BILL - H.R.1
FOR THE PEOPLE ACT OF 2019
Click below for the link to view the entire H.R.1 Bill - within the document, click the highlighted "blue" text and to be directed to the exact wording.
A "summary" including problems and issues with this bill is as follows:
This bill would be devastating to America and would seek to centralize control of elections and harm election integrity. If the bill were ever to become "law", every State in the nation would be required to significantly alter their means and methods of registration and voting. The legislation was drafted without the input and insight of State and local election officials who are responsible for administering elections in this country. Voting and registration have never been easier, and the real pressing need in elections is upgrading State voting equipment and election technology infrastructure across the country. Listed below are the ten "worst" new federal mandates in H.R.1's election administration section. These new requirements would apply to every State, regardless of existing State laws.
1-Automatic voter registration, including using many colleges and universities as voter registration "agencies" and registering 16 and 17 year olds as "pre-registration". When they turn 18, they are "automatically" registered to vote; no need to re-register at 18.
2-Abolish voter ID laws and ONLY require a signature in the polling place to vote.
3-Online voter registration without protections to verify the eligibility of the voter; i.e. current registration states that a voter must be 18 years or older, be an American Citizen, have a State drivers license or a State issued ID, and social security number.
4-Same day registration during early voting and on Election day.
5-Fifteen (15) days of early voting, including minimum hours and requirements for locations.
6-Restricting election officials' efforts to maintain the accuracy of voter registration lists (NOTE: as of the last Presidential election of 2020; the list of voters was outdated in most States more than 20 years and were not and still not accurate).
7-Automatically restoring the right of felons to vote after release from prison (NOTE: currently felons do not have the right to vote in elections).
8-No-excuse absentee/mail voting with signature comparison verification available to all voters.
9-Provisional ballots cast outside a voter's precinct must be counted (NOTE: if allowed, a voter can vote in their own precinct as well as cast another vote outside of their precinct which is currently not allowed; this bill will make this legal).
10-Congressional redistricting done by an independent redistricting commission micromanaged in H.R.1's provisions (NOTE: this will be devastating towards the integrity of "where" a voter is to vote).
Many sections demonstrate the increasing federal control of all elections (and removing control from all States as is currently the law), in the bill, requiring federal control of election security, further centralizing election systems standards, and numerous new reporting requirements for election officials, including the gathering data on voters' race and ethnicity. It would give more power over elections and oversight authority to the Election Assistance Commission, the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice.
The above indicates severe and indicate many risks pose by this legislation, should it pass, and the constitutional issues with many of them.
H.R.1 federalizes and micromanages the election process administered by the States, imposing unnecessary, unwise and unconstitutional mandates on the States and reversing the decentralization of the American election process which is necessary for protecting our liberty and freedom.
This bill interferes with the ability of States and their citizens to determine qualifications for voters, to ensure the accuracy of voter registration rolls, to secure the integrity of elections, to participate in the political process, and to determine th district boundary lines for election their representatives.
The H.R.1 bill is harmful legislation which was surely the focus of the Democrats response to President Trump's State of the Union Address. The Democrats have decided that if the people do not wish to vote them into office, they will change the election rules to their advantage; of which they did in the 2020 elections. The Democrats will most likely try to pass this bill with little or no debate or inquiry. As of this date Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell indicated that it will be "dead on arrival" in the Senate. However with the current way Senator McConnell has conducted himself in the past few weeks, it is now likely that he would back this bill, much to the dismay of the conservative Republicans.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THE H.R.1 BILL AS FOLLOWS........
The Democratic majority's package overhauling voting, campaign finance and ethics law; some parts of the bill will likely receive more attention than others, but several "under the radar" provisions in the 622 page legislation, would nevertheless have sweeping impacts on each and every American Citizen. Here are some of the provisions that have not received much attention as the legislation advanced through committee hearings and markups on its way to the floor......
1-SUPPORT FOR D.C. STATEHOOD
H.R.1 changes a lot of laws, but it also contains "nonbonding provisions" to express Democrats' support for policies that, for whatever reason, they didn't include in the package. One declares support for D.C. Statehood - a matter Congress has not voted on since 1993.
"District of Columbia residents deserve full congressional voting rights and self-government, which only Statehood can provide", the bill says, adding that "there are no constitutional, historical, financial or economic reasons why the 700,000 Americans who live in the District of Columbia should not be granted Statehood." (wording summary taking from the actual bill).
Update on this issue - what Speaker of the House, Pelosi wants to do is to "break apart" DC; wherein there will be allotted "space/land" that contains the White House, Capitol and several other government buildings to remain as the District of Columbia; however, the 2/3rds remainder of DC would now become a "State" and would now be subject to 2 or more representatives added to the Congress and Senate who would most likely be Democrats; thus giving the Democrats the prevailing vote for issues they wish to pass, while the Republicans and their voters would no longer have a voice.
2-PRESIDENTIAL TRANSITIONS AND INAUGURAL COMMITTEES
The overhaul imposes new "ethical" requirements on Presidents and other administration officials, but a lesser known part of the bill would also establish "new rules" and prohibitions on their transition teams and inaugural committees.
