Hoyer Statement on Five-Year Anniversary of the Supreme Court Decision in Shelby County v. Holder
Press Types
Press Release
For Immediate Release:
June 25, 2018
Contact Info:
Annaliese Davis 202-225-4131
WASHINGTON, DC - House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD) released the following statement today on the five-year anniversary of the Supreme Court decision in Shelby County v. Holder, which removed key voter protections:
“Five years ago, the Supreme Court struck down critical voter protections, leaving Congress with a responsibility to update the Voting Rights Act. Instead of taking action, the Republican Majority refused to do so and has doubled down on efforts in recent years to deny eligible Americans their voice in our democracy because they have not paid for a certain form of identification, because they missed a single election, or because they live in a district whose borders have been purposefully drawn to exclude them, among other reasons. These efforts disproportionately target minorities, seniors, and students and deny them their due representation in Congress. This cannot continue and must be addressed.
“I will continue to push for Congress to come together and do its job to protect American voters and to build on the bipartisan work begun when I authored the Help America Vote Act of 2002 and partnered with Rep. John Lewis, Terri Sewell, and others to offer legislation for the past five years to restore the protections the Supreme Court struck down. We must continue to strengthen and defend our democracy; Congress cannot continue to ignore this challenge.”
“Five years ago, the Supreme Court struck down critical voter protections, leaving Congress with a responsibility to update the Voting Rights Act. Instead of taking action, the Republican Majority refused to do so and has doubled down on efforts in recent years to deny eligible Americans their voice in our democracy because they have not paid for a certain form of identification, because they missed a single election, or because they live in a district whose borders have been purposefully drawn to exclude them, among other reasons. These efforts disproportionately target minorities, seniors, and students and deny them their due representation in Congress. This cannot continue and must be addressed.
“I will continue to push for Congress to come together and do its job to protect American voters and to build on the bipartisan work begun when I authored the Help America Vote Act of 2002 and partnered with Rep. John Lewis, Terri Sewell, and others to offer legislation for the past five years to restore the protections the Supreme Court struck down. We must continue to strengthen and defend our democracy; Congress cannot continue to ignore this challenge.”