[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 9]
[House]
[Page 11392]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      EX-FELON VOTING RIGHTS BILL

  (Ms. CARSON of Indiana asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to say that we have 
celebrated for veterans during the Memorial Day weekend in a very 
proper and respectful way.
  Last evening, I introduced legislation that would correct an inequity 
for our veterans. Many would be surprised to learn that veterans who 
have served honorably in the United States military who have been 
discharged honorably, who subsequently, because of posttraumatic stress 
disorder, find themselves within the walls of prisons on a felony 
conviction, when they are released after they have served their time, 
Mr. Speaker, many of them in certain States are denied the right to 
vote.
  Disenfranchisement of those who jeopardized their lives in our 
defense of democratic ideas is an offense to the conscience of our 
Nation. Denying veterans who committed a crime and served their 
sentences the right to vote is unconscionable.
  This bill would give liberty and justice for all people, Mr. Speaker, 
especially for our veterans. I would encourage every Member of the 
House who respects and loves and honors the veterans of this Nation to 
sign on as a sponsor of this legislation.

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