[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 133 (Tuesday, September 6, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1195-E1196]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            VOTING IS A RIGHT FOR AMERICANS, NOT A PRIVILEGE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. TERRI A. SEWELL

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, September 6, 2016

  Ms. SEWELL of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on Restoration 
Tuesday to acknowledge the recent Supreme Court decision on August 31, 
2016 denying North Carolina's request to reinstate controversial voting 
laws which were implemented following the 2013 Shelby v. Holder case.
  The rejected North Carolina voting laws included strict voter ID laws 
and cutbacks to early voting from 17 days to 10 days as well as 
elimination of the preregistration option for 16-year-olds. The Supreme 
Court's order upheld the North Carolina Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals 
decision which characterized the laws as targeting ``African Americans 
with almost surgical precision.''
  It is a somber celebration in this democratic society when voter 
disenfranchisement is denied. This is a battle that America should not

[[Page E1196]]

have to continue to fight. From the streets to the court rooms, the 
right to a voice--the right to a vote has been fought for. For this 
upcoming election, North Carolina will not have to be subject to new 
voting laws that would make voting harder, not easier for eligible 
voters. This is a great victory for voting rights--for democracy and 
for the principles this country was built on.
  Many states however are not as fortunate as North Carolina. Since the 
2013 Shelby v. Holder decision, over 22 states including my home state 
of Alabama, implemented new oppressive voting laws affecting thousands 
of eligible Americans across the country. In 2013, the Supreme Court 
charged Congress with the responsibility of creating a modern formula 
for states and local governments to obtain federal preclearance before 
implementing changes to voting laws or practices.
  Last year, I introduced a bill, the Voting Rights Advancement Act of 
2015, which addresses the residual problems left behind by the Shelby 
v. Holder ruling. It has been 3 years since this Supreme Court ruling 
and over a full year since I introduced the Voting Rights Advancement 
Act. We, the Members of Congress cannot and should not continue to 
overburden the courts because we refuse to act. Political gridlock has 
no place in the voting rights of our people, and especially in an 
election year.
  Former President Lyndon B. Johnson reminded us all when he said 
``voting is the first duty of democracy.'' I implore my colleagues to 
remember why we are here. We have a great work to do. We work for the 
American people and we are guided by the Constitution of the United 
States of America. I urge my colleagues to support any and all 
advancements in voting rights--this is not an act of ``good heart''--
this is our duty.

                          ____________________