[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 208 (Wednesday, December 9, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1121]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              INTRODUCTION OF THE OUR HOMES OUR VOTES ACT

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                     HON. JESUS G. ``CHUY'' GARCIA

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 9, 2020

  Mr. GARCIA of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce the 
Our Homes Our Votes Act along with my colleague from Pennsylvania, Mary 
Gay Scanlon. This bill will help close the voter turnout gap between 
rich and poor by making it easier for eligible tenants in federally 
subsidized housing to register to vote.
  People have fought and died for the right to vote in this country, 
but many still face barriers to voting. Tenants in federally subsidized 
housing already have their residence and identity verified by public 
agencies, and this bill will allow them to register to vote as they 
sign their lease without duplicating information or finding additional 
paperwork to fill out.
  The best way to confront this country's history of voter suppression 
is to remove barriers to voting that exist today. Eligible voters in 
working class districts like mine vote at lower rates than wealthier 
voters, and that discrepancy undermines our democracy. This bill is a 
step toward fixing that, and I urge this body to advance it.

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