House Democrats Pass Additional Legislation to Secure Elections, Safeguard Our Democracy

Press Release

MESSAGE FROM THE MAJORITY LEADER

Foreign interference continues to pose a threat to our democracy and the integrity of our elections, and House Democrats took action once again to address this issue on the House Floor this week. The House passed the SHIELD Act, which would prevent foreign meddling in our elections by creating a duty to report illicit offers of campaign assistance from foreign governments; improving the transparency of online political ads; and restricting the exchange of campaign information between candidates and foreign governments, among other provisions. The House also passed the Corporate Transparency Act, which requires companies to disclose their true owners and prevent bad actors like Russian oligarchs from using shell companies in the U.S. to whitewash their illicit activities. I was deeply disappointed that House Republicans did not vote with Democrats on the SHIELD Act -- just as they have refused to answer the question confronting our nation at this difficult time: is it acceptable for a President to interfere in our elections? House Democrats continue to believe that foreign interference is a threat to our democracy, and we will continue to urge the Senate to take up the SHIELD Act, in addition to other legislation we have passed during this Congress to secure our elections.

This week, the House also passed a reauthorization of the Debbie Smith Act, legislation to help end the backlog of untested rape kits. House Democrats included this program in our reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act that we passed in April because the Debbie Smith Act and the numerous VAWA programs all help victims of domestic violence. Unfortunately, Senate Republicans have refused to take up the House-passed VAWA bill and have not introduced their own, so the House has acted again and passed a standalone bill to reauthorize the Debbie Smith Act. All of these programs are critically important to preventing domestic violence and assisting victims and their families. The Debbie Smith Act and all VAWA programs should be reauthorized, and I am urging Senate Republicans to ensure that they are.

Finally, I was pleased that Ways and Means Committee passed the Lower Drug Costs Now Act out of committee. All three committees of jurisdiction have marked up and passed the legislation, which will help lower prescription drug prices for Americans. Right now, Americans are charged much more for prescription drugs than what drug companies charge patients abroad, and our bill will help level the playing field while saving taxpayer dollars. I look forward to bringing the legislation to the Floor soon, so that we can deliver on our promise to lower prescription drug costs for the people.

Sincerely yours,

Steny H. Hoyer

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