John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2021

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Ms. SEWELL. Madam Speaker, I rise today in full support of H.R. 4, the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.

Nothing is more fundamental to our democracy than the right to vote. Nothing is more precious to my district, Alabama's 7th Congressional District, the home of Birmingham, Montgomery, and my hometown of Selma, Alabama, than the fight to protect the right to vote for all Americans.

It was in my district that ordinary Americans peacefully protested for the equal right to vote for all Americans.

Nothing is more personal to me, nothing more represents America's civil rights district than to be able to stand here, as so many of us have, with John Lewis at the foot of the Edmund Pettus Bridge, as I announced with glee that we have reintroduced H.R. 4, the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.

It was on that same bridge in Selma, Alabama, that a 26-year-old John Lewis was bludgeoned by State troopers with billy clubs in the name of justice.

Their efforts led to the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the seminal piece of legislation in Congress to protect the right of all Americans to vote.

Those protections were gutted in 2013 by the Supreme Court's decision in Shelby v. Holder, and Section 2 was also affected by the most recent decision in Brnovich.

Today, 8 years after Shelby, Congress is finally answering the Supreme Court's call to action by passing H.R. 4.

H.R. 4 will create a new coverage formula to determine which States have been the most egregious actors and subject them to preclearance that is based on current evidence of voter discrimination.

Madam Speaker, old battles have indeed become new again. While literacy tests and poll taxes no longer exist, certain States and local jurisdictions have passed laws that are modern-day barriers to voting. As long as voter suppression exists, the need for the full protections of VRA will continue. We must fully restore the VRA.

Why? Because as John Lewis would say: When you hear something or see something that is not right, that is not just, that is not fair, we have a moral obligation to do something about it.

We, the Members of the House of Representatives, can today do something about it. Let's pass H.R. 4. Let's do so not just in the name of John Lewis; let's do so for the people, the American people. We must secure the right to vote.

Madam Speaker, I include in the Record 14 letters of support and statements of support from all across this Nation, from civil rights groups, from labor groups, from amazing folks who are fighting every day on the front lines for the right to vote. Statement of Administration Policy H.R. 4--John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2021--Rep. Sewell, D-AL, and 218 cosponsors

The Administration strongly supports House passage of H.R. 4, the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2021 (VRAA).

The right to vote freely, the right to vote fairly, the right to have your vote counted is fundamental. In the last election, all told, more than 150 million Americans of every age, of every race, of every background exercised their right to vote.

This historic level of participation in the face of a once- in-a-century pandemic should have been celebrated by everyone. Instead, some have sought to delegitimize the election and make it harder to vote, in many cases by targeting the methods of voting that made it possible for many voters to participate. These efforts violate the most basic ideals of America.

Yet another massive wave of discriminatory action may be imminent as we enter a new legislative redistricting cycle. Unfortunately, incumbents too often cling to power by drawing district lines to favor their own prospects at the expense of minority communities, choosing their voters instead of the other way around.

While anti-voter action undermines democracy for all Americans, we know that communities of color often suffer the worst effects of these measures--and all too often, that is not by accident.

The sacred right to vote is under attack across the country.

The VRAA will strengthen vital legal protections to ensure that all Americans have a fair opportunity to participate in our democracy. Among other things, it would create a new framework for allowing DOJ to review voting changes in jurisdictions with a history of discrimination to ensure that they do not discriminate based on race. It would also clarify the scope of legal tools designed to challenge discriminatory voting laws in court, ensuring that the Voting Rights Act offers protection against modern forms of voter suppression.

In an essay published shortly after he died, Congressman John Lewis wrote, ``Democracy is not a state. It is an act[.]'' This bill not only bears his name, it heeds his call. The Administration looks forward to working with Congress as the VRAA proceeds through the legislative process to ensure that the bill achieves lasting reform consistent with Congress' broad constitutional authority to protect voting rights and to strengthen our democracy. ____ August 18, 2021.

