Voting Rights Amendment Act

Floor Speech

Ms. CHU. Mr. Speaker, one of the most precious rights we have as Americans is the right to vote. But every day it is becoming more difficult to do it.

Today is nearly 1 year after the Supreme Court's Shelby decision, which gutted provisions of the Voting Rights Act. States quickly moved to restrict voting rights. In fact, hours after Shelby, Texas announced its voter ID law would be implemented immediately. Thank goodness the Federal court blocked it.

Without these protections, minority communities will be disproportionately affected. The Voting Rights Act ensured equal access to the ballot box, and it protected voters like Rose

Thompson. Rose is 79 years old and has voted all her life, but this November she will likely be turned away. Rose was born at home in Jackson, Mississippi, and never received a birth certificate, so she can't obtain a voter ID as her State requires. Without an ID, Rose loses a fundamental right that was guaranteed to all Americans.

Now is the time for action. I urge my colleagues to support the bipartisan Voting Rights Amendment Act and restore our ability to have a voice in this democracy.

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