WASHINGTON—House Committee on Oversight and Reform Ranking Member James Comer (R-Ky.) released the following statement after Democrats passed H.R. 1, the “For the Politicians Act.”

“The ‘For the Politicians Act’ isn’t a bill to protect America’s vote; it’s a swamp takeover of America’s elections. Through this bill, Democrats nationalize America’s elections, placing Washington in control rather than following the Constitution and allowing states to determine their own registration and voting practices. The bill uses taxpayer dollars to fund political campaigns and limits Americans’ First Amendment rights by allowing a partisan speech czar to deem what campaign speech is acceptable. Democrats also want to make sure the next time a Republican is in the White House, that president is monitored by a partisan bureaucrat. And the bill makes the election delays, uncertainty, and chaos of the 2020 election permanent by allowing blanket mail-in voting, extending Election Day, and making ballot harvesting a sanctioned practice.

“Democrats’ attempt to consolidate their power is an assault on free, fair, and secure elections. We must ensure the sanctity of the ballot box, but the Democrats are taking the wrong approach by putting Washington partisans in control.”

The House adopted Ranking Member Comer’s amendment to H.R. 1, which makes the ethics standards Democrats sought to impose on President Trump apply equally and universally regardless of political party. The version of H.R. 1 introduced by Democrats this Congress conveniently dropped several ethics provisions that were included in the bill last Congress when Donald Trump was president. Ranking Member Comer’s amendment adds these provisions back in the bill.