Dear Representative: On behalf of the Southern Poverty Law Center Action Fund, we write to urge you to support H.R. 4, the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, when the House considers this essential legislation next week. When enacted into law, this legislation will restore Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (VRA) and require states and localities with recent histories of racial discrimination to seek federal approval before implementing any voting changes; would require any state or jurisdiction to seek federal approval before implementing any voting practice known to have racially discriminatory impact; and would strengthen Section 2 of the VRA, which gives the Department of Justice and voters the ability to challenge discriminatory voting laws and practices.

Through our collaborative, intersectional work with community partners around the Deep South, the SPLC has witnessed first-hand continued efforts to suppress the vote and undermine the democratic process--particularly for communities of color--since the Supreme Court's Shelby County v. Holder decision in 2013. Earlier this week, during an oversight hearing held by the U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties on the need for federal voting rights protection legislation, SPLC submitted a series of detailed reports revealing current, consistent, and well-documented racial discrimination in voting in Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi for the legislative record. The reports highlight a range of recent and persistent efforts to make it more difficult to vote, from reducing early voting to closing polling places in majority-Black communities and banning Sunday voting that has the effect--and often the intent--of blocking Black voters and other voters of color from voting. The United States claims to be the world's oldest democracy, but from its founding to today it has never fully secured and defended the right to vote for all Americans, particularly Black Americans and other voters of color.

For generations, legislators of both parties and Americans across all ideologies have supported the VRA--because they have understood that for our democracy to be healthy, every voter in the country must have safe, easy, and equitable access to their fundamental right to vote. The VRA has extraordinary bipartisan roots. Passed in 1965, Congress has reauthorized the VRA four times since then, with four Republican Presidents signing the legislation into law: President Nixon in 1970, President Ford in 1975, President Reagan in 1982, and President George W. Bush in 2006. In 2006, after more than twenty hearings, with over 90 witnesses, and over 15,000 pages of evidence of ongoing voter suppression and discrimination, Congress approved a 25-year extension of the VRA by a vote of 98-0 in the Senate and 390- 33 in the House. More than ninety current Members of Congress voted for that legislation. Yet, notwithstanding well- documented findings and overwhelming congressional support, just seven years later, in the Shelby County decision, a 5-4 majority of the Supreme Court held that Section 5's coverage formula was not based on ``current conditions,'' and we lost a critical tool in the fight for equal voting rights--the Justice Department's opportunity to review and reject discriminatory voting changes in jurisdictions with a history of racial discrimination in voting.

Enactment of the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act will enable the federal government to once again act as a barrier to prevent racially discriminatory voting changes and help protect a democracy that works for all of us--no matter where we live. Congress should utilize every legislative tool in its capacity to get this done; democracy is too important to be subject to a minority veto.

Last month, Justice Elena Kagan wrote eloquently about the Voting Rights Act in her stirring dissent in another Supreme Court refusal to recognize and enforce broad voting rights, the deeply disappointing Brnovich v. Democratic National Committee decision:

``If a single statute represents the best of America, it is the Voting Rights Act. It marries two great ideals: democracy and racial equality . . . . If a single statute reminds us of the worst of America, it is the Voting Rights Act. Because it was--and remains--so necessary.''

We could not agree more.

In the wake of Supreme Court decisions that have significantly weakened the VRA, and a proliferation of state anti-voter laws--primarily in the South--Congress must act to restore the Voting Rights Act to its full vigor and promise and ensure that citizens in every state have broad opportunities to exercise their constitutional right to vote. Respectfully, LaShawn Y. Warren,

Chief Policy Officer. Nancy Abudu,

Interim Director of Strategic Litigation & Deputy Legal Director for Voting Rights. ____ August 23, 2021.

Friends: This week, the House is scheduled to take up the FY22 Budget Resolution (S. Con. Res. 14) and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act (H.R. 4), as well as the rule to consider these bills. The Human Rights Campaign urges Members to vote in favor of the rule, the budget resolution, and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. We will consider these key votes.

The FY22 Budget Resolution (S. Con. Res. 14) will pave the way for reconciliation. The provisions of that package will include paid leave, a long-needed benefit particularly for the 40% LGBTQ+ adults working in restaurants and food service, who often lack the ability to take leave care for a family member. It will also provide a pathway to citizenship for the approximately 75,000 LGBTQ+ Dreamers living in the United States, as well as the millions of TPS holders, many of whom are essential workers that have helped keep our country running during the pandemic.

