[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 90 (Wednesday, July 12, 2006)]
[House]
[Page H5053]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   VOTING RIGHTS ACT REAUTHORIZATION

  (Mr. AL GREEN of Texas asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, the Voting Rights Act has been 
and continues to be necessary. In 1965, we had approximately 300 
African Americans holding office. Now we have more than 9,100.
  In 1965, only a handful of Latinos held office. Now, more than 6,000.
  In 1965, six Members of Congress were African American. Now 43.
  But among the many beneficiaries is Hubert Vo. Hubert Vo was born in 
Vietnam. Hubert Vo came to the United States at the age of 19, fleeing 
communism. Hubert Vo graduated from the University of Houston, but more 
importantly, Hubert Vo, in 2004, became the very first Vietnamese 
American elected to the State House of Texas. Hubert Vo was elected 
because the ballot in District 149 is in Vietnamese. Hubert Vo won by 
16 votes.
  The Voting Rights Act has made, continues to make a difference. We 
need to maintain it. We need to keep it. It protects the rights of 
minorities.

                          ____________________