Congresswomen Sewell to Republican Leadership Urging Hearing and Opportunity to Improve the Voting Rights Act

Press Release

Congresswoman Terri A. Sewell joined with 160 of her House Colleagues in signing a letter to House Republican Leadership and the Chairman of the Judiciary Committee asking for a full hearing and opportunity to improve H.R. 3899, the Voting Rights Amendment Act. H.R 3899 was bi-partisan legislation introduced in the House of Representatives to amend the Voting Rights Act of 1965 in response to the Supreme Court's decision in Shelby County v. Holder.

"Today I signed a letter to House Republican Leadership and the Chairman of the Judiciary Committee asking for a full hearing and opportunity to improve H.R. 3899, the Voting Rights Amendment Act. While I am encouraged by the bi-partisan effort to find a legislative solution to reinstate the pre-clearance provision of the Voting Rights Act, I am deeply concerned that the State of Alabama is not protected under the bill's new coverage formula. Federal oversight has proven to be highly effective in giving Alabama voters the security they deserve throughout every stage of the electoral process. Although progress has been made, the need for federal oversight still exists in Alabama. As recent as January 13, 2014, a federal judge in Alabama reinstated federal oversight over the voting practices in the City of Evergreen, Alabama, using Section 3 of the VRA which allows jurisdictions that have intentionally discriminated against minority voters to be "bailed in" to the oversight requirements," said Rep. Sewell.

"No right is more fundamental to our democracy than the right to vote. We must be vigilant in our efforts to find a legislative solution that will address the Supreme Court ruling in the Shelby case," continued Rep. Sewell. "This bill in its current form falls short in providing adequate protections. It is my hope that we have a hearing on this bill and an opportunity to make changes and strengthen the Voting Rights Amendment Act so that it ensures all vulnerable communities, like those in Alabama, are included under the preclearance provision."

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