[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 9]
[Senate]
[Page 12258]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   VOTING RIGHTS REAUTHORIZATION ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHRIS VAN HOLLEN

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 21, 2006

  Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Speaker, I am disappointed by the Republican 
leadership's decision to pull this important bipartisan legislation 
from Floor debate this week. The Voting Rights Act has made a 
significant difference in ensuring the full inclusion of minorities in 
the American political process. The legislation pulled today will 
extend for 25 years key provisions that are set to expire in 2007. 
While this country has a rich history of valuing the right to vote, it, 
unfortunately, has a checkered past in ensuring the full access that 
the Constitution guarantees.
  The Voting Rights Act was signed into law 5 months after voting 
rights protesters were beaten as they walked from Selma to Montgomery, 
Alabama on what became known as ``Bloody Sunday.'' Earlier this week, I 
held a forum on the need to extend the Voting Rights Act. I heard 
personal stories from my colleagues in Congress and members of the 
civil rights community that illustrate the need to extend this 
legislation. I commend Congressmen John Conyers, Mel Watt and other 
members of the Judiciary Committee for their hard work on this bill. I 
hope that the Republican Leadership can resolve its issues with this 
landmark legislation and bring it to the House floor as soon as 
possible.

                          ____________________