Norton, Lieberman, And Hatch Simultaneously Introduced Voting Rights Bill In House And Senate
Interview
Norton, Lieberman, And Hatch Simultaneously Introduced Voting Rights Bill In House And Senate
- Working together, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton and Senators Joe Lieberman and Orrin Hatch today re-introduced the D.C. House Voting Rights Act as Congress began the 111th session. The bill provides one vote for the citizens of the District of Columbia and an additional vote for the citizens of Utah, which narrowly missed getting an additional seat after the last census. In an additional breakthrough, the bill adds two permanent seats to the U.S. House of Representatives, bringing the number to 437, the first increase in the number of House members in 96 years.
Norton said, "We know from national polls that our bill has broad bi-partisan support from the American people, and we have every reason to believe that we will have the support this year of both houses of Congress and the new president. The residents of the District of Columbia could not be more fortunate that Sen. Lieberman and Sen. Hatch, our partners in the Senate, whose outstanding and dedicated leadership efforts almost prevailed last session, have continued to work closely with us. President-elect Barack Obama was a senate co-sponsor of the bill. I am very encouraged that with their help, we will see a history-making, bi-partisan increase in democracy for two jurisdictions and for our country."
Lieberman said, "With a new Congress and a new President - who was a cosponsor of this bill himself last year - I am hopeful that we can pass this legislation vital to the rights of the nearly 600,000 Americans living in the District of Columbia. The righting of this historic wrong is long overdue. The people of the District have been the direct target of a terrorist attack but they have no vote on how the federal government provides for their homeland security. Men and women of the District have fought bravely in our wars, many giving their lives in defense of our country, yet they have no vote on the serious questions of war and peace. It is time to grant a vote to those citizens living in our nation's capital so their voices can be rightfully heard as we debate the great issues of our time."
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