OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

Voting Rights Act Reauthorization

By: Al Green
By: Al Green
Date: July 12, 2006
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Civil Liberties and Civil Rights


VOTING RIGHTS ACT REAUTHORIZATION

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, the Voting Rights Act has been and continues to be necessary. In 1965, we had approximately 300 African Americans holding office. Now we have more than 9,100.

In 1965, only a handful of Latinos held office. Now, more than 6,000.

In 1965, six Members of Congress were African American. Now 43.

But among the many beneficiaries is Hubert Vo. Hubert Vo was born in Vietnam. Hubert Vo came to the United States at the age of 19, fleeing communism. Hubert Vo graduated from the University of Houston, but more importantly, Hubert Vo, in 2004, became the very first Vietnamese American elected to the State House of Texas. Hubert Vo was elected because the ballot in District 149 is in Vietnamese. Hubert Vo won by 16 votes.

The Voting Rights Act has made, continues to make a difference. We need to maintain it. We need to keep it. It protects the rights of minorities.

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