Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I am here today to offer an amendment to remove section 4208 from H.R. 1. Section 4208 is a dangerous provision of this bill that will put people's private information on display and put their personal security at risk. This section aims to forbid anonymous speech. Throughout American history, anonymous speech about political matters has played a vital role. From the Federalist Papers, to those who supported the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s, many in history had very legitimate fears of having their identities uncovered and relied on anonymous speech to show their support for certain policies and initiatives. Section 4208 removes the protection of anonymous speech forever. By requiring public reporting of the private information of individuals, partnerships, associations, and any group of people who spend $500 or more on political advertising--which is a very broad definition in this bill--we put individuals at risk. Furthermore, we drastically limit free speech and destroy the First Amendment. Notably, the courts have already begun to warn against the constitutionality of similar provisions in State law. We cannot allow this to stand. Not only will it cause a security problem for these individuals but, as we have seen, people could lose their jobs, be shamed, or even worse. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Florida (Mrs.…”