[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 106 (Friday, July 29, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1738]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  EXPRESSING DISAPPOINTMENT THAT A RESOLUTION COMMEMORATING THE 40TH 
   ANNIVERSARY OF THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT WAS PULLED FROM CONSIDERATION

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                            HON. JOHN LEWIS

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, July 29, 2005

  Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, it is with great disappointment 
that I submitted a statement for the Record yesterday, instead of going 
to the floor, as originally scheduled, to commemorate the 40th 
anniversary of the Voting Rights Act. The Republican Leadership has 
decided that the commemoration of the 40th anniversary of the Voting 
Rights Act is less important than leaving a day early for the 
Congressional August Recess.
  I introduced House Concurrent Resolution 216 with my bipartisan 
colleagues from the Judiciary Committee, Mr. Conyers, Mr. 
Sensenbrenner, Mr. Chabot and Mr. Nadler. On Wednesday, I had planned 
to join my colleagues in debating the resolution on the floor, but at 
the last moment, the Republican Leadership decided to pull the solution 
from consideration in order to consider CAFTA. Thursday morning, the 
resolution was listed for consideration, but by late morning, it was 
brought to my attention that the Republican Leadership had decided to 
reduce debate on this resolution to a mere 5 minutes, down from the 
customary 40 minutes allotted to consideration of resolutions under 
suspension of the rules. Furthermore, they planned to package the 
suspensions together under condensed time and they were also adding to 
that package an additional controversial suspension bill without 
allowing any debate. This important resolution was being treated as 
insignificant. The Minority Leader opposed giving this important 
resolution such short shrift, and in response, the Republican 
leadership pulled the legislation from consideration all together.
  Today was the last opportunity for us to celebrate this important Act 
before the anniversary on August 6. This has become an unacceptable 
pattern for the Republican Leadership. The Republican majority promised 
after the 1994 elections to manage the House in a way that fostered 
``deliberative democracy,'' which they defined as the ``full and free 
airing of conflicting opinions through hearings, debates, and 
amendments.'' They also pledged in their Contract with America to 
``restore accountability to Congress.'' Instead of sticking to their 
word, they have broken their promises, and flaunted and abused their 
power. They have abandoned the principle of procedural fairness or 
democratic accountability.
  There is no reason that we could not debate this resolution this 
week, particularly when the Republicans will conclude business early in 
the day today. I am disappointed in my Republican colleagues for again 
derailing debate, particularly when it comes to issues related to 
voting and the Voting Rights Act.

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