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Video Transcript
So We are so that if I didn't talk Oh, yeah we were working with it. He came to see you tell me well. it Now this is an He's got all this to the three O clock so you can help Oh, yeah you know as well as its best stock I'll talk to you. okay So it's the afternoon good afternoon everyone welcome to the rayburn room welcome back to the House side to the distinguished leader Democratic leader of the Senate, senator schumer. I'm glad that he is joined by the distinguished senator from vermont former chair of the judiciary Committee leader on the appropriations Committee and one of the newest members of the Senate Democratic caucus, senator Jones of Alabama welcome to the House side to all of you. Thank you we're glad you here one of the people who was there and two thousand and six, when we wrote the most recent uh soon to be less than most recent a voting rights act in two thousand and six was John Lewis. He was at the table when that deal was written. He was on the steps of the Capitol when we March them remember standing House and Senate Democrats and Republicans with over 300 votes in the House, unanimous vote in the Senate for the voting rights act signed by press Bush John Lewis was there for the writing for their celebration of the signing, but John Lewis was also there for 34 years ago. This weekend will be the anniversary of the March on of, for over 50 years as we know, the voting rights act isn't trying to, until all the sacred right to be heard at the ballot box and now it is under threat as we gather here today. Let us salute the relentless leadership of representative terri sewell of Alabama on the historic legislation to advance Justice and we come and Congress Marcia fudge for her leadership holding hearings around the country, starting in brownsville Texas. This is an issue that crosses in terms of the African American community to be the. Uh um Asian Pacific American community represented by judy chew here and uh Hispanic community represented by Ben Ray. Lujan here, but they represent not only their communities but uh all of america's communities again um more than 50 years ago this Place under the presidency of lyndon Johnson but inspired by students who made the were the inspiration for the March and then um thousands of men and women led inspired by the students marched into selma from selma to lay the claim for the most fundamental right in our democracy. We must finish the long March to progress passing hr for to protect the ballot and advance Justice for all uh the voting rights, advancement act will restore the voting rights acts ability to combat voter discrimination across America And again, liberty and Justice for all is the pledge we take to the flag every day. I'm privileged to yield our to our distinguished visitor former member of the House and keeping only to have it. But now uh happily ensconced as the Democratic leader of the Senate, senator schumer welcome back well, thank you, Speaker pelosi and I wanna thank all of the members here uh terry sewell um, who is So much in this regard and comes from that historic territory where John Lewis marched uh and so many everyone else who is here. My colleagues on the Senate side of course, our great ranking member hopefully soon to be chair again of judiciary. Pat leahy Doug Jones has been a leader in civil rights and voting rights throughout his career long before he got to the Senate and all of of course, my friends from the House there is nothing more bedrock to a man Then the right to vote there is nothing more despicable in America than trying to deny that right to vote and that's what too many have done in too many places, not 50 years ago and not 10 years ago, but right now, as we speak, it's disgraceful and when the Supreme court that she'll be one of the three worst decisions of the roberts court the others being Citizens United and janice and my opinion, um, they said there's no more discrimination. We don't need this anymore section five and then what happened. 19 States, some of them actually saying any males that they believed in bigotry and discrimination started taking away the right to vote. This is one of the most needed pieces of legislation that we have. I know it will pass under the great leadership of the people. We see here in the House and we're gonna do everything to persuade our Republican colleagues because this is an American bill, not a Democratic or Republican bill to pass it in the Senate. Thank you Well, welcome this is what democracy looks like democracy is about inclusion and what the shelby decision did was to break down the enforce ability of the voting rights act of 19 65 well we're all here today to say no more the House and Senate Democrats are going to ensure that we are working on behalf of the people the people's agenda really does depend upon its democracy and the base of the democracy is the right to vote after all, your vote Is your voice and no one. 's voice should be silenced in this democracy. I want to thank the leadership of Speaker pelosi. I wanna thank the Senate, um senator leahy, who is going to introduce his bill on the Senate side. I also like to thank the try caucus that has always stood with the strong the congressional black caucus led a billy by karen bass. Thank you very much also judy chew who leads the congressional Pacific Asian caucus as well as I know, Ben Ray lujan is here representing the congressional Hispanic caucus. I also know that there Groups who have really helped us make sure that the voting rights advancement act gets passed and that has helped us create a steady drumbeat, because at the end of the day, the 20 13 decision, uh the shelby decision really did while I did not invalidate section five which was in force ability in invalidated section four and so by in validating section four which was the mechanism by which you chose. What States and jurisdictions should seek free clearance. It really And got it the enforce ability of the voting rights act of 19 65 so as we gather on the eve of the 50 fourth um anniversary of the selma to montgomery March and we will uh across that bridge. One more time with John Lewis over this weekend standing will be there as well um and we just really wanna say that we understand what the American people ask for when they voted for us back into the majority. They want an agenda that was for the people for the And what's more basic than the