OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

The Voting Rights Act

Floor Speech

Date: June 27, 2013
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Elections

Mr. JEFFRIES. Mr. Speaker, the Voting Rights Act has a strong bipartisan history. It was reauthorized by Congress in 2006 with the overwhelming support of both Democrats and Republicans.

Yet the Supreme Court, in striking down a key provision of this historic civil rights legislation 2 days ago, has undermined the integrity of the democratic process.

It was a jurisprudential hijacking of the principle of responsive and representative government. It's a decision that will go down in history, right next to the infamous Dred Scott opinion written way back in 1857.

The unencumbered right to vote is fundamental to the foundation of this democracy. In this regard, the Supreme Court has failed the Nation. Let's make sure that this Congress does not do the same.


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