[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 10]
[House]
[Page 14025]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                               JUST DO IT

  (Mr. RUSH asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. RUSH. Mr. Speaker, I rise in the spirit of ``Just Do It.'' 
Congress must reauthorize the Voting Rights Act this week. No more 
delays, no more excuses. Just do it. Do it now. I say this with no 
degree of exaggeration. The Voting Rights Act is the essence of 
democracy.
  Mr. Speaker, many of us, including myself, would not be here on the 
floor of the House of Representatives if it were not for the original 
Voting Rights Act of 1965. It is, quite simply, one of the most 
important laws in the history of our Nation. Accordingly, previous 
Congresses have consistently reauthorized and renewed the Voting Rights 
Act in a deliberative, bipartisan manner. We must do the same. Don't 
empathize. Just reauthorize. Just do it.
  Mr. Speaker, as much progress as we made since the 1960s, we still 
must be vigilant. We still must strive for universal enfranchisement. 
For all of our successes, too many Americans face barriers to the basic 
right to vote.
  Mr. Speaker, don't apologize. Just reauthorize. Just do it. No more 
delay. Let's get this work done and get it done today.

                          ____________________