[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 139 Introduced in House (IH)]







107th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 139

  Expressing the sense of Congress regarding commitment to the Voting 
                          Rights Act of 1965.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 9, 2001

Mr. Cummings submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
                     the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Expressing the sense of Congress regarding commitment to the Voting 
                          Rights Act of 1965.

Whereas the 15th Amendment of the Constitution guarantees American citizens the 
        right to vote, regardless of race, color, or previous condition of 
        servitude;
Whereas even after ratification of the 15th Amendment, various election 
        procedures (i.e., poll taxes, literacy tests, and vouching requirements) 
        by certain states diluted the impact of votes cast by African Americans 
        or prevented minorities from voting altogether;
Whereas Congress enacted the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to address minority 
        disfranchisement and to codify and effectuate the 15th Amendment's 
        permanent guarantee that, throughout the nation, no person shall be 
        denied the right to vote on account of race or color;
Whereas Congress enacted the Voting Rights Act of 1965 at the height of the 
        civil rights movement in response to lawsuits claiming and compelling 
        evidence of continuing interference with attempts by African American 
        citizens to exercise their right to vote;
Whereas the Voting Rights Act of 1965 prohibits any person acting under color of 
        law or otherwise from intimidating or denying any eligible person from 
        voting;
Whereas the Voting Rights Act of 1965 makes it illegal for any State or local 
        government to use election procedures that are not equally open to 
        minority voters, or that give minority voters less opportunity than 
        other voters to participate in the political process and elect 
        representatives of their choice to public office;
Whereas the Voting Rights Act of 1965 protects minority language group members 
        by requiring particular jurisdictions to print ballots and other 
        election materials in the minority language as well as in English, and 
        to have oral translation assistance available at the polls where 
        necessary;
Whereas the Voting Rights Act of 1965 gives the Department of Justice the 
        authority to bring suit in Federal court to challenge those practices 
        that it has determined are racially discriminatory and to bring Federal 
        criminal charges for voting fraud or intimidation involving racial bias 
        in local or State elections;
Whereas enforcement of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 has been instrumental in 
        increasing voter registration of African Americans, Latinos, and other 
        ethnicities and providing the opportunity for African American and 
        Latino voters to elect representatives of their choice by providing a 
        vehicle for challenging discriminatory election procedures, further 
        resulting in an increase in African American and Hispanic elected 
        officials;
Whereas on November 7, 2000, American citizens went to the polls to cast their 
        vote for President of the United States; and
Whereas American citizens have leveled numerous charges of election 
        irregularities and minority vote dilution involving African Americans, 
        ethnic groups such as Latinos and Haitians, and other ethnicities that 
        occurred in jurisdictions in a number of States, effectively 
        disfranchising thousands of citizens in the 2000 election: Now, 
        therefore be it
    Resolved, That it is the sense of the Congress that--
            (1) the Congress--
                    (A) condemns election procedures that result in 
                minority vote dilution and disfranchisement and any 
                person acting under color of law or otherwise engaged 
                in intimidating or denying any eligible person from 
                voting;
                    (B) recognizes the significance of the 15th 
                Amendment, which guarantees American citizens the right 
                to vote, regardless of race, color, or previous 
                condition of servitude; and
                    (C) reaffirms its commitment to the Voting Rights 
                Act of 1965, which prohibits any person acting under 
                color of law or otherwise from intimidating or denying 
                any eligible person from voting;
            (2) the United States Commission on Civil Rights should--
                    (A) compile data on reports of voting 
                irregularities arising out of the November 7, 2000 
                Presidential election and investigate such allegations; 
                and
                    (B) provide a comprehensive report of such reported 
                voting irregularities and the Commission's findings to 
                Congress and the Department of Justice; and
            (3) the President, Attorney General, and Department of 
        Justice should--
                    (A) make the elimination of minority vote dilution 
                and disfranchisement a top priority of the United 
                States Government;
                    (B) take all necessary steps and resources to 
                thoroughly investigate all charges of election 
                irregularities and minority vote dilution and 
                disfranchisement;
                    (C) vigorously, promptly, and fully enforce the 
                Voting Rights Act of 1965, by bringing suit in Federal 
                court to challenge those practices that it has 
                determined are racially discriminatory and Federal 
                criminal charges for voting fraud or intimidation 
                involving racial bias occuring in local or State 
                elections; and
                    (D) explore all options to prevent such 
                disfranchisement in future elections such that every 
                American citizen is secured their right to vote, 
                regardless of their race or color.
                                 <all>