[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 12]
[Senate]
[Page 15654]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                           VOTING RIGHTS ACT

  Mr. CRAPO. Mr. President, I rise today to express my support for the 
Voting Rights Act, VRA. Unfortunately a longstanding medical 
appointment kept me from casting my vote in favor of this legislation 
last week and I want there to be no question as to my support for the 
VRA. For over 50 years, the VRA has protected the cornerstone of 
democracy: the right to vote. Congress enacted the VRA in response to 
evidence that some States and counties had denied many citizens access 
to the ballot because of their race, ethnicity, and language-minority 
status. The creators of this law were convinced, as am I, that a strong 
America is one that reflects the feelings and opinions of all 
Americans. That means that everyone has the right to vote.
  Provisions of the VRA prohibit election laws that would deny or 
abridge voting rights based on race, color, or membership in a language 
minority. The act allows citizens to challenge discriminatory voting 
practices and procedures and prohibits the use of any test or device as 
a condition of voter registration. Such provisions seem like common 
sense today, but they were not always so widely supported. We must 
recommit today not to return to the mistakes of yesterday. I am pleased 
that the Senate approved the reauthorization of this critical act. It 
correctly ensures that every citizen has a stake and a voice in our 
country's future.

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