District Of Columbia House Voting Rights Act Of 2007

Floor Speech

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HOUSE VOTING RIGHTS ACT OF 2007 -- (House of Representatives - April 19, 2007)

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to provide my strong support for H.R. 1905, The District of Columbia House Voting Rights Act of 2007. Ensuring that all citizens have the opportunity to participate in our democracy is a responsibility I take very seriously and H.R. 1905 is one legislative measure that seeks to achieve this objective.

We take pride as a Nation for the numerous freedoms extended to our citizens; however, the United States is the only democracy in the world that deprives the residents of its capital full voting representation in the legislature. For the past 200 years, District of Columbia residents have fulfilled their responsibility as citizens in countless ways such as serving in the military, paying federal taxes and serving on juries. Their rights should now be extended to include having a voice in the United States Congress.

There is no place in our democracy for the 206-year-old injustice of ``taxation without representation'' for the over half a million District residents. With 82 percent of our Nation's citizens in support of expanding this fundamental right to vote to all citizens, the time is now to correct this injustice and restore democracy in our Nation's capital.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to capitalize on this opportunity to extend to District residents an entitlement cherished so deeply by citizens of the United States--the right to vote.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source