The John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act (H.R. 4) would restore key voting rights protections that the Supreme Court gutted in the 2013 Shelby County v. Holder decision. Since the Supreme Court's decision, states and localities have brazenly pushed forward discriminatory changes to voting practices, such as changing district boundaries to disadvantage select voters, instituting more onerous voter identification laws, and changing polling locations with little notice. These laws especially disenfranchise people of color, the elderly, low-income people, transgender people and people with disabilities.

Transgender people are particularly vulnerable to voting discrimination and disenfranchisement due primarily to challenges around valid identification documents. Many transgender people do not have forms of ID that reflect their true gender identity, either because they are in the process of changing their documents or because they face financial or legal barriers to doing so. In addition, many LGBTQ+ people face compounded discrimination based on other characteristics, including race, age, disability, and economic status. These vulnerabilities weaken our entire community's voting power.

Again, we urge Members to vote in favor of the rule, S. Con. Res. 14, and H.R. 4. Best, David Stacy, Government Affairs Director, Human Rights Campaign. ____

Hi Hillary: J Street, along with over 100 other organizations, is proud to share our support for the newly reintroduced John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2021 (H.R. 4). The bill would restore the preclearance protections stripped from the Voting Rights Act and strengthen voting rights across the country.

With voting rights under threat, the passage of H.R. 4 would be a critical step toward protecting the future of our democracy and functioning governance.

J Street urges both co-sponsorship and a YES vote when the bill comes to the floor next week.

As always, please do not hesitate to let me know if you have any questions. All the best, Hannah Morris, Deputy Director of Government Affairs, J Street. ____ Tuesday, August 17, 2021. LDF Media For Immediate Release LDF Issues Statement on Introduction of H.R. 4, the John Lewis Voting

Rights Advancement Act, by the U.S. House of Representatives

Today, the U.S. House of Representatives introduced H.R. 4, the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, a much needed piece of legislation aimed at protecting the right to vote. In response, Sherrilyn Ifill, President and Director-Counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF) issued the following statement:

``We commend the House of Representatives for taking this critically important step in protecting the right to vote with its introduction today of the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, H.R. 4. This legislation provides the building blocks for Congress to fully engage in its duty to protect citizens from any efforts to restrict or abridge their most fundamental right--the right to vote.

``H.R. 4 includes provisions that would require states and localities with recent records of discrimination in voting to have their proposed voting changes reviewed before they are implemented to ensure they are not discriminatory. These provisions are crucial to ensure that people are not disenfranchised and able to freely participate in the political process. If these provisions had been in effect this year--as was the case prior to the Shelby County decision--the restrictive voting bills that were recently enacted in states, such as Georgia, Florida, and Arizona, would not have been able to go into effect unless and until the states proved that those laws would not discriminate against racial, ethnic, or language minorities.

``Time is of the essence. Today's introduction of H.R. 4 is the beginning of the process that ultimately must end in the passage of this critically important piece of legislation. With the fall election season nearly upon us and nation-wide midterm elections a year away, Congress must ensure that every voter--especially Black voters and other voters of color--can exercise their right to participate in the political process without barriers to having their votes cast and counted.'' ____ August 20, 2021.

Dear Representative: As President and CEO of the National Urban League, and on behalf of its 91 affiliates in 37 states and the District of Columbia, I am writing to express our strong support for H.R. 4, the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act as it is considered on the House floor this week. As a historic civil rights organization dedicated to ensuring that all people are able to exercise their fundamental right to vote, we stand with our fellow racial justice organizations in supporting this bill.

The John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act reauthorizes the Voting Rights Act, while putting in place ``fixes'' in response to the Shelby County v. Holder (2013) and Brnovich v. Democratic National Committee (2021) decisions. After the Shelby County decision, the number of discriminatory voting laws and practices have drastically increased across the country. The bill is in response to the current needs of this nation in the fight for voting rights, which have been presented in months-long congressional investigations and hearings. The Voting Rights Act has a long history of bipartisan support that must continue to prevent future inequitable bills and manipulative redistricting efforts from discriminating against voters of color.

