[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 24 (Wednesday, March 1, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E237]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

[[Page E237]]


              EXPUNGEMENT RESTORES MOST FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, March 1, 2006

  Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my disappointment at 
comments made earlier this month by Maryland Gov. Robert Ehrlich that 
he would veto a bill that would restore voting rights to felons.
  Disenfranchisement is a problem plaguing society. Nationally, more 
than four million Americans are not allowed to vote as a result of laws 
that prohibit voting by felons or ex-felons. In 48 states, with the 
exception of Maine and Vermont, and the District of Columbia prisoners 
cannot vote. In 36 states, felons on probation or parole are 
disenfranchised and in 11 states, a felony conviction can result in a 
lifetime sanction long after the completion of a sentence. 
Unfortunately disenfranchisement is not a color-blind problem. This 
fundamental obstacle to participation in our democracy is aggravated by 
racial disparities within the criminal justice system, resulting in an 
estimated 13 percent of black men unable to vote. In 10 states with the 
highest Hispanic populations, including California, Latinos are as much 
as three times more likely to lose their right to vote from felony 
disenfranchisement than the population at large.
  The denial of black and Latino ex-felons from membership and 
participation in our electorate is a glaring disgrace to a country that 
prides itself on its equitable criminal justice system. It is said that 
once prisoners have ``paid their debt to society,'' they are free to 
re-enter it. But are they truly free? The answer is no if some of their 
fundamental rights aren't restored at the conclusion of their sentence. 
Not only are some ex-felons not allowed to vote, but employers hesitate 
to contract workers with criminal records and participation in certain 
housing and training programs is elusive to them as well. It is 
shameful and unfair to punish ex-felons even after they have served 
their sentence. We must avail to these citizens every opportunity to 
regain their dignity so they do not return to a life of crime. The 
unfortunate alternative is for society to continue to be victimized by 
ex-offenders who, having given up all hope of employment, resort to 
careers in crime.
  It is my belief that expungement allows for a fresh start for 
reformed ex-prisoners. That is why I have reintroduced. H.R. 662, the 
Second Chance for Ex-Offenders Act of 2005, which would permit the 
expungement of federal records for certain nonviolent criminal 
offenses. Gov. Ehrlich's comments that fully restoring voting rights to 
felons is inappropriate are in and of themselves egregious. If we 
continue to deny all ex-felons the right to vote and continue to punish 
them even after they have served their time, then what debt have they 
paid to society during their incarceration? What message are we sending 
not only to ex-offenders but the world as we continue to tout ourselves 
as the leader of the free, Democratic world, if we do not allow some of 
our citizens the right to vote?
  Currently, some states have reformed their laws to allow ex-offenders 
to become active participants in their government. Several states, such 
as Kentucky and Illinois, permit the expungement of the records of 
certain ex-offenders who have violated state laws. Voting rights 
advocates and legislators are pushing for such initiatives in Virginia. 
In the governor's great state of Maryland, dozens of House Democrats 
have co-sponsored legislation that would allow about 150,000 ex-felons 
to vote this year and the state Democratic Party has endorsed the 
proposal. To unilaterally turn a deaf ear to constituents, advocacy 
groups and fellow lawmakers is an offense to democracy.
  Mr. Speaker, it is my hope that Gov. Ehrlich comes to realize the 
type of damage his vow to forbid restoration of voting rights to ex-
prisoners has done to disadvantaged communities in his state. It is his 
vow that I find inappropriate.

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