voter has a voice in the political process.