Specifically, this legislation updates the ``preclearance formula'' that blocks discriminatory voting laws from being implemented by establishing a new review criterion that accounts for current conditions and requires federal review of specific voting practices known to impact voters of color. Additionally, the bill mandates greater nationwide transparency of voting laws and policy changes, expands and updates the frameworks that allow courts to ``bail in'' and ``bail out'' judicial review of jurisdictional practices, and restores voters' ability to legally challenge racially discriminatory changes in voting laws and policies. Lastly, the bill allows the Justice Department to compel documents to investigate voting rights violations, expands the federal observer program, and pauses discriminatory voting changes during judicial review.

This bill is a concrete way to advance the nation's fight against discriminatory voting laws which specifically target people of color. We will continue to support the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and other proposals that advance the fight for the rights, safety, and empowerment of all people in our nation.

For more information, please contact Yvette Badu-Nimako, Senior Director for Judiciary, Civil Rights and Social Justice at ybadu@nul.org. Sincerely, Marc H. Morial, President and Chief Executive Officer, National Urban League. ____ Pass the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act The bill would restore crucial protections that have been removed from the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

On Tuesday afternoon, Democratic lawmakers stood on consecrated ground--the foot of the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama.

The members of Congress weren't there simply to honor the sacrifices of the late civil rights icon John Lewis and the hundreds of other marchers who braved police tear gas and clubs for the right to vote, as they've done in the past. They were gathered to announce the introduction of the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act (H. R. 4), transformative legislation that would restore the protections of the Voting Rights Act that Lewis fought so hard to enact as a civil rights activist.

In 2013, the Supreme Court's infamous Shelby County v. Holder decision invalidated the 1965 law's Section 5 ``preclearance'' requirements. which prevented jurisdictions with a history of racial discrimination from changing voting rules without permission from the Justice Department or a federal court. In the ruling gutting the landmark civil rights law, Chief Justice John Roberts waved away concerns of new voting restrictions, claiming that ``nearly 50 years later, things have changed dramatically.''

Unfortunately, things have changed dramatically--just not how Roberts thought.

The danger of new voting restrictions is no longer theoretical. It's a grim reality. After record voter turnout in 2020, Republican state legislators around the country have responded by cracking down on the right to vote. Brennan Center research shows that this year, 49 states have introduced over 400 bills with provisions that make it harder to vote, 30 of which have become law in 18 states. Just last month, the Supreme Court's decision in Brnovich v. Democratic National Committee weakened Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, degrading citizens' ability to challenge policies that lead to voting discrimination.

This all paints a bleak picture as the nation's first redistricting cycle since the Shelby County decision looms, potentially redefining the balance of power in Congress and state legislatures for the next decade.

As my colleague Wendy Weiser told Congress yesterday, the bill named for Lewis is an essential step in turning the tide in this war on voting rights. Restoring preclearance and strengthening Section 2 of the original Voting Rights Act would undo much of the damage from the Brnovich and the Shelby County rulings.

President Biden has placed his full support behind it, and his Justice Department has told Congress that the bill must be passed so that the federal government can properly protect Americans' voting rights nationwide as the midterms quickly approach. The legislation would provide a desperately needed bulwark against continuing state voter suppression efforts.

Congress must pass the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act without delay. ____ Re: NHLA Urges Support of the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, H.R. 4 House of Representatives, Washington, DC.

Dear Representative: We write on behalf of the National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA), a coalition of the nation's leading Latino nonpartisan civil rights and advocacy organizations, to urge you to vote ``yes'' on the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2021 (VRAA), H.R. 4. This legislation restores necessary voting protections to ensure that discriminatory voting-related changes are blocked before they are implemented. There is no right more fundamental to our democracy than the right to vote, and for more than 50 years the Voting Rights Act (VRA) provided voters with one of the most effective mechanisms for protecting that right. H.R. 4 would provide Latino voters and other voters of color new and forward-looking protections against voter discrimination. NHLA will closely monitor all votes related to this legislation for inclusion in future NHLA scorecards evaluating Member support for the Latino community.

