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 -- (House of Representatives - July 13, 2006)
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
(Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the reauthorization and against all amendments
Mr. Chairman, I rise to take part in an ongoing historic dialog that unfortunately, we must continue to address in the United States Congress.
The issue before us today is whether we should reauthorize certain sections of the Voting Rights Act. I grew up in the fifties and sixties when we had segregated water fountains, schools, an restrictions on voting.
We are here to decide if we should continue mandating pre-clearance for any changes in election policy in jurisdictions that are known to have a history of disenfranchising the rights of minority voters.
My home state of Texas is included on that list.
Over the last forty years, the renewal of this Act on this Floor has embodied what we hope this country will be: a Country where regardless of race, religion, or political party, we come together to ensure that the core of our democracy continues to thrive.
The right to vote is the core of our democracy and we must protect this right for all Americans.
Recently, the Department of Justice failed to pre-clear an election plan for a bond election in the area I represent.
Polling places were few, and it was the opinion of many that putting polling places only in select areas for this election was a violation of the Voting Rights Act.
DOJ agreed and the election has been postponed until a better plan can be put in place.
This is but one recent example of how the Voting Rights Act ensures people have access to the polls so their voice can be heard.
As we support an emerging Democracy in Iraq and the success of the elections that were held there, we need to remember that this Country has also struggled to achieve Democracy and one that everyone can participate in.
Let us be an example to Iraq in the world that a true Democracy includes ALL Americans and that we are committed to preventing the discrimination that millions of Americans had to endure in the past.
I urge my colleagues to reauthorize these Sections of the Voting Rights Act and send a message that this Country is still the example of how representative government should work.
http://thomas.loc.gov/