voting rights act of 19 65 and making sure that we are protecting the right of all Americans to vote. Perhaps there's. No better example of that in the 20 eighteen midterm elections where we saw in Georgia the person who is running for governor who was also Secretary of state purge more than 53000 voters from the roles of majority of which were African, American. We saw in North dakota a state Legislature that required for registration that you have a physical address, knowing the native Americans, mostly used po boxes. We saw in 20 eighteen the most pernicious effects of voter suppression and we said no more. The voting rights, advancement act is congress's answer to putting the teeth back into the voting rights act of 19 65. I wanna thank the groups that are here representing today who have been stored advocates on behalf of all Americans right to vote the leadership conference the lawyers Committee the National Council of Jewish women the National urban League um the Asian America Advancing Justice, aclu the, brennan Center former judiciary staff, Daniel initiatives, uh the, transformative Justice coalition of the advancement project and so many more. I really wanna thank everyone, who's here today because we are ensuring that Justice and democracy is fully inclusive. I also want to um invite uh congressman Lewis who I guess stands really as a symbol of what we are all fighting for when we think about his courage On that bridge, so many years ago, uh representative Lewis it's an honor to not only call you um a colleague but to call your friends so please come forward Gerri sl my home girl oh my God, thank you for those kind words. Thank you, madam Speaker, for hosting each and every one of us. Thank you for your service. Thank you for your work. Thank you for never giving up or giving in but for keeping the faith Voting access is the key to quality in our democracy. The size of your wallet The number or your zip code shouldn't matter you action a government affects every American so every citizen to have a equal voice And when that happen, politician have to recognize the negative and the worth of every human being. We all count It doesn't matter whether you're blight of White latino Asian American and native America, we're one people we're one family. We all live in the same House. The American House and that forces in America today, trying to take us back to another time into another period will come to a fall and made too much progress to go back With this piece of legislation, we will continue to go forward No more kind of the number of bubbles on a bar soap no more the kind of the number of jelly beans in a jar. No more long lines open up the political process is that the people come in that's what democracy is all about. We must do it. We must pass this bill and pass it now so thank you. Thank you Center late Thank you, Speaker policy. You know I have to think when I listen to my dear friend John Lewis speak and all the rest of you. I'm fortunate that I come from a state that believes in people voting everybody voting as a result, we have been the biggest turnout ever in percentage. I'm also from a stable. We study history and I read the history of Grove so my read about bloody Sunday and one of the by things that struck me the most when I came to the Senate, was getting to meet and know John Lewis and John I have been touched on many times and you called me your brother. I can't tell how much that means, but we're all brothers and sisters and we've got to have for your rights. Events. But if we've got to do it we've got overturn shelby County. We can't tell our citizens you're, part of this country, but you can't vote and we have to know how you don't it. My state is fortunate, but I look at my friend Doug Jones. I look at others in States where they find Creative way sometimes even create it. Uh I'm seeing ways I've seen ways to stop people from voting so, Speaker pelosi thank you for being here. Thank you for doing this. I'm going back to my car cuz now I'm gonna pound. Everybody we're gonna, get this done. We have to get it done the shelby County decision was wrong. We are right. Let Americans vote in America. Thank you. bye Thank you, senator leahy. It is my pleasure to be here with my colleagues today to begin the process of restoring section four of the voters rights act and I want to emphasize that because I think that we've heard a lot in recent uh last couple of years about voters, fraud, something nobody has been able to find, but what we We have seen this play. It very openly and publicly has been elections fraud that's what we saw in Georgia with the Secretary of state running for governor overseeing his own purging. That's. What we just saw in North Carolina. What can be more evident of what's wrong with our system in the C ere And officials are elected and appointed and hired to suppress votes. What we hear today is to begin the process of developing the record that will be used by the Congress to determine whether or not section for to be reform realized and the Extend it should be as what communities and what States will be covered. We will begin a process and we thank the Supreme court for at least saying in his opinion that we ought to take a look at the form of an updated and that's why we're here today to update that formula and and they're gonna be too hard from what we've seen over the last several months and with that, let me yield to my friend, a longtime friend uh, which are the leaders You Thank you so much. Jim cly burn And biggest thank you very much for daily raising the Senator Jones We're so proud of you Shelby County of course is in Alabama John Lewis and I am barbecue going and some of the rest of you. Maybe going to visit terry's town Called selma I don't know how many of you watched the academy awards ceremony I don't know how many of you saw the movie Green book I don't know how many of you saw John Lewis Present at the academy awards there are a whole lot of famous, very rich people. there And when John Lewis came to the stage they all stood and applauded the longest applause of anybody who appeared at the academy awards, he was talking about the Green book. The Green book was about the South in the not too distant future. Excuse me pass our bg Ruth bader, ginsburg and shelby versus holder the case that we are trying to correct now 54 years after John Lewis walked across the bridge. I walked across it with him. 15 times as of uh uh. This