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AMAC Signs Coalition Letter to Oppose H.R. 1 and S. 1, For the People Act

Posted on Tuesday, February 2, 2021
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by The Association of Mature American Citizens
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AMAC joins numerous conservative organizations to oppose H.R. 1 and S. 1 that would, among other things, dramatically alter First Amendment protections Americans have enjoyed since the founding of our country.


The Honorable Nancy Pelosi
Speaker of the House of Representatives
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20510

The Honorable Chuck Schumer
Majority Leader
U.S. Senate
Washington, DC 20510

The Honorable Kevin McCarthy
Republican Leader
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20510

The Honorable Mitch McConnell
Republican Leader
U.S. Senate
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Speaker Pelosi, Republican Leader McCarthy, Majority Leader Schumer, and Republican Leader McConnell,

On behalf of the millions of Americans who cherish and rely on the right to support causes we believe in without fear of harassment and intimidation, we, the undersigned individuals and organizations, ask you to reject H.R. 1 and S. 1, the deceptively named “For the People Act.”

Nonprofit organizations serve a vital role in encouraging free speech and the free exchange of ideas. Privately supporting causes — and the | organizations advancing those causes — is a fundamental freedom protected by the First Amendment.

Our Founding Fathers used pen names to encourage independence from Great Britain. Nearly 200 years later, the Supreme Court of the United States blocked the state of Alabama from demanding the supporter list of the NAACP, citing concerns about retribution against the group’s members and financial backers. And last month, the Supreme Court agreed to hear a case challenging a California regulation forcing charities to hand over their supporter lists to the government.

H.R. 1 and S. 1 would dramatically alter the First Amendment protections that Americans have enjoyed since the founding of our country. It would institute sweeping new burdens on their constitutionally protected rights to freely speak, publish, and organize into groups to advocate for the causes they support. In particular, H.R. 1 and S. 1 would impose onerous and unworkable regulatory standards on the ability of individual Americans and groups of Americans to discuss the policy issues of the day with elected officials and the public. This bill would also violate the privacy of advocacy groups and their supporters and stringently and excessively regulate political speech on the Internet.

More specifically, H.R. 1 and S. 1 include numerous, sweeping provisions that would violate the First Amendment rights of Americans by:

• Subjecting citizens who contribute to nonprofit organizations to harassment and intimidation by making their personal information available in a searchable government database. This mandate focuses public attention on the individuals and donors who support causes instead of on the messages communicated by those organizations, exacerbating the politics of division and personal destruction and further coarsening political discourse. This would have a considerable chilling effect on civic
engagement and free speech.
• Policing speech by Americans about legislative issues by expanding the definition of “electioneering communications” – historically limited to large-scale TV and radio campaigns targeted to the electorate in a campaign for office – to include online advertising that bears no relation to an election. This will subject far more issue ads to burdensome disclaimer requirements, which will coerce groups into truncating their message and make some advertising, especially online, practically impossible.
• Indiscriminately regulating groups that incidentally or occasionally advocate on federal judicial nominations and require those groups to broadly expose their donors, even if those citizens had nothing to do with the groups’ speech about judicial nominees.
• Forcing groups to publicly identify their supporters on the face of the ads themselves. Faced with the prospect of being inaccurately associated with what the law would consider (unjustifiably, in many or most instances) “campaign” ads in FEC reports and disclaimers, many donors will choose not to give to nonprofit groups.
• Increasing regulation of the online speech of American citizens while purporting (and failing) to address the threat of Russian propaganda.
• Expanding the universe of regulated online political speech by Americans beyond paid advertising to include communications on groups’ or individuals’ own websites and email messages.
• Deterring American citizens from serving their country through political appointments by forcing them to disclose their donations to causes they have supported in the past. Our elections will not be more honest, more informed, or more secure from foreign interference if we sacrifice the privacy of American citizens. But our democracy will be weakened if voices are eliminated from public debate through intimidation and overregulation.

As a Member of Congress, you have taken an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States. H.R. 1 and S. 1 propose multiple violations of our First Amendment rights. On behalf of the millions of American citizens our organizations represent, we strongly urge you to oppose H.R. 1 and S. 1.

