[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 96 (Thursday, July 20, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1471-E1472]
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

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. NYDIA M. VELAZQUEZ

                              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:

  Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of the 
reauthorization of the provisions of this important civil rights law, 
the Voting Rights Act. The origins of this law are the truest 
reflection of our Nation's struggle and aspiration to build a better 
country for all of its citizens. We have made great advances. This does 
not mean that we have overcome. We still need to make great strides in 
our road toward building a more perfect union.
  The Voting Rights Act was necessary in the 1960's because for over 
100 years, in certain parts of our country, millions of U.S. citizens 
had their right to vote limited or denied just because of the color of 
their skin. Those were not our country's proudest years.
  Is the Voting Rights Act important today? Yes. The problems in our 
country that led to the enactment of this law are not in the distant 
past. Our work is not done. Our country still struggles to find the 
path of equality and ``The Fannie Lou Hamer, Rosa Parks, and Coretta 
Scott King Voting Rights Act Reauthorization Act'' is still needed to 
keep us on the right and just path in our country's historic democratic 
experiment.
  I celebrate the great accomplishments of the Civil Rights Movement 
and the political leadership of the time that led to the enactment of 
the Civil Rights Legislation and the crowning achievement, the Voting 
Rights Act. The importance of this law can be seen in every election 
where minorities have the right to elect people that truly stand for 
their interests; every time someone is able to mark a ballot with 
instructions in a language that he or she can understand; and every 
time unfair elections conditions are corrected to be just and fair for 
all citizens. Mr. Speaker, this law is needed because there are still 
acts of discrimination taking place. We still need the Voting Rights 
Act.
  Now, I know there are those who believe this is a political party 
issue. But this is not a Democrat or Republican partisan issue--this is 
an American issue and this bill has bipartisan support.

[[Page E1472]]

  I urge you to show your support for protecting the right of all 
Americans to vote. Vote in favor of this historic reauthorization and 
vote against all the amendments presented today. The only true aim of 
these amendments is to weaken this bill and weaken our country's 
democratic values.

                          ____________________