The VRA is regarded as one of the most important and effective pieces of civil rights legislation in our country's history because it protected voters of color from discriminatory voting practices before they occurred. In 2013, the Supreme Court, in its decision in Shelby County v. Holder, struck down the formula that determined which states and political subdivisions were required to seek federal pre- approval of their voting-related changes to ensure they did not discriminate against minority voters. After Supreme Court's decision, states or political subdivisions were no longer required to seek preclearance unless ordered by a federal court in the course of litigation. The Supreme Court put the onus on Congress to enact a new formula better tailored to current conditions.

H.R. 4 includes both a new geographic coverage formula to identify those jurisdictions that will have to ``preclear'' their voting-related changes and a new provision requiring practice-based preclearance, or ``known-practices coverage.'' Known-practices coverage would focus administrative or judicial review narrowly on suspect practices that are most likely to be tainted by discriminatory intent or to have discriminatory effects, as demonstrated by a broad historical record. Any jurisdiction in the U.S. that is home to a racially, ethnically, or linguistically diverse population and that seeks to adopt a covered practice will be required to preclear the change before implementation. The known practices covered under the bill include: (1) changes in method of election to change a single-member district to an at-large seat or to add an at-large seat to a governing body; (2) certain redistricting plans where there is significant minority population growth in the previous decade; (3) annexations or deannexations that would significantly alter the composition of the jurisdiction's electorate; (4) certain identification and proof of citizenship requirements; (5) certain polling place closures, realignments, or efforts to deny sustenance to voters waiting in line; (6) the withdrawal of multilingual materials and assistance not matched by the reduction of those services in English; and (7) certain voter registration list maintenance changes. Preclearance is an efficient and effective form of alternative dispute resolution that prevents the implementation of voting-related changes that would deny voters of color a voice in our elections. Preclearance saves taxpayers in covered jurisdictions a considerable amount of money because the jurisdiction can obtain quick decisions without having to pay attorneys. expert witnesses, or prevailing plaintiffs fees and costs that are incurred in complex and expensive litigation.

Across the U.S., racial, ethnic, and language-minority communities are rapidly growing-the country's total population is projected to become majority-minority by 2044. Between 2007 and 2014, five of the ten U.S. counties with the most rapid rates of Latino population growth were in North Dakota or South Dakota, two states whose overall Latino populations still account for less than ten percent of their residents, and are dwarfed by Latino communities in states like New Mexico, Texas, and California. It is precisely this rapid growth of different racial or ethnic populations that results in the perception that emerging communities of color are a threat to those in political power. H.R. 4 identifies different voting changes most likely to discriminatorily affect access to the vote in increasingly diverse jurisdictions whose minority populations are attaining visibility and influence. The approach is tailored to the current needs of voters today and is supported by a large body of evidence that shows that certain practices are used routinely to discriminate against voters of color.

Congress must protect the access to the polls, and it must include a known-practices coverage formula. H.R. 4 is a critical piece of legislation, including to the Latino community, that will restore voter protections that were lost after the Shelby County decision. NHLA urges you to stand with voters and to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 4.

Please feel free to contact Andrea Senteno, of MALDEF, at asenteno@maldef.org or

(202) 293-2828 with any questions. Sincerely, Thomas A. Saenz,

NHLA Civil Rights Committee, Co-Chair MALDEF, President & General Counsel. Juan Cartagena,

NHLA Civil Rights Committee, Co-Chair LatinoJustice PRLDEF, President & General Counsel. ____ House of Representatives, Washington, DC, August 23, 2021.

Re: MALDEF Support for the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2021, H.R. 4

Dear Congressmember: On behalf of MALDEF (Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund), I write to strongly urge you to support the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2021, H.R. 4. Following the 2013 Shelby County v. Holder decision, which effectively ended pre-clearance review under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (VRA), states and localities moved to implement discriminatory voting practices that would previously have been blocked by the VRA. What we have seen post-Shelby County confirms what we have long- known--that voter discrimination lives on. Congress must act to restore the pre-clearance coverage formula in the VRA, legislation that has long-enjoyed bipartisan support.

