Rep. Sewell Votes to Pass the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act, Urges Swift Senate Action

Statement

Today, U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell (AL-07) voted to pass the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act and send this voting rights legislation to the Senate. The bill, which combines critical provisions of the Senate's Freedom to Vote Act and the House-passed John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act (introduced by Rep. Sewell in August), passed in the House today by a vote of 220 to 203. Rep. Sewell spoke on the House Floor this morning urging the Senate to take swift action. Her remarks are included below:

Rep. Sewell: Mr. Speaker, as you know, voting rights is personal to me. It was in my hometown in 1965 on a bridge in Selma, Alabama, where John Lewis and the Foot Soldiers shed blood for the equal right of all Americans to vote.

Fifty-six years later, old battles have become new again as state legislatures erect direct barriers to the ballot box. 400 bills introduced. Thirty-four passed in nineteen states.

Once again, our nation is at an inflection point. Today, the House of Representatives will once again send voting rights over to the Senate and it MUST pass, Mr. Speaker.

I implore our Senators: Do what is right! You have changed your rules 150 times, most recently to raise the debt ceiling. If you can protect the full faith and credit of the United States, surely you can protect democracy.

The time is now. What we need is courage.

As we prepare to observe the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, let us remember that justice delayed can be justice denied.

Senators, we need your leadership. We need it now.

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