Post by bot on Nov 3, 2015 19:10:30 GMT -5
Hoyer: Voting Rights Advancement Act Advances Our Democracy
WASHINGTON, DC – House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD) joined House Democratic leaders at a press conference today urging Congress to protect every American’s right to vote by passing the Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2015. Below is a transcript of his remarks:
“Thank you very much, Leader Pelosi. Thank you very much, Assistant Leader Clyburn. And thank you very much, Terri Sewell, the Representative of Selma, Alabama, which has been made so famous in the effort to make sure that everybody can vote.
“Democracy is about inclusion. Democracy is based upon the theory that the more people that participate, the better product we will have in a democracy. Shelby County, which has been famous for excluding people, came to [the Supreme] Court and said the situation has changed. And, unfortunately, five of the [Supreme Court] justices believed that was the case [and sided in their favor], but urged Congress to accommodate the new circumstances. This is what this [Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2015] bill does. It’s called an Advancement Act. It’s an advancement of our democracy.
“Justice Ginsberg, in the dissenting opinion [in Shelby County v. Holder], said that the Voting Rights [Act] that [President] George W. Bush signed in 2006 ought to remain in place, and made a compelling analogy, in my opinion. She said that the majority [in the Court] had an umbrella up, and it was raining hard, but they weren’t getting wet. And so they decided to give the umbrella away. And when they did so, millions of the excluded have been soaked in the bad policy of exclusion. This bill intends to and tries to and will bring them in, out of the rain, into inclusion. That is why this bill is so important. That is why this bill should be passed.
“That is why every Tuesday, not just when we’re in session, but every Tuesday, which is the voting day in America – it is the voting day today in Virginia and in Tennessee and in some other places – and in Texas and in California. Today, people are voting. That is what democracy is about. That is what ‘Restoration Tuesday’ is about, making sure that everybody can vote and that everybody’s vote is counted.
“I am so proud to join all of my colleagues here and the Caucuses that represent so many people who find every day that they’re excluded, but that must never be excluded from full participation in our democracy. I am now pleased to yield to the Chairman of our Democratic Caucus, Mr. Becerra.”