Garamendi Votes for Historic Voting Rights Bill; Calls for Urgent Action in the U.S. Senate

Statement

Today, Congressman John Garamendi (D-CA) voted to send the "Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act" (H.R. 5746) to the U.S. Senate for urgent consideration. This legislation would protect and expand voting rights in the face of unprecedented attacks against the right to vote by state legislatures across America.

"My vote for the "Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act' is one of the most critically important votes I've taken throughout my tenure in Congress," Garamendi said. "In 2021, 19 states enacted 33 laws that make it harder for Americans to vote--especially for Americans of color. Never since the Voting Rights Act of 1965 has America witnessed such a coordinated and comprehensive partisan attack on voting rights."

"The craven attacks and lies by former President Trump in the wake of his lawful and legitimate defeat in the 2020 election to President Biden have catalyzed the Big Lie that Republican legislatures across America have used to enact unprecedented legislation to attack American democracy," Garamendi continued.

"Our hallowed democracy is the foundation of America. Without it, we do not live in the free and fair society that our Founding Fathers aspired to. That's why, today, House Democrats came together to pass the "Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act.' This legislation upholds the principle of one person, one vote and protects the unassailable right to vote from any partisan attacks," Garamendi continued.

"The Democratic United States House of Representatives has done its job and passed the most significant and critically important voting rights bill of this century. I call upon my colleagues in the U.S. Senate to put country over party and immediately pass this legislation to protect voting rights for every American," Garamendi concluded.

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