Sincerely,

Heather Lauer, Executive Director
People United for Privacy

Lisa B. Nelson
Chief Executive Officer
ALEC Action

Michael P. Farris, President & CEO
Alliance Defending Freedom

James L. Martin, Founder/Chairman
Saulius “Saul” Anuzis, President
60 Plus Association

Caleb Crosby, President and CEO
Alabama Policy Institute

Bethany Marcum, CEO
Alaska Policy Forum

John Droz, Jr., Founder
Alliance for Wise Energy Decisions

Bob Carlstrom, President
AMAC Action

Dick Patten, President
American Business Defense Council

Phil Kerpen, President
American Commitment

Bill Johnson, President
American Decency Association

Tom Pyle, President
American Energy Alliance

Carrie Ann Donnell, President & CEO* American Juris Link

Gary L. Bauer, President*
American Values

Bradley Johnson, President
Americans for Intelligence Reform

Richard Manning, President
Americans for Limited Government

Mike Nichols, President
Badger Institute

Nathan Anderson, Executive Director
Concerned Veterans for America

Penny Young Nance, CEO and President
Concerned Women for America
Legislative Action Committee

Ron Pearson, Executive Director
Conservative Victory Fund

The Honorable George K. Rasley Jr.,
Managing Editor
ConservativeHQ.com

Thomas A. Schatz, President
Council for Citizens Against Government
Waste

Linda W. Smith, President
D. James Kennedy Center for Christian
Statesmanship

Frank Wright, Ph.D., President & CEO*
D. James Kennedy Ministries

Katie McAuliffe, Executive Director
Digital Liberty

Lawson Bader, President & CEO
DonorsTrust

Colleen Holcomb, President
Eagle Forum

Tim Hoefer, President & CEO
Empire Center for New York State Policy

Craig Richardson, President*
Energy & Environment Legal Institute

Rob Roper, President
Ethan Allen Institute

Patrick Purtill, Director of Legislative
Affairs
Faith & Freedom Coalition

Fred Birnbaum, Director of Legislative Affairs
Idaho Freedom Foundation
Idaho Freedom Action

Matt Paprocki, President
Illinois Policy Institute

Jon C. Caldara, President
Independence Institute

Heather R. Higgins, CEO
Independent Women’s Voice

Ryan McCann, Executive Director*
Indiana Family Institute

Andrew Langer, President
Institute for Liberty

F. Vinnie Vernuccio, President
Institute for the American Worker

Chris Ingstad, President
Iowans for Tax Relief

James Bopp Jr., General Counsel
James Madison Center for Free Speech

Becki Gray, Senior Vice President
John Locke Foundation

James Franko, President*
Kansas Policy Institute

Phillip Wright, Executive Director*
Keep My Voice

Jacob Hibbard, President
Latter-day Freemen

Seton Motley, President
Less Government

Colin A. Hanna, President
Let Freedom Ring

Chris Chmielenski, Vice President
NumbersUSA

Ellen Weaver, President & CEO
Palmetto Promise Institute

Daniel Erspamer, CEO
Pelican Institute for Public Policy

Michael Geer, President
Pennsylvania Family Institute

Jim Vokal, Chief Executive Officer
Platte Institute

Mary Taylor, President*
Pro-Life Utah

Lorenzo Montanari, Executive Director
Property Rights Alliance

Eli Lehrer, President
R Street Institute

Mike Stenhouse, CEO
Rhode Island Center for Freedom &
Prosperity

Denise Leipold, Executive Director*
Right to Life of Northeast Ohio

James Wigderson, Editor*
RightWisconsin

Paul Gessing, President
Rio Grande Foundation

Bette Grande, CEO
Roughrider Policy Center

James Setterlund, Executive Director
Shareholder Advocacy Forum

Sharp, President and CEO
State Policy Network

Rusty Cannon, Vice President
Utah Taxpayers Association

Diane Spicher, President
Veterans and Patriots United

Jane Richey, Local Coordinator
Vegango County Tea Party Patriots

Lynn Taylor, President
Virginia Institute for Public Policy
Tertium Quids

Dann Mead Smith, President/CEO
Washington Policy Center

Susan Loch, Co-Owner
WFYL 1180 AM

Julaine K. Appling President*
Wisconsin Family Council

Richard M. Esenberg, President & General Counsel*
Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty

Scott Manley, Executive Vice President of Government Relations
Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce

Scott Suder, President*
Wisconsin Paper Council

Heather Weininger, Executive Director*
Wisconsin Right to Life

*Affiliation used for identification
purposes only.