Founded in 1968, MALDEF is the nation's leading Latino legal civil rights organization. Commonly known as the ``law firm of the Latino community,'' MALDEF promotes social change in the areas of voting rights, immigrants' rights, education, employment, and access to justice. Since its founding, MALDEF has worked diligently to secure equal voting rights for Latinos and to promote increased civic engagement and participation within the Latino community. MALDEF played a leading role in securing the full protection of the VRA for the Latino community through the 1975 congressional reauthorization of the 1965 VRA. In court, MALDEF has, over the years, litigated numerous cases under Section 2, Section 5, and Section 203 of the VRA, challenging at-large systems, discriminatory redistricting, ballot access barriers, undue voter registration requirements, voter assistance restrictions, and failure to provide bilingual ballot materials.

Discrimination in voting, including against Latino voters, continues to be a serious and persistent threat to our democracy today. This is demonstrated in the comparative rates of voter registration and voter participation among racial groups, including Latinos. The 2020 presidential general election showed unprecedented numbers of voters participating and rates of eligible participation unseen in a century, but instead of celebrating this work to reduce voter suppression and continue a trend toward expanding the franchise, the election has been used to justify increased efforts to reduce minority voter participation in future elections. This is a continuation of a recent pattern of increasing voter suppression efforts, which stems from ongoing demographic changes, including in particular the unprecedented growth of the Latino voting community.

In the aftermath of Shelby County, MALDEF originated the idea of practice-based pre-clearance coverage as a limited complement to a geographic, history-based formula for broader pre-clearance coverage. Practice-based coverage would address the increasing introduction and enactment of voter suppression measures precisely in response to the growth of the local Latino community to a level viewed as a threat to the political establishment. Practice-based pre-clearance would focus administrative or judicial review narrowly on suspect practices that are most likely to be tainted by discriminatory intent or to have discriminatory effects, as demonstrated by a broad historical record. This coverage would extend to any jurisdiction in the U.S. that is home to a racially, ethnically, or linguistically diverse population and that seeks to adopt a covered practice, despite that practice's known likelihood of being discriminatory when used in a diverse population.

While litigation, by private parties and by the Department of Justice, under Section 2 of the VRA remains a powerful means to stop voter suppression, such litigation is not sufficient to address all the current and future potential for elections changes tied to voter suppression. Pre- clearance review benefits jurisdictions by reducing their costs in defending potential elections changes, and benefits voting rights by yielding more timely resolution of voting rights disputes.

Congress must protect access to the polls and pass H.R. 4, including provisions for practice-based preclearance. This legislation is critical to restore voter protections that were lost due to Shelby County. We cannot allow any more time to pass without ensuring that every voter can register and cast a meaningful ballot. MALDEF urges you to stand with all voters and to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 4.

Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, Andrea Senteno, Regional Counsel. ____ August 24, 2021.

Dear Representative: Democracy 21 strongly urges you to vote for passage of H.R. 4, the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, when it comes to the floor for a vote.

H.R. 4 is a vitally important--and urgently needed--step forward in the work to protect the sacred right to vote for all eligible citizens.

Today, millions of Black, brown, other minorities, the disabled, elderly, and young, are at risk of losing their ability to vote due to voter suppression laws being passed in numerous states.

These efforts, if not overridden, will represent the greatest voter suppression in the United States since the Jim Crow era.

H.R. 4 will restore the preclearance provision of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and would modernize the formula for determining which states have a pattern of discrimination and would fall under the preclearance provision.

Voting is not a privilege, it is a right. It is incumbent that Congress act now as the right to vote is being severely threatened in states around the country.

The passage of H.R. 4 and H.R. 1, the For the People Act, which the House passed in March, are essential if we are to protect the right to vote in federal elections for all eligible citizens. The two bills protect the right to vote in complementary ways and both must be enacted.

``The vote is precious. It is almost sacred,'' the late Representative John Lewis, the civil rights champion, once said. ``It is the most powerful non-violent tool we have in a democracy.''

Democracy 21 strongly urges you to vote for H.R. 4.