It would require President inaugural committees to disclose expenditures and would put a $50,000 per person cap on donations to such committees with a requirement for public disclosure within 24 hours of any donations worth $1,000. It would also make it illegal for inaugural committees to solicit, accept or receive donations from "a person that is not an individual", banning corporations and unions from giving to them.
The overhaul would also impose "new" ethical standards for the Presidential transition teams that help the White House and agencies move into power after Election Day. Lobbyists routinely work on these teams, and the bill would prohibit those with "personal financial conflicts of interest" from working on such matters. It also would require each team member to sign a "Code of Ethical Conduct."
3-ALLOWING CAMPAIGN FUNDS FOR CERTAIN PERSONAL EXPENSES
The measure is well known for its provisions that seek to reduce the role of big money donors in favor of grassroots contributions, but a less discussed provision would overhaul the way candidates can use their campaign cash.
Designed to make running for office more accessible to low income individuals, the provision allows candidates to treat as campaign expenditures personal costs for health insurance, are of their children or other pendants and any expenses required to maintain a professional license or certification. Spending on this matters would be subject to existing campaign expenditure limits.
4-REGISTERING KIDS TO VOTE
The bill's requirements that "every State offer same day and automatic voter registration" have received plenty of attention, but the measure also includes a provision to prepare minors to depart the kids' table for the voting booths. The measure would allow states to start registering minors to vote, as long as they are at least 16 years old.
Republicans have attacked the provision as adding new and extreme risks of voting fraud in case the underage crowd tried to vote prematurely (which they will). Democratic supports argue it is a convenient way to sign up future voters. Meanwhile, the bill would also allow most colleges and universities to become voter registration spots like Departments of Motor Vehicles currently are; and would definitely be soft spots for corruption and fraud.
5-PAPER BALLOTS
Though the measure puts new regulations on online advertisements and new requirements for election cybersecurity which can never be 100% secure as we all know. This measure is a clear way for abuse, fraud and corruption. This "overhaul" requires the use of durable, voter verified paper ballots in federal elections, according to this legislative text.
6-PREPAID POSTAGE FOR ABSENTEE BALLOTS
Voting absentee is probably less of a hassle for most people than going to the polls but the legislation seeks to make that process "easier" by providing prepaid postage for absentee ballots in federal elections.
Practically speaking, that means voters would not need to find a stamp to mail in their absentee ballot for Presidential or Midterm elections, as the State or local government that administers the ballot will be providing the postage.
7-CRIME TO MISLEAD VOTERS
While well know for provisions to make voting access easier, the bill also makes its a rime for people who, within 60 days of an election, prove false information to voters with the intention of misleading them or preventing them from voting.
For example, the provision would make it illegal to intentionally lie to people about the time and place a polling location is open or about their eligibility to vote. The crime should carry a penalty of up to five years in prison, a maximum fine of $100,000 or both as the bill states.
8-CLAMPING DOWN ON FOREIGN INFLUENCE
After the 2016 elections brought intense focus on possible foreign interference, it is no surprise that the House Democrats included provisions to overhaul the Foreign Agents Registration Act. They will also vote on whether to impose new limits on the political spending of companies with at least a 5 percent foreign government owner or companies with at least a 20 percent foreign national owner (such as Apple, Microsoft, etc.).
Representatives for corporations say they are concerned about foreign national provisions potentially hitting even the political action committees of businesses with just one foreign national shareholder. Supporters of the bill say those fears are unfounded, which most of know these fears are legitimate again think Apple, Microsoft.
9-LARGE WEBSITES TO RECORD POLITICAL ADVERTISERS
The measure is full of "transparency provision" (of course which Democrats will never adhere to); mostly to force the government to bring ore of its operations into the sunshine. But one provision seeks to make online platforms that accept political ads to be more transparent by requiring public facing websites with 50 million or more unique visitors a moth to maintain a record of advertisers whose aggregate purchase requests exceed $500 per year.
This provision which would affect social media companies such as facebook that accept political advertisements, is designed to let the public know who is trying to influence elections.
10-POSTING CONGRESSIONAL REPORTS ONLINE
Another overlooked but significant transparency provision would require online public disclosure of congressionally mandated reports, such as those from federal agencies or the Congressional Research Service, dubbed the "think tank" for lawmakers. Most CRS reports have already been available online, as required by a provision in the fiscal 2018 omnibus bill, but agency reports to Congress are not often made public unless the agency or the lawmaker or committee who requested the report chooses to release it (which most will not or do not do).
S1, THE FOR THE PEOPLE ACT OF 2021
This Bill, in conjunction with the HR1 Bill, will forever change how every single American can and will vote in all future elections. It is one of the most extensive reformation of the entire United States voting system. It will empower the federal government to be in charge of all voting regulations and the individual State legislatures will no longer set the voting parameters. It is imperative that everyone read this information and you should write to your States congressional and senate representatives insisting that this bill NOT be approved. If it is approved, it will empower the Democratic party who will forever control the vote. Here again, instead of "we the people, by the people and for the people", it will be "we the government, by the government and for the government". It must be stopped!