Congresswoman Brown Joins Tri Caucus in Support of Strengthening Voting Rights Act

Statement

Today, Congresswoman Corrine Brown joined her House colleagues in the Tri Caucus to demonstrate her strong support for the Voting Rights Act (1965 VRA). For the last 50 years, the Voting Rights Act has helped secure the right to vote for millions of Americans.

"I wholeheartedly believe that the Voting Rights Act of 1965 is one of our country's most significant civil rights laws," Congresswoman Brown said. "Nothing is more fundamental to what this nation stands for than ensuring that every American citizen has equal access to the polls."

Unfortunately, on June 25, 2013, the Supreme Court, in its 5-4 decision of Shelby County v Holder, took a giant step backwards on the Voting Rights Act by holding that the formula in Section 4 of the Act was unconstitutional and could no longer be used. However, the majority opinion also clearly stated that it was fully within the power of Congress to act to restore the Voting Rights Act, in line with the decision.

"Ever since 1965, the Voting Rights Act has been enacted and repeatedly renewed by wide bipartisan majorities in Congress," Congresswoman Brown pointed out. "For example, in its most recent reauthorization in 2006, the Voting Rights Act was renewed for 25 years by a vote of 390-33 in the House and 98-0 in the Senate."

"I stand with my colleagues in the Tri Caucus today to call upon Members on both sides of the aisle to continue that bipartisan tradition and work together to enact a legislative fix in response to the Supreme Court decision -- one that will succeed in ensuring that the Voting Rights Act protects the right to vote for years to come," the Congresswoman concluded.

"The ability to exercise the right to vote is the foundation of our democracy. Now more than ever, our nation needs to uphold the central tenets of the Voting Rights Act, which I believe are constitutional, as demonstrated by the voluminous legislative record that supported the 2006 VRA reauthorization. Although we have come a long way in this country, we still have a long way to go. And we need to protect the right to vote of every American and prevent any infringement of those rights -- whether by states, organizations or individuals, while upholding and even strengthening the Voting Rights Act," said Congresswoman Brown.

Source