Congresswoman Lee Issues Statement on Republicans' Vote to Block Consideration of the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act
Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) issued the following statement after Senate Republicans blocked the urgently needed Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act:
“On Monday, Republican Senators shared images of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. speaking to crowds about freedom and equality, about the sanctity and fragility of democracy.
“On Wednesday night, they voted against everything Dr. King stood for, striking down legislation that would have protected and expanded the right to vote to all Americans regardless of skin color, income, age, gender, ability, or location. History will not be kind to the Senators who took the side of Jim Crow, of unequal representation, of dark money controlling our country and thwarting the interests of the people.
“I commend the leadership of Senator Schumer for forcing this vote so that the American people can see clearly who is on their side. This outcome was not surprising, but is nonetheless painful. It is not a blow to Democrats, it is a blow to our democracy; the right to vote is not a partisan issue.
“I urge everyone who is angered or saddened by this outcome to channel those feelings into action. This is a setback, but it is not the end. I refuse to lose hope. As Dr. King reminded us, ‘change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle.’ We will keep fighting to abolish the undemocratic, unconstitutional filibuster, secure the right to vote for all Americans, and strengthen our democracy.”
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Congresswoman Lee is a member of the House Appropriations Committee and Chair of the Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations. She serves as Co-Chair of the Steering & Policy Committee, former Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, Chair Emeritus of the Progressive Caucus, Co-Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus Health Task Force, and Co-Chair of the Pro-Choice Caucus. She also serves as Chair of the Majority Leader’s Task Force on Poverty and Opportunity. As a member of the House Democratic Leadership, she is the highest ranking Black woman in the U.S. Congress.