On Voting Rights Act Anniversary, Congresswoman Lee Demands Action to Protect Americans’ Voices at the Ballot Box
Oakland, CA – Congresswoman Barbara Lee released this statement marking the 51st anniversary of the Voting Rights Act:
“Fifty-one years ago, our nation came together to ensure that all Americans had an equal voice at the ballot box. Since then, the Voting Rights Act has been reauthorized by large bipartisan Congressional majorities and signed by Presidents from both parties, most recently in 2006.
Sadly, it appears this bipartisan commitment to protect voting rights has ended.
Following the Supreme Court’s careless and callous gutting of the Voting Rights Act, Republicans have erected new and dangerous barriers to the ballot box. Since 2010, 22 states have passed new restrictions making it harder for millions of Americans to participate in our democracy.
No American should be denied their fundamental right to vote. We must be defiant against these attacks on the bedrock of our democracy.
On this anniversary, we must recommit to protecting the right of all Americans to vote. Two broadly supported bills, the Voting Rights Advancement Act (H.R. 2867) and bipartisan Voting Rights Amendment Act (H.R. 885), are before Congress. It’s past time for the Speaker to bring this important legislation to the Floor.
As members of Congress, we have a fundamental duty to protect the right of every American to participate in our democracy.”
# # #
Congresswoman Lee is a member of the Appropriations and Budget Committees, the Steering and Policy Committee, is a Senior Democratic Whip, former chair of the Congressional Black Caucus and co-chair of the Progressive Caucus. She serves as chair of the Democrat Whip Task Force on Poverty, Income Inequality and Opportunity.