Fannie Lou Hamer, Rosa Parks, and Coretta Scott King Voting Rights Act Reauthorization and Amendments Act of 2006
FANNIE LOU HAMER, ROSA PARKS, AND CORETTA SCOTT KING VOTING RIGHTS ACT REAUTHORIZATION AND AMENDMENTS ACT OF 2006
Ms. VELÁZQUEZ. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of the reauthorization of the provisions of this important civil rights law, the Voting Rights Act. The origins of this law are the truest reflection of our Nation's struggle and aspiration to build a better country for all of its citizens. We have made great advances. This does not mean that we have overcome. We still need to make great strides in our road toward building a more perfect union.
The Voting Rights Act was necessary in the 1960's because for over 100 years, in certain parts of our country, millions of U.S. citizens had their right to vote limited or denied just because of the color of their skin. Those were not our country's proudest years.
Is the Voting Rights Act important today? Yes. The problems in our country that led to the enactment of this law are not in the distant past. Our work is not done. Our country still struggles to find the path of equality and ``The Fannie Lou Hamer, Rosa Parks, and Coretta Scott King Voting Rights Act Reauthorization Act'' is still needed to keep us on the right and just path in our country's historic democratic experiment.
I celebrate the great accomplishments of the Civil Rights Movement and the political leadership of the time that led to the enactment of the Civil Rights Legislation and the crowning achievement, the Voting Rights Act. The importance of this law can be seen in every election where minorities have the right to elect people that truly stand for their interests; every time someone is able to mark a ballot with instructions in a language that he or she can understand; and every time unfair elections conditions are corrected to be just and fair for all citizens. Mr. Speaker, this law is needed because there are still acts of discrimination taking place. We still need the Voting Rights Act.
Now, I know there are those who believe this is a political party issue. But this is not a Democrat or Republican partisan issue--this is an American issue and this bill has bipartisan support.
I urge you to show your support for protecting the right of all Americans to vote. Vote in favor of this historic reauthorization and vote against all the amendments presented today. The only true aim of these amendments is to weaken this bill and weaken our country's democratic values.
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