Hoyer Remarks at “VRA for Today” Coalition Launch

WASHINGTON, DC – House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD) delivered remarks today at the “VRA For Today” Coalition Launch. He joined civil rights, labor, and progressive leaders, voting rights advocates, and Members of Congress to express support for restoring the Voting Rights Act. Below is a transcript of his remarks:

“I want to thank [Rep.] Bobby Scott, [Rep.] Linda Sanchez, [Rep.] G. K. Butterfield, [Rep.] Judy Chu, [Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights President] Wade Henderson, [People for the American Way Vice President] Marge Baker, [ACLU Washington Office Director] Laura Murphy, [Bend the Arc Jewish Action Director] Hadar Susskind, [NAACP Washington Bureau Director] Hilary Shelton, and [Rep.] Charlie Rangel for their leadership… The right to vote is the most fundamental right in a democracy, the right to have one’s voice heard. Americans ought not to be locked out of the ballot box by requirements that they can neither meet nor should have to meet.

“As we learned in the 1960s during the movement for civil rights and voting rights, when people stand together they can affect change. That is what we’re doing here, standing together. Today, we are standing together and launching a coalition to restore the Voting Rights Act protections that were fought for, bled for, and some died for.

“I’m proud to be a co-sponsor of the Voting Rights Amendment Act with civil rights hero [Rep.] John Lewis. Since the [Shelby] decision that was made by the Supreme Court – which was a terrible decision – since that decision, state and local governments have rushed to limit access to the ballot boxes. Why? Not for fraud reasons – because case after case after case, judges find there is no fraud to be found – but because they believe those folks might not vote for them. That is not what America is. That is not what America needs to be. We’re not going to give up this fight for equal access to the ballot box because every American’s vote counts, every American’s right to vote ought to be protected.

“Wade, the answer [to your question] is, emphatically, I’m going to do everything I can with you and with everybody standing here, for those who have worked so long and so hard. I’m looking at [Rep.] Scott, but I could look at [Rep.] Linda [Sanchez], [Rep.] Terri [Sewell], [Rep.] Judy [Chu]. [Rep.] Charlie Rangel has been there longer than any of the rest of us in Congress. Thank you, Charlie Rangel, for your leadership. So, I’m pleased to join this group. It’s a leadership group. It’s a committed group. It’s an effective group. We’re going to get this done.”