Congressman Schiff on Inclusion of Electoral Count Reform Act in Omnibus Spending Package
“On January 6, 2021, our democracy suffered a terrible blow: A violent attack on our Capitol incited by a sitting president and his allies. Yet the bloodshed of that day was not the only threat to our democracy, nor were the people making up the mob the only perpetrators. We were also put in danger by the cynical actions of members of Congress — insurrectionists in suits and ties — who violated their oaths and voted to overturn the election, even after the attack.
“At the final January 6 Select Committee hearing, we referred Donald J. Trump — and several of his co-conspirators — to the Justice Department for criminal prosecution. The onus for legal accountability now falls on the Department. But where the attorney general must prosecute, Congress must legislate. The Electoral Count Reform and Presidential Transition Improvement Act is one of many necessary legislative remedies designed to address the threats that were exposed on January 6 and others. It will help prevent future demagogues from following an authoritarian playbook – and strengthen our democracy’s resolve against domestic threats. I look forward to voting ‘yes’ on this vital legislation and thank my colleagues for their work to get it across the finish line.”
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