Grover Norquist, President
Americans For Tax Reform

Brent Wm. Gardner, Chief Government
Affairs Officer
Americans for Prosperity

John Toedtman, Executive Director
Caesar Rodney Institute

Will Swaim, President
California Policy Center

Ryan Johnson, Associate Commissioner,
District 2*
Cass County Commission

Ryan Ellis, President*
Center for a Free Economy

Cathi Herrod, Esq, President
Center for Arizona Policy

Andrew F. Quinlan, President
Center for Freedom and Prosperity

Jeff Mazzella, President
Center for Individual Freedom
Star Parker, President

Rev. Tim Latiff, Clergy Director
Center for Urban Renewal and Education

John Hinderaker, President
Center of the American Experiment

Larry Cirignano
Children First Foundation

David Nammo, Executive Director & CEO
Christian Legal Society

Aaron Baer, President*
Citizens for Community Values

David N. Bossie, President*
Citizens United

Charles Mitchell, President and CEO
Commonwealth Foundation

Kent Lassman, President and CEO
Competitive Enterprise Institute

Craig DeRoche, President & CEO
Family Policy Alliance

Bob Dane, Executive Director*
Federation for American Immigration
Reform

Kelly Shackelford, Esq., President, CEO &
Chief Counsel
First Liberty

Tom McCabe, CEO
Freedom Foundation

Annette Meeks, CEO
Freedom Foundation of Minnesota

Adam Brandon, President
FreedomWorks

Randy Hicks, President and CEO
Georgia Center for Opportunity

Victor Riches, President and CEO
Goldwater Institute

Ron Williamson, President
Great Plains Public Policy Institute

Tim Macy, Chairman
Gun Owners of America

Sam Paredes, Executive Director
Gun Owners of California

Jessica Anderson, Executive Director
Heritage Action

Mario Lopez, President
Hispanic Leadership Fund

Jon Coupal, President
Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association

Daniel Perrin, President
HSA Coalition

Connor Boyack, President
Libertas Institute

Charles T. Moran, Managing Director
Log Cabin Republicans

Gene Mills, President
Louisiana Family Forum

Joseph Lehman, President
Mackinac Center for Public Policy

Tom McClusky, President
March for Life Action

John Helmberger, Chief Executive Officer
Minnesota Family Council

Douglas Carswell, President & CEO
Mississippi Center for Public Policy

Gregg Keller, Chairman
Missouri Century Foundation

Hunter King, Director of Federal Affairs
National Association for Gun Rights

Troy A. Miller, CEO
National Religious Broadcasters

Carol Tobias, President
National Right to Life

Greg Mourad, Vice President
National Right to Work Committee

Pete Sepp, President
National Taxpayers Union

Karen Bowling, Executive Director
Nebraska Family Alliance

Robert Fellner, Vice President & Policy
Director
Nevada Policy Research Institute

Maureen Blum, Founder and Principal
Strategic Coalitions & Initiatives LCC

Kristan Hawkins, President
Students for Life of America
Students for Life Action

David William, President
Taxpayers Protection Alliance

Judson Phillips, Founder
Tea Party Nation

Jenny Beth Martin, Honorary Chairman*
Tea Party Patriots Action

Robert Alt, President and CEO
The Buckeye Institute

Gary Marx, President
The Concord Fund

Art Harman, Executive Director
The Conservative Caucus / Americans for Constitutional Liberty

Jim Lakely, Vice President
The Heartland Institute

J. Robert McClure III, Ph. D., President and CEO
The James Madison Institute

Brett Healy, President
The John K. MacIver Institute for Public Policy

Daniel Garza, President
The LIBRE Initiative

Renee Carlson, General Counsel
True North Legal

Carl Bearden, CEO
United for Missouri

 

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Dave
Dave
3 years ago

BEWARE! That is exactly what the Con-Con supporters are trying to do.

lee martin
lee martin
3 years ago

We have got to join together and fight, fight, fight for our rights since our current President, Donald J. Trump has been censored along with all great American Conservatives!! WE WANT OUR AMERICA BACK, OUR PRESIDENT BACK IN HIS RIGHTFUL OFFICE and we want to continue to Keep America Great!!!!!!!!!! If not, we will soon have a civil war to fight!

Jan
Jan
3 years ago

These Rules are disgusting, I don’t understand how anyone in their right mind can support either of these bills.

PETER
PETER
3 years ago

THERE’S ONLY ONE WAY TO STOP THE CANCEROUS, ANTI-AMERICAN, LYING, libs………

Phyllis A Bickel
Phyllis A Bickel
3 years ago

Your stand on this is very important to the Civil Rights of all Americans.

MMCC
MMCC
3 years ago

I hope this has some effect but, Democrats are evil and hate Americans.

Barbara W
Barbara W
3 years ago

I applaud the effort, but perhaps I’m a bit jaded. Do you really think these haters in Congress will listen? It’s not about hating Donald Trump anymore. They hate every person who doesn’t support their radical agenda that strips us of Constitutional rights. Republicans in Congress are mostly weak and have no clout. I’m glad AMAC has our backs, but I doubt you’ll be able to get through to these people.

Mark Brickey
Mark Brickey
3 years ago

THANK YOU!!!!!

