Voting Rights
Every election, Americans head to the polls to exercise their most fundamental right – the right to vote. Unfortunately, Republicans at the state and federal levels have engaged in an unprecedented attack on voting rights and our democracy, and embraced f
Every election, Americans head to the polls to exercise their most fundamental right – the right to vote. Unfortunately, Republicans at the state and federal levels have engaged in an unprecedented attack on voting rights and our democracy, and embraced false conspiracy theories that undermine public confidence in our voting systems.
In the 117th Congress, Democrats passed H.R. 1, the For The People Act, which would promote government transparency, strengthen access to the ballot box, secure election infrastructure, and curb the influence of dark money in politics. The House also passed H.R. 4, the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2021, which would reauthorize key portions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 that were struck down in the Supreme Court’s flawed Shelby County v. Holder and Brnovich v. DNC decisions. In addition, the House passed H.R. 5746, the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act, which would set basic nationwide standards for how elections are conducted and take action to end partisan gerrymandering. Senate Republicans shamefully continue to obstruct these vital pieces of civil rights legislation and attack our democracy.
Democrats will continue to protect our democracy, advance the cause of voting rights, and expand access to the ballot box. We will fight to ensure that misleading information does not deter Americans from participating in our democracy and having confidence in the results of our free and fair elections.
In the 117th Congress, Democrats passed H.R. 1, the For The People Act, which would promote government transparency, strengthen access to the ballot box, secure election infrastructure, and curb the influence of dark money in politics. The House also passed H.R. 4, the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2021, which would reauthorize key portions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 that were struck down in the Supreme Court’s flawed Shelby County v. Holder and Brnovich v. DNC decisions. In addition, the House passed H.R. 5746, the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act, which would set basic nationwide standards for how elections are conducted and take action to end partisan gerrymandering. Senate Republicans shamefully continue to obstruct these vital pieces of civil rights legislation and attack our democracy.
Democrats will continue to protect our democracy, advance the cause of voting rights, and expand access to the ballot box. We will fight to ensure that misleading information does not deter Americans from participating in our democracy and having confidence in the results of our free and fair elections.
Voting Rights Related
Wanted to be sure you saw this Medium post by House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (MD) published today on the twentieth anniversary of the signing of the Help America Vote Act and the need to protect our democracy by conducting safe and secure elections.
Like their counterparts in Georgia and Florida, Republican state legislators in Arizona have chosen to disenfranchise hundreds of thousands of people rather than having to compete in free and fair elections. This law, signed yesterday by Governor Ducey, now enters the history books as one of the worst anti-voting measures to be approved since the end of the Jim Crow era in our country.
Once again we are seeing Republicans across the country, this time in Florida, restricting the right to vote under the guise of maintaining ‘election integrity.’ Make no mistake: the legislation that passed the Florida Legislature late last night is a thinly-veiled attempt to suppress access to the ballot box – particularly for Americans of color – and allow for continued Republican control across the state.
WASHINGTON, DC – House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (MD) joined MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” today to discuss the upcoming House vote on DC statehood legislation, the American Jobs Plan, and progress on policing legislation. Below are excerpts of his remarks and a link to the video:
WASHINGTON, DC – This afternoon, House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (D-MD) led a press conference with Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Speaker Nancy Pelosi (CA-12), Oversight and Reform Committee Chairwoman Carolyn B. Maloney (NY-12), and Senator Tom Carper (D-DE) ahead of Thursday’s vote in the House on H.R. 51, the Washington, DC Admission Act. Below is a transcript of his remarks:
Today marks the 100th day of the 117th Congress. In that time, House Democrats have passed important pieces of legislation and taken decisive action on behalf of the American people. Take a look at the major bills that have passed the House since the beginning of this Congress:
WASHINGTON, DC – House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (MD) released the following statement tonight after Governor Brian Kemp signed a sweeping voter suppression bill into law:
Since the 117th Congress began, House Democrats have taken action to advance a number of bills that address issues critically important to the American people.
I can think of no greater way of memorializing John Lewis and those who faced violence alongside him in Selma, fifty-six years ago today, than to take additional steps to protect and expand access to voting.
Now, the 117th Congress is facing one of the most daunting scenarios that we've seen. We faced daunting scenarios the last time we were in the Majority in 2009, 2007, but 2008, we had the Great Recession and we needed to respond.