Solving Filibuster Requires Leadership of President Biden

The For the People Act (a.k.a. H.R.1/S.1) would fight the Republican Party’s racist, anti-democratic assault on our democracy by strengthening the right and ability to vote, ending partisan gerrymandering, getting billionaires and Big Business out of elections, and more.

But with Republicans remaining lock-step opposed, it won’t pass the Senate until there’s agreement to set aside or bypass the filibuster — the archaic Senate procedure that demands 60 votes, not a simple majority, to pass most legislation — and protect voting rights.

President Biden must publicly state that voting rights and democracy are more important than the filibuster, and he must call for the filibuster to be set aside so the For the People Act can become law.

To President Biden

Mr. President, our democracy is facing an existential threat. Over half a century ago, President Johnson took the courageous step of signing the 1965 Voting Rights Act into law. Now our democracy needs that kind of courage from you as well. Please do everything in your power to bring all 50 Democrats in the Senate together to set aside or bypass the filibuster and pass the For the People Act as soon as possible.