[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 12]
[Senate]
[Pages 16946-16947]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




      VOTING RIGHTS ACT REAUTHORIZATION AND AMENDMENTS ACT OF 2006

  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, one week ago, I stood behind President Bush 
as he signed the Voting Rights Act Reauthorization and Amendments Act 
of 2006 into law. The President gave a short speech about the 
importance of the legislation and his commitment to defending it. He 
even distributed a letter to all those in attendance celebrating this 
reauthorization. In his letter he acknowledged that ``further work 
remains in the fight against injustice, and each generation has a 
responsibility to write a new chapter in the unfinished story of 
freedom.'' I ask unanimous consent to insert his letter into the Record 
at the conclusion of my remarks.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. (See 
exhibit 1).
  Mr. LEAHY. Keeping the Voting Rights Act intact is important, but 
enforcing it is equally important. Now that Congress has passed the 
law--and the President has signed it--it is up to the President to 
ensure that this law and all of its provisions are enforced fully and 
faithfully. I was pleased last Thursday to hear the President commit to 
aggressive enforcement and to defend the Act from legal attacks. 
Article I of the Constitution provides for the Congress to write the 
laws, and Article II provides for the President to enforce them. 
Congress has done its part, and now the President must do his. I 
commended him for saying that he will.
  Last week I spoke to the Senate about a letter I had sent to the 
President in which I urged him not to follow his usual practice of 
signing a bill with his fingers crossed behind his back and later 
issuing a presidential signing statement undercutting the law that 
Congress passed. I return today to report to the Senate that, to the 
best of my knowledge, the President has accepted that advice and has 
not issued an after-the-fact signing statement. I thank the President 
for following this course. In fact, the material posted on the White 
House website includes a ``fact sheet'' in which the White House 
reaffirms the President's commitment ``to vigorously enforce the 
provisions of the law and to defend it in court.''
  The Voting Rights Act is the keystone in the foundation of civil 
rights laws and is one of the most important methods of protecting all 
Americans' foundational right to vote. Several generations have kept 
the chain of support for the Voting Rights Act unbroken, and now we 
have once again done our part to continue that legacy and revitalize 
the Act.
  We know that effective enforcement of these provisions is vital in 
fighting against discrimination that, unfortunately, still exists in 
this nation today. As the President has acknowledged, the wound is not 
healed and there is more to do to protect the rights of all Americans 
to vote and have their votes count.
  I also note for the record that today, two weeks after final passage 
of the House bill to reauthorize and revitalize the Voting Rights Act, 
and one week after the President signed that historic legislation into 
law, copies of Senate Report 109-295 have finally been printed. This is 
the committee report on S.2703 that I commented on during my statement 
to the Senate on July 27. It contains the objection of all eight 
Democratic members of the committee. As previously noted, it is unusual 
in that it does not represent the views of a majority of the committee 
and certainly does not represent the views of the Democratic sponsors 
of that Senate legislation.

                               Exhibit 1


                                              The White House,

                                        Washington, July 27, 2006.
       I send greetings to those celebrating the reauthorization 
     of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
       The Voting Rights Act is one of the most important pieces 
     of legislation in our Nation's history. It has been vital to 
     guaranteeing the right to vote for generations of Americans 
     and has helped millions of our citizens enjoy the full 
     promise of freedom. By refusing to give in to discrimination 
     and segregation, heroes of the Civil Rights Movement called 
     our country back to its founding ideals of freedom and 
     opportunity for everyone. Leaders like Martin Luther King, 
     Jr., and Thurgood Marshall believed in the constitutional 
     guarantees of liberty and equality and trusted their fellow 
     Americans to do the right thing to ensure these blessings for 
     every man, woman, and child.
       Over the years, our Nation has grown more prosperous and 
     powerful, and it has also grown more equal and just. Yet, 
     further work remains in the fight against injustice, and each 
     generation has a responsibility to write a new chapter in the 
     unfinished story of freedom. Reauthorizing this legislation 
     is an example of our continued commitment to

[[Page 16947]]

     a united America where every person is valued and treated 
     with dignity and respect.
       America is grateful for the sacrifices of citizens such as 
     Fannie Lou Hamer, Rosa Parks, and Coretta Scott King, after 
     whom the bill reauthorizing the Voting Rights Act was named. 
     I also appreciate the members of the House and Senate for 
     passing this historic legislation. By working together, we 
     can help build an America that lives up to our guiding 
     principle that all men and women are created equal.
       Laura and I send our best wishes on this special occasion.
     George W. Bush.

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