In January 2022, I watched from the U.S. Senate floor as the Freedom to Vote Act (FTVA) was defeated by a filibuster after the majority of senators voted to pass the legislation. It was a surreal culmination of years of tireless work for my colleagues, myself and many representatives and advocates.
We worked so tirelessly, in fact, that two years later the right side of my couch still holds a lopsided indent due to all the early mornings, late nights and weekends I sat there working on the bill. But when you’re so close to the finish line on something you believe in — something that could make a difference in the lives of millions of Americans and strengthen the foundations of the longest-standing democracy in the world — it’s worth it. My couch cushions serve as a daily reminder of this fact.
The above excerpt was originally published in Democracy Docket.
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