Voting Rights Act Reauthorization

VOTING RIGHTS ACT REAUTHORIZATION -- (House of Representatives - July 12, 2006)

(Mr. BACA asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Voting Rights Reauthorization Act of 2006.

Many brave men and women have fought against bigotry, injustice, inequality to secure the voting rights for all Americans. Many of our veterans who serve now and in the past, of all colors, of all races, have fought for the freedom that we enjoy today. They have sacrificed their lives so that every individual has the right to exercise their voting right.

The Voting Rights Act of 1965 is one of the greatest achievements of Congress because it has torn down arbitrary barriers to voting participation.

The VRA gave dignity, pride and hope to many who have been historically shut out of the democratic process and oppressed by the Jim Crow legacy.

I can remember my dad, a U.S. citizen, born here in the United States, when he first cast his first vote and told us the importance of voting. It was during that period of time that we knew the importance of voting and that every person, regardless of the limited English that they had, and my dad spoke very little English, but voted.

I encourage all of us to vote for the Voting Rights Act on a bipartisan basis, and both Republicans and Democrats are here to support a strong Voting Rights Act that extends the protection for the future generations.

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