[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 44 (Monday, March 21, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E342]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           VOTING RIGHTS ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BARBARA LEE

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, March 21, 2016

  Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with my colleagues in the 
Congressional Black Caucus in this critical fight to ensure full voting 
rights for all Americans.
   I'd like to thank my colleagues, Congresswoman Joyce Beatty, and 
Congressman Hakeem Jeffries for organizing this special order and for 
their dedicated leadership in protecting the right of all Americans to 
vote.
   I'd also like to thank Chairman G. K. Butterfield for his leadership 
of our caucus as we work to ensure equality and democracy for all 
American families.
   Mr. Speaker, since 2013, when the Supreme Court gutted the Voting 
Rights Act in their Shelby County v. Holder decision, too many 
Americans have seen their voting rights weakened and undermined.
   This year, as we celebrated the 51st anniversary of the historic 
civil rights march from Selma to Montgomery, the very progress we 
celebrated was under attack.
   This year, 16 states have enacted new voting restrictions for the 
first time in a presidential election since the Voting Rights Act was 
made law more than 50 years ago. These new barriers range from 
unnecessary voter ID laws, to ending same-day voter registration, and 
reducing or completely eliminating early voting.
   Since 2010, 21 states have implemented new restrictions. This is a 
crisis.
   While states have put up barriers, Speaker Ryan, Judiciary Chairman 
Goodlatte and some Congressional Republicans have ignored the clear, 
bipartisan consensus to fix the Voting Rights Act and restore voting 
rights protections for all Americans.
   Republican Congressman James Sensenbrenner has introduced the 
bipartisan Voting Rights Amendment Act (H.R. 885), which I am proud to 
co-sponsor with more than 100 other Members of Congress. This is a good 
first step to restoring voting protections for all Americans.
   But let me be clear--simply fixing the Voting Rights Act isn't 
enough.
   We need to empower voters and Congresswoman Sewell's bill--the 
Voting Rights Advancement Act (H.R. 2867)--would do just that.
   It's past time that Congress got serious about protecting voting 
rights and passing the Voting Rights Advancement Act--and we are here 
to support these efforts.
   Our work is not over until the voice of every American is heard. So 
I join my colleagues in the CBC tonight to implore our colleagues in 
the House to work harder to protect the bedrock of our democracy--the 
right to vote.

                          ____________________