[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 9]
[House]
[Page 13175]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                           VOTING RIGHTS ACT

  (Mr. GALLEGO asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. GALLEGO. Mr. Speaker, on August 6, we will celebrate the 50th 
anniversary of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
  Mr. Speaker, this landmark law codified protections to guarantee 
every American's right to vote. For the past five decades, the Voting 
Rights Act has broken down barriers that discouraged or outright 
prohibited citizens from voting.
  The VRA led to a more inclusive electoral system that increasingly 
reflected the diversity of the American people.
  Mr. Speaker, the right to vote is central to who we are as Americans 
and to our democracy.
  But this cornerstone of American civil rights is unfortunately being 
threatened today. In too many places across the country, we have seen 
new measures that create barriers that make it harder to register or 
vote.
  On this 50th anniversary, we must redouble our commitment to 
strengthening the Voting Rights Act. We can start by restoring the 
Voting Rights Act to ensure that the rights of all Americans that go to 
the ballot box and cast a ballot are protected.

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