[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 17]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 22014]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        A TRIBUTE TO ED BONNETTE

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. ROBERT E. ANDREWS

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 14, 2006

  Mr. ANDREWS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Ed Bonnette, a man 
who was ``instrumental in lowering the national voting age to 18.
  Ed served as the New Jersey Chair for the Let US Vote 18 (LUV 18) 
Committee at the age of 20. His efforts, combined with the efforts of 
LUV 18 members in 10 other states, made it possible for the 26th 
Amendment to the Constitution to be ratified in 1971.
  The Let US Vote 18 Committee had placed referendums on New Jersey 
ballots throughout the 1960s, without success. In 1970, members of this 
group took their case before the Supreme Court. The Court agreed that 
the voting age must be lowered for Federal elections to comply with the 
Voting Rights Act of 1965. States soon realized it would be impractical 
to have separate voting systems for Federal and State elections, and 
subsequently moved to change the law. The 26th Amendment was the 
fastest yet to be certified, with Ohio's ratification making it 
official. In July of 1971, less than 100 days after the process began, 
President Richard M. Nixon officially signed the 26th Amendment into 
law, officially lowering the voting age to 18.
  Mr. Speaker, I commend Ed Bonnette today for all that he has done for 
the First Congressional District of New Jersey and our country. Ed's 
service is worthy of admiration, and I applaud him for his efforts.

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