[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 153 (Friday, September 3, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E953]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





          JOHN R. LEWIS VOTING RIGHTS ADVANCEMENT ACT OF 2021

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. KWEISI MFUME

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, August 24, 2021

  Mr. MFUME. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of a measure on 
which I am a proud original cosponsor--H.R. 4, the John R. Lewis Voting 
Rights Advancement Act of 2021. Named for my friend and classmate from 
the 100th Congress, Congressman John Lewis, H.R. 4 honors America's 
promise to keep our democracy open to all--regardless of gender, 
income, race, color, or creed.
  The Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 are 
some of the most consequential acts of Congress passed in our lifetime. 
The Voting Rights Act was a needed countermeasure to the voter 
suppression efforts emanating across many states as a part of America's 
``Jim Crow'' era.
  The Voting Rights Act required preclearance of changes and 
adjustments made to voting laws by certain states and local 
jurisdiction--jurisdictions with long and demonstrated histories of 
discrimination. The jurisdictions captured by the preclearance 
designation are said to be subject to the ``coverage formula.''
  In 2013, the Supreme Court struck down the ``coverage formula'' of 
the Voting Rights Act in many respects. The Court's rationale, with 
which I disagree, was the discrimination targeted by the original 
Voting Rights Act is outdated and is no longer relevant. It's a play on 
the notion of ``my ancestors discriminated against you, not me'' so 
there is no allowable remedy for that discrimination and its vestiges.
  The John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act updates the coverage 
formula component of the Voting Rights Act, using data, testimony, and 
evidence captured by the House Committee on Administration through 
various hearings and briefings. Over the course of 13 hearings in two 
Congresses, including six just this year, the House Judiciary Committee 
built a substantial record demonstrating the continuing and current 
need for preclearance protections. Additionally, the House 
Administration Committee's Elections Subcommittee conducted numerous 
hearings and issued a report on ``Voting In America: Ensuring Free And 
Fair Access To The Ballot.''
  The combined record shows that in the absence of a preclearance 
requirement, a number of states swiftly passed voter suppression laws, 
including many state and local jurisdictions that had previously been 
subject to preclearance before the 2013 Supreme Court decision. For 
example, within 24 hours of the ruling, Texas and North Carolina 
reinstated voter ID laws, which were later held to be intentionally 
racially discriminatory. These court rulings, however, came too late 
for many minority voters. In both states, their discriminatory laws 
were in effect for three years before being struck down, including 
during the 2014 midterm elections.
  In short, without preclearance, these states were able to hold 
elections under discriminatory rules that banned minority citizens' 
ability to vote, and those citizens had no remedy for the harm they 
suffered. The onslaught of voter suppression targeting minority 
citizens has continued unabated.
  Today, Americans face the worst voter suppression campaign in America 
since Jim Crow. State lawmakers have introduced over 400 voter 
suppression bills in 49 states this year alone. And at least 18 states 
enacted 30 laws that restrict access to the ballot, with likely many 
more on the way. These laws suppress the vote--they make mail voting 
and early voting more difficult, reduce availability at polling places, 
unleash a flurry of faulty voter purges, and exacerbate barriers at 
poll stations for Americans with disabilities, among other blatant 
suppression tactics.
  Now, with H.R. 4, the House is restoring the preclearance protection 
with a new formula, which is ironclad constitutionally and which will 
make significant progress to restore the purpose of the Voting Right 
Act: ``banish the blight of racial discrimination in voting.''
  As Members of Congress, our duty lies in upholding our democracy and 
serving the American people. Our nation provides the opportunity for 
its people to amplify their voices at the ballot box. The United States 
Constitution allows us to correct any underlying issue that poses a 
threat to this fundamental right.
  I urge my colleagues to cast their vote in favor of this critical 
measure and to protect every citizen's vote from the wave of voter 
suppression laws flooding our Nation. Americans deserve nothing less 
than the ability to participate freely in our nation's political 
process.

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