Anthony Dell'Isola
Anthony Dell'Isola
3 years ago

Thank you AMAC, this is a good start to preserving America.

Gilbert
Gilbert
3 years ago

There is nothing “honorable” about nancy pelosi and chuck schumer. I have my doubts about the other two as well.

Doug Drennan
Doug Drennan
3 years ago

The “for the people act” should more aptly be called “for the communists act”. This is another attempt by the democrats to limit free speech and association. By forcing conservative groups to identify their supporters is not an accident and is dangerous as the democrats have shown that they support the paramilitary radical groups that would likely engage in violence and intimidation in order to silence the democrats opposition.

Bill
Bill
3 years ago

I know that it is customary and probably proper, but using the title “Honorable” for this group makes my stomach turn.
We need term limits, but we all know that will never happen.

Bruce
Bruce
3 years ago

Thank you for the courage to stand up to tyranny in action!

Sandra "Sandy" Cheuvront
Sandra "Sandy" Cheuvront
3 years ago

Thank you and I would sign this document.

Ronald Athon
Ronald Athon
3 years ago

I know what you are attempting to accomplish here, and why you are going about it this way. I applaud you for it. But seriously. Reason, logic and the rule of law? I’m sure you know that they could not care less about any of this.

These people know exactly what they are doing. They are lying to us, of course. But this bill accomplishes exactly what they want. And they will implement it regardless of what anyone thinks.

Of course it’s unconstitutional. But name something the democrats have done in the last four years, or the last 4 weeks for that matter, That wasn’t. The law of the land is a blessing to the conservative. But an obscene obstacle to the left. They can’t be fully honest about this fact just yet. But they are less and less concerned that we know it as they come ever closer to their goal of entrenched and unlimited power.

Neil Hendricks
Neil Hendricks
3 years ago

Like dripping battery acid on a steel plate, slowly attempting to erode our rights. I support your efforts to get the US Legislature back on track, doing the people’s work, not that of special interest groups and anti- A1 and A2 rights. Thank you for taking this action.

Dennis
Dennis
3 years ago

Please do not put the honorable in front of their names. There is nothing honorable about these people they are traitors to our country and they should be treated as such.

Thomas Blair
Thomas Blair
3 years ago

Thank you AMAC – for standing up for our right to speak against power.

Janet
Janet
3 years ago

Good work re addressing the communists’ striking 1st Amendment rights, but communists do not care about citizens’ objections.

Forearmed
Forearmed
3 years ago

If you think sending a nicely worded request to the criminals in charge of Congress, you had better retkink what you are asking of them. They will no more listen to you than they do to anyone else who has tried to get through their thick skulls.

Apparently the only thing the Anarchist socialist Left understand is bullets, so I say tell them the truth. The truth being that if continue to fuque over the people, they will rise up and do to the policians what the Italians did to Benito Mussolini. They hung his sick rear end to the nearest lamp post.

If the Socialist Left do not think it can happen here is the Good Ole US of A, they need to get their heads out and wake the heck up.

Vilas Gamble
Vilas Gamble
3 years ago

If these bills become law then turn the torch off in Lady Liberty’s up-reached hand for what she stands for will be banned in this once free land of ours!

Tammy Spears
Tammy Spears
3 years ago

Unless it benefits those you are writing to they will ignore it. They have shown no honor or integrity these past four years. They have exposed their true intentions. Destroy the Constitution and Christian way if life.

BKG
BKG
3 years ago

Please don’t “mess” with our rights!

Paul W
Paul W
3 years ago

H.R. 1 and S. 1 is a page out of every tyrannical, dictatorial playbook–silence dissent This country is in very, VERY serious trouble. Anyone that hasn’t figured that out yet…WAKE UP, THE HOUSE IS ON FIRE!!!

American
American
3 years ago

Demand! Not urge. Whoever votes for this is a traitor to the people of the United States. They have also broken their oath of office to uphold and defend the constitution of the United States. It looks like they don’t give a ##### what they do as long as its headed straight to communism.

Angus
Angus
3 years ago

Why do you address them as Honorable?

James
James
3 years ago

I think it’s times like these where we have to realize exactly why the SECOND ammendment was put into place…

Pattie Lou
Pattie Lou
3 years ago

Thank You!! Please keep us informed, I am afraid this is only the start of the” lefts”, making America a socialist society, and ruining the greatest, kindest, defenders of all living beings on earth. We may not be perfect but we are continuing to try. Hopefully we can stop them, until we get enough intelligent beings back in power. This is where Hitler, Stalin and every other cruel ruler started, God Help Us!!

