[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 104 (Tuesday, June 15, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Page S4523]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             VOTING RIGHTS

  Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, a few weeks ago, toward the end of the 
legislative session in Texas, Texas Democrats in the statehouse staged 
a dramatic walkout, denying a quorum and preventing the Texas 
Republican majority from passing one of the most restrictive voting 
laws in this country.
  Texas Republicans could come back and reconsider the law in a special 
session, but the extraordinary measures taken by the State Democrats 
reflect the extraordinary damage of the voting law.
  Texas Republicans were on the verge of passing several alarming 
restrictions: reducing polling hours, eliminating drive-through voting 
and 24-hour voting centers. The proposed law would have made it easier 
for a judge to overturn an election and push back the start of Sunday 
voting--a measure that seemed designed to interfere with voting drives 
held by Black churches.
  Texas already has some of the strictest voting procedures in the 
country. The additional effort, in the wake of Donald Trump's Big Lie, 
directly targets all the ways poorer, younger, non-White, and typically 
Democratic voters cast their ballots.
  Of course, Texas is only the most recent flashpoint in the nationwide 
effort by Republican legislators to contract Americans' right to vote, 
as you well know, Mr. President.
  The tide of Republican voter suppression laws is a direct assault on 
our democracy and could disenfranchise tens of millions of Americans
  Today, I am proud to say, at the Democratic caucus lunch we will host 
the group of Texas Democrats who bravely fought the voter suppression 
law in their State. The topic of our discussion will be about how to 
come together to protect voting rights not just in Texas but across the 
country.
  Next week, the Senate will consider major voting rights legislation. 
Congress must take action to defend our democracy.

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