[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 73 (Monday, April 29, 2024)]
[House]
[Page H2639]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                              {time}  1215
                    FIGHTING FOR FAIR ELECTORAL MAPS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
North Carolina (Mr. Nickel) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. NICKEL. Mr. Speaker, in a time when public trust in government is 
declining, the American people deserve a fair and transparent 
redistricting process that ensures that every voice and every vote is 
heard and accounted for.
  The number of truly competitive districts is also declining in the 
U.S. Congress. We are seeing more polarization and less willingness to 
work across the aisle to do what is right for our country.
  Unfortunately, in North Carolina and across the country, partisan 
gerrymandering has been used as a tool by politicians of both parties 
to manipulate electoral outcomes with almost surgical precision.
  Some people in North Carolina have seen their district lines and 
their Representative in Congress change four times in the last 10 years 
because of gerrymandering by the North Carolina General Assembly. 
Courts threw out electoral maps drawn by Republican legislators three 
times in the past decade due to gerrymandering: in 2016, 2019, and 
2021.
  We recently, though, had a brief moment of relief. In the last 
election, North Carolina voters sent seven Democrats and seven 
Republicans to the U.S. Congress under fair court-drawn maps for our 
50/50 State. North Carolina's 13th District, which I am proud to 
represent, is a true swing district.
  In 2023, our constituents had to suffer through yet another 
unprecedented redraw, resulting in yet another partisan gerrymander for 
North Carolina. The maps are again being litigated in the courts.
  This story isn't unique to North Carolina, and the problem isn't just 
with the current politicians in our State legislature. History has made 
one thing clear: Politicians can't be trusted to fairly draw their own 
maps. That is why I introduced the FAIR MAPS Act. The FAIR MAPS Act 
would combat partisan gerrymandering by establishing independent, 
nonpartisan redistricting commissions in every State.
  The Duke University Quantifying Gerrymandering team recently found 
that if we end gerrymandering, there could be 37 to 42 additional 
competitive House seats around the country, which would double the 
number of competitive seats in Congress compared to the under 40 that 
are available today.
  That is a big deal. Competitive districts are where we can have a 
real debate about the best ideas and elect Representatives willing to 
work across the aisle to get things done. My bill, the FAIR MAPS Act, 
would help make that a reality, and it would strengthen our democracy.
  By ending partisan gerrymandering, we can restore fairness and ensure 
that voters are the ones choosing their politicians; not the other way 
around.
  This is something that has been tried and has worked in a handful of 
States already. In Arizona, Colorado, and others, independent and 
nonpartisan redistricting commissions have drawn electoral maps that 
are more responsive to the will of the people than maps drawn by 
politicians in other States.
  Voters should choose their politicians; politicians shouldn't choose 
their voters. While my name will not be on the ballot in 2024, I am not 
giving up or going out quietly in the fight for fair maps and an end to 
partisan gerrymandering. I will continue to fight with every ounce of 
my energy for an end to partisan gerrymandering and to protect the 
right to vote for every single North Carolinian.


         Congratulating the UAW on Historic Contract Agreement

  Mr. NICKEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the hardworking men and 
women of the UAW in my home State of North Carolina. UAW workers 
reached a historic new agreement with Daimler Trucks, which included a 
record wage increase, profit sharing for the first time ever, a cost-
of-living increase, and much more.
  Right now, support for unions is near an all-time high, and we are 
seeing this momentum pick up in North Carolina and across the South. I 
am proud to stand with the new generation of workers as they exercise 
their collective strength and make their voices heard.
  Unions built our middle class, and I will always stand with the men 
and women of labor at the local, State, and Federal levels.
  Once again, I congratulate the UAW on this historic contract 
agreement.

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