[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 193 (Wednesday, November 3, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7700-S7701]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act

  Madam President, I also rise today before this really crucial vote 
because I want to make it clear that Democrats are not done on the 
issue of voting rights.
  First of all, I want to thank my colleague, Senator Murkowski, from 
Alaska, whose remarks we should all listen to because we do have some 
who are repeatedly preventing us from even debating voting rights 
legislation; most recently the Freedom to Vote Act.
  I want everybody to know we are not done fighting to ensure that 
every person in this country has equal and fair access to the ballot. 
We are not done because the cause we are fighting for here today is a 
just one and Americans want to see us protect their right to vote, and 
the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act does exactly that.
  This bill will restore and strengthen the 1965 Voting Rights Act, 
which is one of the most important bills in our Nation's history. It 
was a bipartisan rejection of racist attempts by States to deny the 
ballot to people of color, and it came after years of dedicated work by 
activists and lawmakers, including the late, honorable Congressman 
Lewis, who were and are intent on ensuring our country followed through 
on our Nation's most fundamental promise to its citizens: the promise 
that every United States citizen has an equal voice in our elections.
  For most of the decades following its passage, the provisions in the 
1965 Voting Rights Act have enjoyed bipartisan support. But in recent 
years, the power and protections of this crucial law have been gutted, 
and far-right legislators in States across our country are now passing 
laws that make it harder for communities of color to vote, all based on 
baseless claims about voter fraud and rigged elections.
  It is shameful and it really is anti-democratic, and it should be 
bigger than partisan politics. We should be able to come together on a 
bipartisan basis to pass a Federal prohibition on laws that restrict 
the right to vote based on race. Protecting each citizen's right to 
have a voice in our democracy should be as noncontroversial as naming 
post offices, because the right to vote is the cornerstone of our 
democracy, and attempts to weaken it weaken the foundation that we all 
depend on.
  Those are the stakes here: the foundation and future of our 
democracy.
  Without equal access to the ballot, how will people tell us what they 
want to see on most challenging questions of our time, like climate or 
healthcare or education or so much more?
  So even if many of my Republican colleagues disagree with me about 
the provisions included in this bill, they should at least allow us to 
move forward on a debate. If they have good-faith ideas how to protect 
every American's voice in our democracy, we are all ears. But we will 
need more than one or two Republicans in order to be able to have that 
debate on the floor and offer amendments.
  And if we can't get there, I think we need to be clear. As 
Congressman Lewis said: ``Nothing can stop the power of a committed and 
determined people to make a difference in our society.''
  To the people of my home State of Washington and to the country: My 
Democratic colleagues and I are committed and determined to pass strong 
voting rights legislation.
  And we can't keep bringing these bills to the floor only for 
Republicans to block even a debate. We need to use every legislative 
tool needed to get the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act to 
President Biden's desk. Whatever we have got to do to pass voting 
rights, if it means an exemption to the filibuster, then I believe we 
should do it. This cannot wait.
  Passing strong Federal voting rights protections into law will be the 
most important work this Congress does. We cannot let a Senate 
procedure stop us from protecting the right to vote in the United 
States of America.
  Let's make sure our democracy stays a democracy, and let's pass the 
John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, whatever it takes.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Republican leader.
  Mr. McCONNELL. This has become an almost weekly routine--my friends 
on the other side trying to give Washington unprecedented power over 
how Americans cast their vote.
  We don't have time to do the NDAA or an appropriations process, but 
we always have time for a few more of these stunts. In many of these 
bills, congressional Democrats propose to make themselves into a 
national board of elections.
  Today, there is a small difference. They want, instead, to hand that 
power to Attorney General Merrick Garland; different branch of 
government, same bad idea.
  I just want to add one observation from last night. Governors' races 
and State legislative seats weren't the only

[[Page S7701]]

things on the ballot last night. Yesterday, the deep blue State of New 
York--New York, the home of the Senate majority leader--had two of 
America's signature proposals for weaker elections actually on the 
ballot as ballot measures. Citizens got to vote directly on whether to 
open the door to two changes that the politicians wanted: same-day 
registration and no-excuse absentee voting, on the ballot in New York 
yesterday.
  And as of the latest tally a few minutes ago, both proposals were 
losing. They currently are both losing about 60/40. Even in deep blue 
New York, citizens appear to be rejecting the Democrats' demands for 
weaker elections.
  So I think there is only one question left: Where will the Mets and 
Yankees end up now?
  Surely Major League Baseball can't let them stay in New York after 
this.
  I urge a no vote.
  Mrs. MURRAY. Madam President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mrs. MURRAY. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The VICE PRESIDENT. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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