[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 115 (Wednesday, July 22, 2015)]
[House]
[Page H5340]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  COMMEMORATING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT OF 1965

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
Ohio (Mrs. Beatty) for 5 minutes.
  Mrs. BEATTY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join many of my Democratic 
colleagues to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act 
of 1965 and to ask this House to pass legislation for voting rights 
now.
  Mr. Speaker, this was the first nation in our history to be founded 
with a purpose. Great phrases of that purpose are still being said and 
quoted around the world from the souls and hearts of Americans: ``All 
men are created equal,'' and, ``Give me liberty or give me death.'' 
Those words were not to be revered as meaningless, to ring hollow over 
the years. Today I join my colleagues as guardians of that liberty and 
advocates for voting rights legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, 50 years ago before Congress, President LBJ said: ``I 
want to be the President who helped the poor to find their way and who 
protected the right of every citizen to vote in every election.''
  ``Every American citizen must have an equal right to vote. There is 
no reason which can excuse the denial of that right. There is no duty 
which weighs more heavily on us than the duty we have to ensure that 
right.''
  Mr. Speaker, from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, Martin Luther 
King delivered his ``Give Us the Ballot'' speech, urging the President 
and Members of Congress to ensure voting rights for African Americans. 
He indicted both political parties for betraying the cause of justice. 
He said--let us be reminded of these words--``The Democrats have 
betrayed it by capitulating to the prejudices and undemocratic 
practices of the Southern Dixiecrats. The Republicans have betrayed it 
by capitulating to the blatant hypocrisy of the right wing, reactionary 
Northerners. These men so often have a high blood pressure of words and 
an anemia of deeds.''
  Mr. Speaker, today I ask Democrats and Republicans to come together 
for voting rights legislation now.
  Over the past 50 years, our country has come a long way: the end of 
Jim Crow, integration of our public schools, and the election of our 
first Black President. While we have made great progress over the past 
50 years, we must continue to fight for justice and equality at the 
polls.
  In the past few Presidential elections, we have seen long lines, 
intimidation, and voter suppression. We must remain diligent in our 
efforts to root out voting discrimination because of the Supreme 
Court's misguided decision in 2013 in the Shelby County v. Holder 
matter and the failure of Congress to remedy this dismantling of our 
Nation's fundamental rights. We must be more vigilant than ever.
  Two years ago, in Shelby, the Supreme Court struck down a critical 
part of the Voting Rights Act. Some would say it cut the heart of the 
Voting Rights Act by finding section 4 unconstitutional.

                              {time}  1045

  This was a setback to our country and to our democracy by removing 
much-needed voting protections in disenfranchised communities. Our 
democracy was founded on the audacious idea that every eligible citizen 
should have access to the ballot box.
  This is why I am proud to stand with over 70 bipartisan congressional 
colleagues as an original cosponsor of the Voting Rights Advancement 
Act of 2015, H.R. 2867, which would restore and advance the critical 
voter protections taken away by the Shelby decision.
  Mr. Speaker, it is time for us to bring voting rights legislation to 
the floor. Now, more than ever, with just 7 legislative days left, we 
head back to our districts for our August work period. Congress should 
honor the progress of being able to allow us to say to our 
constituents, to this Nation, that our country has made sure that there 
is equal rights and equal treatment.
  Let us work together on advancing important legislative priorities, 
such as the Voting Rights Amendment Act.

                          ____________________