Rep. Meeks Becomes Original Member of the Congressional Voting Rights Caucus

Statement

Today, U.S. Congressman Gregory W. Meeks joined the inaugural Congressional Voting Rights Caucus. The Caucus is dedicated to protecting every American's right to vote. In 2013, the Supreme Court's Shelby v. Holder decision struck down a key provision in the original Voting Rights Act of 1965 (VRA) that protected Americans from discriminatory voting laws and without it, the VRA lost effectiveness. Congressman Meeks is a cosponsor of a bill that would empower the VRA once again. Applauding the creation of the Congressional Voting Rights Caucus and announcing his membership, Congressman Meeks issued the following statement:

"For generations, minorities' constitutional right to vote has been under attack and sadly, the siege persists today. Some are intent on refusing their fellow Americans a right they themselves exercise freely. This deplorable history and perpetuation of disenfranchisement has resulted in Americans, disproportionately minorities, being turned away at the polls. To protect and give a voice to these disenfranchised citizens, my colleagues and I announced today the creation of the Congressional Voting Rights Caucus.

Members of our caucus will not sit idly by as the voices and votes of hard-working, tax-paying Americans are suppressed. For U.S. citizens, our right to vote is not a luxury, but it is at the very core of who we are as Americans.

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