Restoration Tuesday: United We Stand, Divided We Fall
Floor Speech
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Ms. SEWELL of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to address the dangerously divisive effect that voter suppression has had on this country and the pressing need to restore the vote.
The unique diversity of the people of the United States of America is indeed one of our greatest strengths. However, it is our unity of principles that forms the strong foundation that our greatness is built upon. This country stands on the principles of liberty, justice and equality for all. In order to maintain our position and place as one of the greatest nations in the world, we simply cannot stand for any efforts that would suppress a fundamental right of the American people.
The right to a vote--to a voice is the cornerstone of our democracy and we cannot continue to stand by idly while the right to vote continues to be trampled on simply because of Congress' apathy and failure to act.
Following the 2013 Supreme Court decision asking for a new preclearance formula in Shelby v. Holder, states all across the country put in place new suppressive voting laws making it harder, not easier for Americans to vote. The elderly, disabled, students and minorities have been disproportionately affected by these new laws blocking hundreds of thousands of Americans from the ballot box. It has been three years since the Supreme Court decision asking Congress for a modern-day preclearance formula--and for three years, Republican leaders in Congress have refused to take up bipartisan legislation to restore the Voting Rights Act.
This is an election year and with less than 50 days from the Presidential election, we are facing the first time in over 50 years that Americans will not have the full protection of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. We are in desperate need for immediate action to voting rights in this country. These threats to our democracy and civil rights bar thousands of Americans from their right to the voting polls.
Division in this country is both dangerous and destructive. We are never better when rights are restricted and we are always stronger when all voices can be heard. This is still the United States of America and as elected officials and conduits of the Constitution--voting rights deserves our undivided attention.
On this Restoration Tuesday, I give us all the charge to battle against the continued suppression of the American vote and stand strong by our principles of democracy, liberty and justice for all.
Mr. Speaker, my Republican colleagues should join the 178 members of Congress and support H.R. 2867--the Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2015. Let's restore the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and give all Americans access to the voting polls--it's the right thing to do.
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