[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 10]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 13999]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




         RESTORATION TUESDAY: UNITED WE STAND, DIVIDED WE FALL

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. TERRI A. SEWELL

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 28, 2016

  Ms. SEWELL of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to address the 
dangerously divisive effect that voter suppression has had on this 
country and the pressing need to restore the vote.
  The unique diversity of the people of the United States of America is 
indeed one of our greatest strengths. However, it is our unity of 
principles that forms the strong foundation that our greatness is built 
upon. This country stands on the principles of liberty, justice and 
equality for all. In order to maintain our position and place as one of 
the greatest nations in the world, we simply cannot stand for any 
efforts that would suppress a fundamental right of the American people. 
The right to a vote--to a voice is the cornerstone of our democracy and 
we cannot continue to stand by idly while the right to vote continues 
to be trampled on simply because of Congress' apathy and failure to 
act.
  Following the 2013 Supreme Court decision asking for a new 
preclearance formula in Shelby v. Holder, states all across the country 
put in place new suppressive voting laws making it harder, not easier 
for Americans to vote. The elderly, disabled, students and minorities 
have been disproportionately affected by these new laws blocking 
hundreds of thousands of Americans from the ballot box. It has been 
three years since the Supreme Court decision asking Congress for a 
modern-day preclearance formula--and for three years, Republican 
leaders in Congress have refused to take up bipartisan legislation to 
restore the Voting Rights Act.
  This is an election year and with less than 50 days from the 
Presidential election, we are facing the first time in over 50 years 
that Americans will not have the full protection of the Voting Rights 
Act of 1965. We are in desperate need for immediate action to voting 
rights in this country. These threats to our democracy and civil rights 
bar thousands of Americans from their right to the voting polls. 
Division in this country is both dangerous and destructive. We are 
never better when rights are restricted and we are always stronger when 
all voices can be heard. This is still the United States of America and 
as elected officials and conduits of the Constitution--voting rights 
deserves our undivided attention.
  On this Restoration Tuesday, I give us all the charge to battle 
against the continued suppression of the American vote and stand strong 
by our principles of democracy, liberty and justice for all. Mr. 
Speaker, my Republican colleagues should join the 178 members of 
Congress and support H.R. 2867--the Voting Rights Advancement Act of 
2015. Let's restore the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and give all 
Americans access to the voting polls--it's the right thing to do.

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