Our democracy deserves nothing less. Sincerely, Fred Wertheimer, President. ____ August 17, 2021. End Citizens United // Let America Vote Action Fund Statement on the

Introduction of the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act End Citizens United // Let America Vote Action Fund President Tiffany Muller released the following statement on the U.S. House introducing the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act:

``In 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the landmark Voting Rights Act of 1965 during a critical moment in our nation when Jim Crow laws were being used to prevent Black Americans from exercising their fundamental right to vote. Since then, the Voting Rights Act has been gutted by a right- wing Supreme Court and partisan Republican-led legislatures have moved once again to take away that right. We've seen 400 bills introduced nationwide that include restrictive voting proposals with 30 of these bills becoming law in 18 states just this year alone.

``The John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act is a fundamental step in protecting our freedom to vote by fully restoring the power of the 1965 Voting Rights Act and ensuring that any changes to voting rules could not discriminate against voters based on race and that we all have an equal voice in our democracy.

``From his historic march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge, to his decades of fighting for voting rights and social justice, Congressman John Lewis never gave up in the pursuit of America adhering to its core values and principles--that every American citizen should be heard and have a voice. Congress must honor his legacy by passing the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the For the People Act to protect access to the ballot and ensure that our democracy is truly representative of the American people.'' ____

Dear Hillary: As you prepare to consider H.R. 4, the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, Foreign Policy for America encourages you to uphold the principles of democracy and efforts to protect the right to vote. Foreign Policy for America urges members of the House of Representatives to support H.R. 4 to restore democracy and safeguard the right to vote. We will consider scoring final passage in our 117th Congressional Scorecard.

Foreign Policy for America (FP4A) is a non-partisan 501c4 organization founded to promote principled American engagement in the world. Each Congress, we convene a group of experts from across the foreign policy community to advise on the development of our Policy Agenda and our biennial Congressional Scorecard. The FP4A Scorecard offers our members, concerned voters nationwide, and the media a way to quickly and easily understand the degree to which Members of Congress support strong, principled American foreign policy.

America's commitment to pluralism, equality, and non- partisan election administration are the hallmarks of our democracy and have inspired transitions to democracy in every region of the world. The United States is able to rally allies and mobilize action on the biggest global challenges because of who we are as a pluralistic, democratic country that for generations has inspired the world. H.R. 4 is needed to safeguard our democracy--the beating heart of our prosperity and strength.

Our democracy is at risk today. The John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act restores and expands key ballot access provisions enshrined in the Voting Rights Act of 1965 that were dramatically weakened by 2013 Supreme Court decision in Shelby County v. Holder. The right to vote is one of the most critical pillars of American Democracy. We must protect it.

We urge all Members of the House of Representatives to support the John Lewis Voting Rights Act (H.R. 4) to help strengthen our democracy and protect the right to vote.

Please don't hesitate to reach out if we can answer any questions about our position. Sincerely, Cassandra Varanka, Advocacy Director, Foreign Policy for America. ____ Civil Rights Groups Tell Congress To Pass John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act Now

Washington, D.C.--Today at 1pm ET, standing on the Edmund Pettus Bridge, Rep. Terri Sewell will introduce H.R. 4, the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, a bill to restore the pre-clearance protections stripped from the Voting Rights Act, and strengthen voting rights across the country. The bill is expected to be voted on in the House next week.

Stephany Spaulding, Just Democracy Spokesperson and Founder of Truth and Conciliation, issued the following statement:

``H.R. 4 is essential legislation to ensure that the over 400 state-level voter suppression laws proposed around the country will be countered by federal law. But this bill can only stop the bleeding--it cannot repeal the dangerous suppression laws already passed in Georgia, Florida, and more. We need Congress to take comprehensive action to protect our country's voting rights and pass the For the People Act, the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, and the Washington, D.C. Admissions Act--and we have to eliminate the Jim Crow filibuster to get it done.

This fight for voting rights won't be easy, but it is an existential turning point for the fate of our democracy-- that's why we're marching in cities around the country in the March On for Voting Rights on August 28, to raise our voices and demand Congress take action. We're marching in the spirit of Congressman John Lewis, Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, and countless civil rights leaders who never gave up on the fight for voting rights--and neither will we.''

