[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 542 Introduced in House (IH)]

112th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 542

   Condemning the passage of legislation that would unduly burden an 
American citizen's ability to vote and opposing any State election law 
 or proposed legislation that would have a disproportionate impact on 
               vulnerable communities across the country.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            February 8, 2012

     Mr. Cleaver (for himself, Mr. Clarke of Michigan, Ms. Lee of 
California, Ms. Fudge, Mr. Clay, Mr. Al Green of Texas, Ms. Moore, Mr. 
Meeks, Ms. Waters, Mr. Jackson of Illinois, Mr. Butterfield, Ms. Clarke 
 of New York, Mr. Richmond, Mr. Rush, Mr. Bishop of Georgia, Mr. Davis 
 of Illinois, Mr. Towns, Ms. Wilson of Florida, Ms. Brown of Florida, 
  Mr. Payne, Mr. Rangel, Ms. Jackson Lee of Texas, Ms. Eddie Bernice 
 Johnson of Texas, Mr. Scott of Virginia, Mr. David Scott of Georgia, 
    Mr. Ellison, Mr. Conyers, Mr. Hastings of Florida, Mr. Lewis of 
 Georgia, Mr. Johnson of Georgia, Mr. Fattah, Ms. Bass of California, 
Ms. Sewell, Ms. Norton, Mr. Thompson of Mississippi, Mr. Cummings, Mrs. 
   Christensen, Mr. Carson of Indiana, Ms. Edwards, Mr. Clyburn, Ms. 
Richardson, and Mr. Watt) submitted the following resolution; which was 
               referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
   Condemning the passage of legislation that would unduly burden an 
American citizen's ability to vote and opposing any State election law 
 or proposed legislation that would have a disproportionate impact on 
               vulnerable communities across the country.

Whereas dozens of restrictive voting laws have been proposed in several States 
        throughout the country that would reduce the number of voting days, 
        implement stiffer identification requirements, and prevent felons from 
        regaining the ability to vote;
Whereas in 2011 laws were enacted in 7 States to require voters to present photo 
        identification in order to vote, and an additional State enacted such a 
        law through a ballot initiative;
Whereas in 2011 legislation was proposed in 12 States to require voters to 
        present proof of citizenship in order to register to vote, and such 
        legislation was enacted successfully in 3 of these States;
Whereas in 2011 legislation was proposed in 9 States to reduce early voting, and 
        such legislation was enacted successfully in 5 of these States;
Whereas in 2011 legislation was proposed in 4 States to restrict absentee voting 
        rights;
Whereas 11 percent of the American population does not have government issued 
        photo identification;
Whereas 18 percent of Americans between the ages of 18 and 24 lack current 
        government issued photo identification, 18 percent of seniors lack valid 
        government issued photo identification, and one out of four African-
        Americans lack government issued photo identification;
Whereas felon disenfranchisement disproportionately impacts communities of 
        color;
Whereas students and people of color are more likely to register at a 
        registration drive and their communities will be most negatively 
        affected by new restrictions on voter registration;
Whereas there is a lack of evidence that voter fraud is a significant problem;
Whereas these laws do more to suppress the right to vote than to protect our 
        electoral system and disproportionately harm people from vulnerable 
        communities;
Whereas historically, people of color have been barred from voting, and passage 
        of restrictive voting laws is reminiscent of the Jim Crow era poll taxes 
        and literacy tests that disenfranchised thousands of African-Americans; 
        and
Whereas the right to vote should continue to be protected as a fundamental 
        right: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This resolution may be cited as the ``For the People Voter 
Protection Initiative''.

SEC. 2. CONDEMNING PASSAGE OF LEGISLATION THAT WOULD UNDULY BURDEN THE 
              ABILITY OF CITIZENS TO VOTE.

    The House of Representatives--
            (1) condemns the passage of legislation that would unduly 
        burden an American citizen's ability to register and vote; and
            (2) opposes any State election law or proposed legislation 
        that would have a disproportionate impact on vulnerable 
        communities across the country.
                                 <all>