Fannie Lou Hamer, Rosa Parks, and Coretta Scott King Voting Rights Act Reauthorization and Amendments Act of 2006

FANNIE LOU HAMER, ROSA PARKS, AND CORETTA SCOTT KING VOTING RIGHTS ACT REAUTHORIZATION AND AMENDMENTS ACT OF 2006

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 9, the Fannie Lou Hamer, Rosa Parks, and Coretta Scott King Voting Rights Act reauthorization. Since the law's inception in 1965, this landmark legislation has protected the right to vote for millions of United States citizens.

There has been great progress made since the Voting Rights Act was signed into law by President Johnson on August 6, 1965. But, so much more must be done. There are still many places in our country where Americans experience discrimination when they go to the polls. In order for the United States to truly be the greatest nation ever known, we must ensure that when citizens choose to go to the polls, they do not face obstacles created to disenfranchise them.

Our Nation's history is replete with examples of people's right to vote being impeded. Furthermore, unconscionable violence and discriminatory obstacles such as poll taxes, literacy tests and grandfather clauses were used to deny African American citizens the right to vote. The Voting Rights Act provided extensive protection to minority communities by prohibiting any voting practice that would abridge the right to vote on the basis of race. In 1975, the Voting Rights Act was expanded to protect the voting rights of other minority voters--such as Latinos, Native Americans, Asian Americans and Alaskan Natives--by requiring language assistance at the polls.

From California to Texas to my home State of New York, minority voters have a greater voice in elections due to the Voting Rights Act. In fact, my home State of New York is directly affected by two important sections of the Voting Rights Act. Voters in the majority of districts in New York State are provided with important language materials to assist them in the voting process if English is not their native language. In addition, voters are also protected by having any new State voting rules and regulations approved by the Federal Government before they can be enacted. Extending the Voting Rights Act is essential to protecting the voting rights of New Yorkers as well as voters throughout the country.

The Voting Rights Act is one of the most effective civil rights laws ever enacted. Reauthorizing the Act is vital to ensure that the progress made, is preserved.

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