FANNIE LOU HAMER, ROSA PARKS, AND CORETTA SCOTT KING VOTING RIGHTS ACT REAUTHORIZATION AND AMENDMENTS ACT OF 2006 -- (House of Representatives - July
FANNIE LOU HAMER, ROSA PARKS, AND CORETTA SCOTT KING VOTING RIGHTS ACT REAUTHORIZATION AND AMENDMENTS ACT OF 2006 -- (House of Representatives - July 13, 2006)
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Ms. HARMAN. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong opposition to the amendment
Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the Voting Rights Act and in strong opposition to this amendment to strike renewal of section 203, a key provision.
The Voting Rights Act is a touchstone of the American Civil Rights movement. It brought millions of Americans into the heart of American democracy. The Act demonstrated to the world, and to history, that we are capable of recognizing the mistakes of our past and acting to fix them.
This is a subject I know intimately. Many years ago, in the early 1970s, I served as Chief Counsel to the Constitutional Rights Subcommittee of the Senate Judiciary Committee. in 1975, the Subcommittee managed amendments to the Voting Rights Act, and we drafted, debated, and passed section 203 on my watch.
I knew then that section 203 was a vital protection of voting rights. It is no less important today.
By 1975, poverty, poor education, and institutionalized discrimination had combined to turn English-only ballots into a de facto literacy test. Many citizens did not register to vote because they could not read election materials or communicate with poll workers.
Section 203 helped lower these barriers by requiring that jurisdictions with a significant population of ``language minorities'' provide election information in more than one language. It has since been applied to 500, jurisdictions in 31 states.
The success of section 203 cannot be overstated. Study after study has demonstrated that when bilingual assistance is provided, more citizens register to vote, and more registered voters go to the polls. And since 1975, minority voter registration has continued to climb and more minorities have been elected to public office. The result is a stronger, more vibrant, and more representative democracy.
But the job is not yet done.
Today, as in 1975, millions of Americans do not speak fluent English. Some are recently naturalized citizens. Many others are native-born citizens, who may have been raised in homes where English was not their primary language. Because of poor schooling, discrimination, or other factors, these citizens still may not be proficient in English.
Section 203 gives these Americans a voice, allowing them to participate in their native languages
We must remember that the individuals protected by section 203 are citizens. They are family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers. And they are entitled to the same rights as any other citizen--including the right to cast an informed vote.
I urge my colleagues to defeat this amendment.
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