Today, our friends Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick and Jared Golden joined the No Labels community via Zoom to give an update on their critical work to advance the Defending Borders, Defending Democracies Act.
This legislation would break the months-long logjam in Washington on addressing two of the nation’s highest priorities – securing our overwhelmed borders and getting vital aid to our allies in Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan.
What’s more, it’s the only bill with a chance of passing the House of Representatives – Republicans have indicated they will not support a different Senate-passed border and foreign aid bill. If Congress is going to tackle these huge challenges, the Defending Borders, Defending Democracies Act is the only viable path forward.
Yesterday, Rep. Fitzpatrick officially opened his discharge petition, which is a maneuver that allows members to force legislation to a vote if they can get 218 signatures (a majority of Congress). Already, an equal number of Republicans and Democrats have attached their names to the petition, a rare display of bipartisanship in a divided Congress.
To Rep. Fitzpatrick, the math of this legislation is simple: “Borders are necessary for democracy to flourish, and democracies are necessary for freedom to flourish.”
Reps. Fitzpatrick and Golden asked for our community’s support in fighting for a vote on the Defending Borders, Defending Democracies Act, noting that it’s going to be a marathon, not a sprint, to get this bill to the floor, but it’s absolutely critical we get this done.
That’s why we’re asking you to sign our petition calling on House Speaker Mike Johnson and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries to make clear they are OK with members of their caucuses signing the discharge petition to bring this vital bill up for consideration.
Make your voice heard and help us make Congress work.
