Oakland City Wire

Barbara Lee was mentioned in PROTECT VOTING RIGHTS..... on page E1212 covering the 1st Session of the 117th Congress published on Nov. 5, 2021 in the Congressional Record.

The publication is reproduced in full below:

PROTECT VOTING RIGHTS

_____

HON. BARBARA LEE

of california

in the house of representatives

Friday, November 5, 2021

Ms. LEE of California. Madam Speaker, I thank Speaker Pelosi, Leader Hoyer, Whip Clyburn, Chairman Nadler, and all my distinguished colleagues for their work to ensure the House passed legislation to protect voting rights. It is time for the Senate to do the same.

We have seen an uptick in voter suppression efforts across our nation to undercut the representation of communities of color, specifically African Americans. With historic levels of voter turnout in recent elections, our Republican colleagues have interpreted this increased participation in civic life as a threat and campaigned to disenfranchise Black voters under the guise of protecting against

``voter fraud.''

Sadly, voter suppression efforts are not new to African American communities. I remember growing up in El Paso, Texas when the poll tax was still being collected. We have endured decades of abuse by political parties and election officials seeking to deny us our constitutional right to vote. Therefore, it is urgent that the Senate pass The John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. This critical legislation would restore Section 5 and Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, which prohibits racially discriminatory changes to the voting process and restrictions to the right to vote.

Lastly, I'd just like to say that the world is watching us. As Chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations and having served as an election observer in other countries, I know the importance of a free and fair election and how it strengthens a democracy. Across the country we are witnessing a coordinated assault on the integrity of our electoral process. We need to live up to our own ideals to stand as an example for other countries to follow.

The Senate must pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. It will strengthen our democracy and give us the tools to fight voter suppression.

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SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 167, No. 195

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