[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 57 (Friday, March 26, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E306]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              INTRODUCTION OF THE OUR HOMES OUR VOTES ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                     HON. JESUS G. ``CHUY'' GARCIA

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, March 26, 2021

  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 and my colleague from Georgia, Nikema Williams. 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 and verify their income 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.

                          ____________________