February 3, 2021

Dear Member of Congress:

The 79 undersigned local, state, and national Jewish organizations write in strong support of the transformational democracy reform package the For the People Act (H.R. 1/S. 1) and urge you to prioritize its passage. As Jews, we are commanded Tzedek, Tzedek Tirdof, to pursue justice. By enacting this bill, we can enhance integrity, fairness, and transparency in our nation’s elections, create a democracy that values all voices, and build a more just society.

The 2020 election has underscored the urgent need for democracy reform, and the common-sense reforms in the For the People Act address many of these problems. This legislation aims to accomplish three overarching goals: (1) protecting and strengthening the sacred right to vote, (2) ending the dominance of big money in politics, and (3) implementing anti-corruption, pro-ethics measures to clean up government. Without structural democracy reform, our nation will remain unable to fully address important, substantive priorities, especially critical amid a pandemic, including protecting and expanding affordable health care, stopping the spread of COVID-19, and providing the assistance and support people need to care for themselves and their families.

The reforms in the For the People Act are necessary to advance racial justice and ensure that our government works for all people, not just a powerful few. President Joe Biden has stated that a “first priority” of his administration is to lead on a comprehensive set of democracy solutions like those reflected in H.R. 1/S. 1. As such, we urge a vote on this bill as soon as possible. With your support, we can make these urgently-needed reforms a reality. Together, we can create a democracy that represents, reflects, and responds to us all.

Sincerely,

Jewish Council for Public Affairs
National Council of Jewish Women

National Organizations

ALEPH: Alliance for Jewish Renewal

Ameinu
American Jewish Congress
Anti-Defamation League
Avodah
Aytzim: Ecological Judaism
Bend the Arc Jewish Action
Habonim Dror North America
J Street
Jewish Labor Committee
Jewish Women International
Keshet
MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger
Moving Traditions
Rabbinical Assembly
Reconstructing Judaism
Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association
Society for Humanistic Judaism
T’ruah
The Workers Circle
Union for Reform Judaism
Uri L’Tzedek

State Organizations

Arizona Jews for Justice
Carolina Jews for Justice
Jewish Community Action
Jewish Labor Committee Western Region
National Council of Jewish Women, Arizona Section
National Council of Jewish Women, California
National Council of Jewish Women, Colorado Section
National Council of Jewish Women, Florida
National Council of Jewish Women, Maryland Action Team
National Council of Jewish Women, Massachusetts
National Council of Jewish Women, Michigan Section
National Council of Jewish Women, Minnesota Section
National Council of Jewish Women, Tennessee
National Council of Jewish Women, Texas
National Council of Jewish Women, Utah Section
National Council of Jewish Women, Washington State
New Jersey Jewish Labor Committee
Tzedek Georgia
United Hebrew Trades – New York Jewish Labor Committee

Local Organizations
Baltimore Jewish Council
Buffalo Jewish Community Relations Council
Chicago Jewish Labor Committee
IKAR
Jewish Community Relations Council of Atlanta
Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Boston
Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Phoenix
Jewish Community Relations Council of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin, Sonoma, Alameda and Contra Costa Counties
Jewish Community Relations Council of the Jewish Federation of Silicon Valley
Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix
Jewish Federation of Greater Portland
Lab/Shul
National Council of Jewish Women, Atlanta Section
National Council of Jewish Women, Austin Section
National Council of Jewish Women, Chicago North Shore Section
National Council of Jewish Women, Essex County Section
National Council of Jewish Women, Greater Dallas Section
National Council of Jewish Women, Greater Miami Section
National Council of Jewish Women, Greater New Orleans Section
National Council of Jewish Women, Greater Philadelphia Section
National Council of Jewish Women, Kendall Section
National Council of Jewish Women, Louisville Section
National Council of Jewish Women, Nashville Section
National Council of Jewish Women, New York Section
National Council of Jewish Women, Northern Virginia Action Team
National Council of Jewish Women, Palm Beach Section
National Council of Jewish Women, Rockland County Section
National Council of Jewish Women, Sarasota-Manatee Section
National Council of Jewish Women, SE Atlantic Section
National Council of Jewish Women, South Cook Section
National Council of Jewish Women, St. Louis Section
National Council of Jewish Women, Valencia Shores Section
National Council of Jewish Women, West Morris Section
Temple Beth Tefilloh
Temple Concord
The Temple