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CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, The passage of the Freedom to Vote Act would help to |
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protect Americans' right to vote; and |
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WHEREAS, On September 14, 2021, the Freedom to Vote Act was |
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introduced in Congress by a group of moderate and progressive |
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Democratic senators with the support of Senate Majority Leader |
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Chuck Schumer; representing a compromise on issues addressed in the |
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previously introduced For the People Act, the Freedom to Vote Act |
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abandons the former bill's more controversial elements while still |
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including provisions that prevent discrimination, make voting more |
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accessible, reform campaign funding, and modernize election |
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infrastructure; and |
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WHEREAS, If passed, the Freedom to Vote Act would offer |
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protections for people with disabilities, prohibit deceptive and |
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inequitable practices, and restore the federal voting rights of |
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formerly incarcerated citizens; it would also implement automatic |
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voter registration, prevent unnecessary limitations on online and |
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same-day voter registration, and establish national standards for |
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early voting, mail voting, and voter identification; by breaking |
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down barriers to the ballot box, the bill would ensure that every |
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eligible voter has the opportunity to participate in free and fair |
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elections; and |
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WHEREAS, The Freedom to Vote Act would enhance transparency |
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in campaign funding by requiring certain entities to disclose all |
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major donors, and it would strengthen rules that keep super PACs and |
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other external groups independent of candidates; in addition, the |
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bill provides grants for states to update their voting machines, |
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and it includes improvements to the Federal Election Commission's |
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enforcement process, expanded penalties for destroying or altering |
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election records, and procedures for states to conduct postelection |
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audits; these changes would promote security at every step of the |
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electoral process; and |
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WHEREAS, The freedom to vote is fundamental to a successful |
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democracy, and Congress should take action to protect elections |
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from unjust practices and unethical interference; now, therefore, |
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be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 87th Legislature of the State of Texas, |
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3rd Called Session, hereby respectfully urge the United States |
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Congress to pass the Freedom to Vote Act; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That the Texas secretary of state forward official |
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copies of this resolution to the president of the United States, to |
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the president of the Senate and the speaker of the House of |
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Representatives of the United States Congress, and to all the |
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members of the Texas delegation to Congress with the request that |
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this resolution be entered in the Congressional Record as a |
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memorial to the Congress of the United States of America. |