Biden celebrates House passing HR 1, Dems' campaign bill, vows work to 'refine and advance' legislation

President Biden on Thursday celebrated the House passing a sweeping election reform bill, saying he would sign it if it passes the Senate.

Biden called it "urgently needed" to protect the right to vote and to "strengthen" democracy, and vowed to work with Congress to "refine and advance" the legislation.

The For the People Act of 2021, known as H.R. 1, passed Wednesday by a vote of 220 to 210. No Republicans joined with Democrats in approving the bill, H.R. 1.

"In the wake of an unprecedented assault on our democracy; a coordinated attempt to ignore, undermine, and undo the will of the American people never before seen in our history; and a new wave of aggressive attacks on voting rights taking place in states across the country, I applaud Speaker Pelosi and the House of Representatives for passing H.R. 1, the For the People Act of 2021," Biden said in a statement Thursday.

Biden called the right to vote "sacred and fundamental," adding that it is "the right from which all of our other rights as Americans spring."

"It will rein in the outrageous gerrymandering that distorts our democracy," Biden said. "It will empower the Justice Department to crack down on laws that curtail voting rights along racial lines. It will reform our campaign finance system to amplify the voices of the people — not the powerful. And it will modernize and secure our future elections against all manner of threats."

"I look forward to working with Congress to refine and advance this important bill," Biden continued. "And I look forward to signing it into law after it has passed through the legislative process, so that together we can strengthen and restore American democracy for the next election and all those to come."

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif, said the legislation is needed to combat voter suppression efforts in states, crack down on corruption and diminish the influence of big donors in politics.