[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 129 (Wednesday, July 26, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E722]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              COMMEMORATING THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT OF 1965

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DANNY K. DAVIS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 26, 2023

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, fifty-eight years ago, the Voting 
Rights Act of 1965 became a staple in the fight to expand democracy to 
all Americans. Unfortunately, much of the ground gained from the law 
has since eroded. After the 2013 Supreme Court decision in Shelby 
County v. Holder that stripped essential oversight provisions from the 
Voting Rights Act, a tidal wave of anti-democratic practices washed 
over our country to systematically disenfranchise Black and brown 
voters, harkening back to the Jim Crow south.
  Over the past decade, Republicans have implemented restrictive 
changes to voting practices to intentionally exclude groups of voters. 
These tactics include reducing the number of polling locations to leave 
out locations where Democratic voters live, placing limitations on 
early voting and mail-in voting, implementing strict voter-id laws, 
gerrymandering voting-districts, enabling armed individuals to 
intimidate voters and election officials, purging voters from voter 
rolls, and declaring election fraud when Democratic candidates win. 
Furthermore, Republicans and right-wing media figures have spread 
incendiary lies about the U.S. election integrity, leading to far-right 
extremists storming the Capitol in a failed attempt to prevent the 
certification of the 2020 presidential election results.
  The idea of democracy is sacred. Democracy promotes self-governance. 
Democracy promotes settling our differences non-violently and the 
peaceful transition of power. Democracy promotes tolerance and 
inclusion. We stand at an unprecedented point in American history where 
the very existence of our democracy hangs in the balance. We must 
prevent extreme political actors from implementing anti-democratic 
voting practices.
  I am proud of the work Illinois has done to protect voting rights. 
For example, all Cook County polling locations offer same-day voter 
registration on election day. Additionally, Illinois has open-access to 
mail-in-voting. These provisions make it easier to vote, not harder. 
These provisions support greater democratic participation, not less. 
However, these provisions do not go far enough. Congress must protect, 
defend, and expand democracy at the federal level.
  Two years ago, the House passed the John R. Lewis Voting Rights 
Advancement Act of 2021, a bill that would require states to receive 
federal preclearance before implementing changes to voting practices if 
they have demonstrated a history of voting rights abuses over the past 
25 years. The bill would restore the oversights stripped from the 
Voting Rights Act by Shelby County v. Holder. Congress must enact the 
Voting Rights Advancement Act and bills like it if we are to ensure the 
survival of American democracy.
  Recent Supreme Court decisions on reproductive rights and affirmative 
action demonstrate that the struggle for equality has not ended for 
many groups in this country. We cannot grow complacent with the 
political victories secured thus far. We must defend the rights for 
which we have fought so hard, and we must remain steadfast in our march 
toward a true democracy where all citizens have the opportunity to 
participate equally.
  As we celebrate the anniversary of the Voting Rights Act, I know that 
democracy will persevere as the foundation of America because we will 
ensure that it does.

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