About Just Democracy. Just Democracy is an intersectional coalition with racial justice at its core--uplifting voices from all walks of American life that are too often left out of the conversation. The coalition is made up of over 40 Black and Brown-led organizations working across issue areas. It mobilizes thousands who know that advancing social and racial justice issues first requires bold structural democracy reform. ____ For Immediate Release, August 17, 2021. March On for Voting Rights Responds to John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act Introduction in the House

Martin Luther King III, Arndrea Waters King, Rev. Al Sharpton, Andi Pringle and other voting rights leaders organize mass mobilization to pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act

Washington, D.C.--Today, standing on the Edmund Pettus Bridge, Congresswoman Terri Sewell (D-AL) introduced the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, which will restore critical provisions of the Voting Rights Act gutted by the Supreme Court. Expected to receive a vote in the House of Representatives next week, the bill will help stem the rush of attacks on voting rights across the country by ensuring that states with a recent history of voter discrimination are once again subject to federal oversight.

March On for Voting Rights will call on the Senate to pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the For the People Act on Saturday, August 28, when millions join the March On for Voting Rights in D.C., Phoenix, Atlanta, Houston, Miami and more than 40 other cities across the country to make their voices heard. Marchers will also call for the Senate to remove the filibuster as a roadblock to critical voting rights legislation.

Rev. Al Sharpton, President and Founder of National Action Network, commented in response: ``If you want to understand why the vote is so important, look at the last 4 years, the last 10 years, and the last 100 years. Freedom fighter and Congressman John Lewis knew it was essential that every vote must count in order to assure every voice is represented, but unfortunately through federal voter suppression and gerrymandering, that hasn't been the case. Today, Members of Congress continue to fight for the rights of the voiceless with the introduction of H.R. 4, the first step to right the wrongs done to the Voting Rights Act and reassert our Constitutional authority over democracy. Whether in Congress, in the streets, or during our March On for Voting Rights, this is the summer of activism.''

Martin Luther King III, Chairman of the Drum Major Institute, commented in response: ``Both John Lewis and my father agreed that there is no right more central to democracy than our right to vote. It is the cornerstone of democracy, the way we have our voices heard. Congress must pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Restoration Act. Our nation is being put to the test, and we must remember my father's words about the fierce urgency of now.

Arndrea Waters King, President of the Drum Major Institute, commented in response: ``Coretta Scott King told us, `Freedom is never really won, you earn it and win it in every generation.' Now is the time to earn and win our sacred right to vote. It is up to us to remind Congress they represent the people, and the people demand the passage of the John Lewis Voting Rights Restoration Act.''

Andi Pringle, Political and Strategic Campaigns Director at March On, commented in response: ``Voting rights in America hang by a thread, and we are grateful to our leaders in Congress who understand the gravity of this moment. But some of those in Congress act as though voting rights are debatable. They are not--voting rights are a fundamental requirement of democracy. Without legislation like the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the For the People Act to protect both voters and elections, millions will be disenfranchised and America will cease to be the democracy we claim to be. This is why millions will take to the streets on August 28 to demand passage of this legislation before it's too late.''

Stasha Rhodes, Campaign Manager of 51 for 51, commented in response: ``We are resolved to march on August 28 to make sure Congress does everything in its power to pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, the For the People Act and the Washington D.C. Admissions Act. We can no longer allow states with long histories of disenfranchising our communities to strip away voting rights for Black and Brown people. After it passes the House, the Senate must remove the Jim Crow filibuster as a roadblock. Millions will march to make that call crystal clear.''

Sopia Woodrow, Community Manager of Future Coalition commented in response: ``As a young advocate, it is fundamental that our voting rights be protected. This act, combined with the action imminent with March On For Voting Rights, demonstrates a renewed commitment to protecting the voices of every American. Congress must pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act to ensure the voices of Americans and youth for generations to come are heard. Disenfranchised communities have waited far too long for the voting rights necessary to justice.''

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Ms. SEWELL. Madam Speaker, in conclusion, I want to thank the chairman of this committee, Chairman Nadler; the chairman of the subcommittee, Steve Cohen; the chairwoman of the House Administration Committee, Representative Zoe Lofgren; as well as G.K. Butterfield, for the countless hours of testimony and the reams of documents that show that voter suppression is still alive and well.

The price of freedom is not free. Let's pay for it by passing the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.

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