IV 112th CONGRESS 2d Session H. RES. 542 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

1.

Short title

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

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.