Voting Rights
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.
As we begin the second session of the 114th Congress, there are a number of critical issues the American people expect to see Congress address.
This week, I join in marking two important anniversaries that are milestones on our nation’s continuing march toward full equality for all.
WASHINGTON, DC – House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD) joined House Democratic leaders at a press conference today urging Congress to protect every American’s right to vote by passing the Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2015. Below is a transcript of his remarks:
Twenty years ago, the Million Man March raised the consciousness of our nation and made it clear that challenges affecting African Americans could not be ignored by policymakers in Washington.
When the Voting Rights Act was passed, [Senator] Patrick Leahy and I were in law school just a few blocks from here at Georgetown Law School.
Two years ago, the equal access of every American to vote in our elections was dealt a serious blow by the Supreme Court, which invalidated part of the landmark Voting Rights Act that Congress passed and President Johnson signed in the wake of “Bloody Sunday” and the Selma-to-Montgomery marches in 1965.
There is no more important act in our democracy than casting one’s vote and having one’s voice heard equally in our government, which is why I’m pleased that Reps. Terri Sewell, John Lewis, Linda Sanchez, and Judy Chu introduced legislation today to restore the voting rights protections struck down by the Supreme Court two years ago this week.
Mr. Speaker, when the Supreme Court ruled in 2013 to invalidate the preclearance formula in the original Voting Rights Act, it issued a challenge to Congress to pass an updated one.
There is no reason why the Senate cannot vote immediately on the confirmation of Loretta Lynch to be our nation's next Attorney General.
I’m pleased to be joining Civil Rights Movement hero Rep. John Lewis, Assistant Leader Clyburn, Ranking Member Conyers, and Ranking Member Brady today to reintroduce the Voter Empowerment Act.