Dear friend,
Real people, not special interest donors, should decide our elections. Since the Supreme Court’s disastrous Citizens United decision in 2010, corporations and special interest groups have spent billions of dollars to influence our elections and corrupt our democracy. I’m fighting to restore power to the people.
Throughout my time in Congress, I’ve made it a priority to increase transparency in our government and get special interest money out of our politics. That’s why I proudly voted for H.R. 1, the For the People Act, a sweeping democracy reform and anti-corruption bill that passed the House on Wednesday. This legislation will expand and protect the right to vote, reduce the role of special interest money in our elections, and rein in the influence of super PACs to restore faith and integrity to our democracy. I’m also proud that the For the People Act included my amendment to ban foreign money from state and local ballot initiatives.
I took this selfie with Rep. John Sarbanes (MD-03), the author of the For The People Act, after we finished voting on the bill's passage.
The final version of this landmark bill also included a proposal I introduced last Congress to make it easier for working parents to run for office. The provision I led allows candidates to use campaign funds to pay for child care, elder care, or dependent care. Running for public office should be open to all Americans and not a luxury only the wealthy can afford.
I was proud to be elected to Congress in 2018 with a historically diverse group of new Representatives. Most of us were not in politics or elected office before we got to Congress; we were nurses, non-profit leaders, public school teachers, and consumer advocates. Our government works best when it reflects the diversity of America, and that means we must strive to make it possible for people from all backgrounds to run for office.
To keep Congress focused on democracy reform, during my first term, I founded End Corruption, which I currently co-chair with Rep. Jason Crow. Since its founding last year, End Corruption has hosted important conversations to build public awareness about the need for major democracy and anti-corruption reform. We’ve supported legislation such as H.R. 1 with the goal of increasing transparency and accountability in each branch of government.
I hosted an Instagram Live with my End Corruption co-chair, Rep. Jason Crow (CO-06), to explain why H.R. 1 is so critical to our democracy.
As your representative, I will continue to do everything in my power to get our government to work for families first. As a leader in anti-corruption efforts in Congress and a member of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, I will always work to strengthen our democracy and fight for Orange County families. To stay up to date on how I’m representing you and California’s 45th District, please follow me on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @RepKatiePorter.
Very truly yours,
Katie Porter
Member of Congress