Graham Sutton
Graham Sutton
3 years ago

Demonrats are commies. The left has gone communist.Open borders,D.C.statehood and Gropey Joe killing jobs.Buy ammo people,you are going to need it.

J.D. Francis
J.D. Francis
3 years ago

Please add my name to your petition.

Beverly
Beverly
3 years ago

Thank you for standing up for FREEDOM

Carol A Arroyo
Carol A Arroyo
3 years ago

This is what we have to look forward to, thanks in great part to the Republicans who kept their heads in the sand while our President was fighting for everything he wanted to do to make our country healthy. I am so disappointed in the fakers and liars who signed and petitioned votes as “Republicans” and then they turned-coat when they were needed most to defend the country. What a sham. Looking at those fat pigs in the picture you have posted today makes me see that the Democratic Party is no longer a party of the people and for the people. They are a corrupt bunch of politically rich socialists/communists who made their money off of the American Government and the people’s taxes, voted lifetime jobs for themselves, and now sit as “judge and jury” to the world. The same tactics brought us the defiant rulers of Europe that caused the Second World War, the death of hundred of thousands of good people, and the ruination of freedom in all their countries. It makes me sick to say we have to properly address them as “Honorable”?????? because none of them are. And as we can already see, nothing will be accepted if it comes from the people of America as a complaint against the present government control-freaks. All they wanted the past four years was a full Democratic House, Senate and President and now they have it and look what a short month has accomplished! Selfishness, destruction, spiteful retorts, continuation of impeachment process, etc.
The Republican National Party should be spending every waking minute pressing to impeach this Pretend President who was not elected by the people of America, but had to resort to Communist Tactics and illegal voting to be where he is now. Come on people!!! Wake UP before we will all be part of the One World Order. Two years from now will be too late!!!

Felix
Felix
3 years ago

Need more positive action like this, rather than a lot of rhetoric that doesn’t produce anything of possible impact.

Marsha Stril
Marsha Stril
3 years ago

Why are the people’s rights being taken away? Whose idea is this?

PATRICIA BEYER
PATRICIA BEYER
3 years ago

Thank you

Stephen Russell
Stephen Russell
3 years ago

add HR 66666, too probe this House bill

Denise P Kalm
Denise P Kalm
3 years ago

Appalling. This should quickly be dowsed by SCOTUS, but it’s chilling that they even try to do this. It’s a way of making a list to persecute people who contribute to nonfavored organizations. I’m a life member of the NRA – a list they very much want to have.

Carl Blankemeyer
Carl Blankemeyer
3 years ago

Right on!! More positive action needed!!

J. Farley
J. Farley
3 years ago

Way to go, we need to fight on every turn, to stop the commie take over !!!!!

Martin
Martin
3 years ago

Where are the Republicans speaking out like the democrats did speaking ou against Trump?

Linda Johnson
Linda Johnson
3 years ago

THANK YOU AMAC!!! IF We The People are needed to sign a petition, let us know where and when….this piece of legislation is just another sneaky way for the Demons in government to shut everyone down and allow themselves completely free reign over us…..UNCONSCIONABLE !! AGAIN !!!!!!!!!!!

Arteest
Arteest
3 years ago

Trying to be a realist. Thanks for the effort, but do you really think that the people that gave us the fraudulent election give a rats rear end about what we think? They only understand one thing and that is unemployed or dead.

Dante Mungioli
Dante Mungioli
3 years ago

I would sign this in a heartbeat. I always follow the constitution

Albert Atkinson
Albert Atkinson
3 years ago

We have to try and insure that the current administration does not ruin our nation. All they want to to protect their own interests and to hell with anyone who thinks differently. Please keep up the good work.

FRANK RANDAZZO
FRANK RANDAZZO
3 years ago

keep up the good work AMAC .let me know what i can do.

Sharon Harrigan
Sharon Harrigan
3 years ago

Please add my name to petition or inform me how I can sign one. Thank you.

Donal Rude
Donal Rude
3 years ago

This is targeting American Citizens of different political parties other than those who are in power at this time. They are trying to quash our rights.

Connie
Connie
3 years ago

Thank you much for standing up. Our voices must be heard! We almost must voice our outrage for HR127!

pattycake
pattycake
3 years ago

Thanks for the update, but if you don’t inform us as private citizens what we can do on an individual level, this is all just talk. Direct us what we can and should be doing to stop this attack on our rights.

Ruth Pierce
Ruth Pierce
3 years ago

I would gladly sign a petition regarding vetoing H.R. 1 and S. 1. This isn’t just a political game; according to your article, it would take away several of our First Amendment Rights! As they say, SIGN ME UP!!!

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