[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 163 (Tuesday, November 15, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1475]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              RESTORATION TUESDAY: A DEMAND FOR DEMOCRACY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. TERRI A. SEWELL

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 15, 2016

  Ms. SEWELL of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, today on this Restoration Tuesday 
I rise to acknowledge the persistent need for new voting rights 
legislation, even after the 2016 general election.
   Last week's presidential election was the first in over fifty years 
without the full protection of the Voting Rights Act of 1965--and it 
must be the last. The time to restore the fundamental civil right to 
vote for millions of Americans is always right now. This is not a 
request for reconciliation, this a deliberate demand for democracy.
   Just one week ago today, American citizens faced voting restrictions 
in the forms of new photo ID requirements, DMV and voting poll 
closures, and significant reductions or elimination of early voting and 
weekend voting. Voting restrictions have been put in place in 22 
states--14 of which had new restrictions for the first time in 2016, 
making it harder for millions of Americans to exercise their right to 
vote. This was unacceptable at the inception of the Constitution. This 
was unacceptable during the marches of 1965. How can we, as 
representatives of the American people, accept this blatant disregard 
to our democracy today? We need to make voting easier, not harder for 
the citizens of this country. We cannot and must not accept suppression 
of the vote.
   According to a federal court, the State of Wisconsin had over 
300,000 registered voters who lacked the ID required by new photo ID 
laws. In my home state of Alabama, new photo IDs were required and then 
over 30 DMVs were systematically closed down following the announcement 
of the new laws. On this past Election Day one week ago, there were 868 
fewer polling places in states with a history of voter discrimination 
like Arizona, North Carolina and Texas.
   The 2016 election may be over, but the fight for voting rights is 
far from finished. It is time to stop restricting access to the ballot 
box. It is time to show our country that we, as representatives of the 
American people, are using every tool at our disposal to prevent 
discriminatory voting practices. There is nothing more important in a 
democracy than ensuring that every citizen has an equal opportunity to 
let their voice be heard through their right to vote.
   I urge my fellow Members of Congress to support a bipartisan effort 
to Restore the Vote. The Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2015 that I 
introduced reaffirms our commitment to voter equality and creating 
protected pathways to voter access. This legislation takes an expansive 
view of the need to protect access to the voting booth, and will offer 
more voter protection to more people in states including Alabama, 
Georgia, North Carolina, and Texas. I urge all of my colleagues seated 
here today to pass legislation that will not just protect the votes of 
minorities, but also those of students, the disabled, the poor, and 
those in the military and overseas.
   We cannot forget the courage and dedication of those who marched and 
fought for voting rights in 1965. Let's not forget the lessons learned 
in 1965 and in the fifty years since as we have watched countless 
attempts to undermine our progress. As Civil Rights icon, Congressman, 
and my friend John Lewis will tell you, ``There is still work to be 
done.'' Let's recommit ourselves to restoring the promise of voter 
equality. Partisanship cannot be prioritized over the people of 
America. Voter suppression has to stop now.

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