[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 93 (Monday, July 17, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1417]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




FANNIE LOU HAMER, ROSA PARKS, AND CORETTA SCOTT KING VOTING RIGHTS ACT 
               REAUTHORIZATION AND AMENDMENTS ACT OF 2006

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                               speech of

                          HON. ELIOT L. ENGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 13, 2006

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 9) to amend 
     the Voting Rights Act of 1965:

  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 9, 
the Fannie Lou Hamer, Rosa Parks, and Coretta Scott King Voting Rights 
Act reauthorization. Since the law's inception in 1965, this landmark 
legislation has protected the right to vote for millions of United 
States citizens.
  There has been great progress made since the Voting Rights Act was 
signed into law by President Johnson on August 6, 1965. But, so much 
more must be done. There are still many places in our country where 
Americans experience discrimination when they go to the polls. In order 
for the United States to truly be the greatest nation ever known, we 
must ensure that when citizens choose to go to the polls, they do not 
face obstacles created to disenfranchise them.
  Our Nation's history is replete with examples of people's right to 
vote being impeded. Furthermore, unconscionable violence and 
discriminatory obstacles such as poll taxes, literacy tests and 
grandfather clauses were used to deny African American citizens the 
right to vote. The Voting Rights Act provided extensive protection to 
minority communities by prohibiting any voting practice that would 
abridge the right to vote on the basis of race. In 1975, the Voting 
Rights Act was expanded to protect the voting rights of other minority 
voters--such as Latinos, Native Americans, Asian Americans and Alaskan 
Natives--by requiring language assistance at the polls.
  From California to Texas to my home State of New York, minority 
voters have a greater voice in elections due to the Voting Rights Act. 
In fact, my home State of New York is directly affected by two 
important sections of the Voting Rights Act. Voters in the majority of 
districts in New York State are provided with important language 
materials to assist them in the voting process if English is not their 
native language. In addition, voters are also protected by having any 
new State voting rules and regulations approved by the Federal 
Government before they can be enacted. Extending the Voting Rights Act 
is essential to protecting the voting rights of New Yorkers as well as 
voters throughout the country.
  The Voting Rights Act is one of the most effective civil rights laws 
ever enacted. Reauthorizing the Act is vital to ensure that the 
progress made, is preserved.




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