weekend Ruth bader, ginsburg in the shelby case, said that the majorities opinion who's liking having an umbrella And because they weren't getting wet, they took it down and then done a whole lot of folks got wet real, quick. They got rained upon by the exclusionary actions And North Carolina and Texas and other States, this bill is about redeeming the promise that was made by lyndon Johnson in the Congress of the United States in August of 19 65. As a direct result of John Lewis. Almost losing his life along with 599 of the people walking across the edmund pettus bridge to do what to go to montgomery Alabama, to do what to register Not to threaten Not to demonstrate not to do anything to register to vote. I am so proud to be a Co sponsor of this bill. I am so grateful that terry sula daughter the favorite daughter of selma and John Lewis, the favorite son of America Co sponsor this bill with all of us We need to put that umbrella back up As Ruth bader ginsburg said to make sure that no one, 's right to vote is rained on. Thank you simply next, senator Jones and senator Jones, senator Doug Jones, who has uh chuck schumer said and Nancy pelosi set has been a fighter for civil rights. All his In the state of Alabama, we are so proud of you, Doug Jones, thank you, sir. Thank you, congressman and it's so great to be here. Uh with colleagues from the House with the Senate, but especially my great friend, terri sewell and applaud her for all her work on this important legislation and my great friend and hero uh John Lewis for all that he has done not only in the Congress but walking across that bridge 54 years ago. I'm really proud to be here, though, quite Frank As a proud son of the South, a son of the state of Alabama who has its own sordid history, when it comes to voting rights and everyone knows that history and we are not alone that history was shared by a lot of different people. So I'm proud to be here today to lend my voice to this important, important effort, you know, people talk about voting as a fundamental right and a basic tenant well, it's not just a right it's, a duty it's, a duty that we Have, as American citizens to vote to exercise to have a voice in this government and what's interesting to me, is that we hear so many political leaders today talking about how we have to up that voting population. We have to get more people to the polls. We have to get the percentage of the voting population to actually get to the polls, but those same politicians will continue to deny people the opportunity to exercise their duty as American citizens They told it that this bill is a somehow, a power grab oh for goodness sakes. If there is a power grab at all. It is among those who would deny people the right to vote if it's a power grab at all. It's among those who would restrict access to the ballot box and not give people free and unfettered right to exercise, not just their right but their duty that's what we're here about that's exactly what we're here about today to add the voices that so many that want to get out there Need to be out there, we want to build up the American voices to exercise that voice every time they have an opportunity, whether it is in a local election or presidential election. I believe and I believe very strongly that it is our duty as lawmakers to encourage participation in our American democracy. This incredible experiment that has been going on for so long and to remove any barrier that we can that would prevent people from voting the voting rights Advancement act of 20 19 is an essential step forward to fulfilling that duty and I would urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this bill and strengthen this great democracy. Thank you all for letting me be a part of this today. Thank you, chairman natalie or Thank you very much. It's a pleasure to be here. We storing the vitality, the voting rights act should be a major bipartisan objective of this Congress. The introduction the voting rights advancement act by representatives soon is the first step to meeting this objective and I'm honored to be an original cosponsor it's been said quite truthfully that the right to vote is protective of all other rights that without that right, you are at the mercy of everyone else little history is in order here before 19 65 African Americans basically prevented from voting in many States of the Union and so were others elsewhere and a state Legislature to enact a law designed to prevent people from voting and someone would suit against the constitutionality of that law and two or three elections would go by with people not voting for not being able to vote and then the law would be declared unconstitutional and the Legislature would pass another law and the same thing would happen and people will never get to register to vote as a Legislature the city Council played welcome. Oh with the right to vote for people than the 19 65 after the March on selma after all, the agitation that was done Congress finally fit The problem by passing section five and section four, the voting rights act in section five required that are jurisdictions States counties, whoever, with a history of discrimination and voting with a history of suppressing the vote. They couldn't change any law or regulation respected. Voting without prior approval of the Justice Department in Washington or the federal district court in Washington and that stopped the problem that solves the problem the registration Rates jumped up political power suddenly was available to black citizens in the South and uh and and other people in other places and we had to renew the voting rights. Several time the voting rights act several times unite into thousand six. I had the honor along with Steve shabbat of presiding over hundreds of hours of hearings in this constitution subcommittee to develop a 15000 page record and the base of which Congress renewed the voting rights act for 25 years I voted three 90. I think In the House and nine in two thousand six bipartisan vote obviously, but then came shelby County and what it shall be County safe, not in two thousand 13. They said that you know things that changed areas where discrimination of the current discrimination wasn't occurring anymore as we said before, it you, by chuck, that you weren't getting or quoting with made against where you weren't getting wet so you don't need the umbrella so they said that section four which determined which jurisdictions which States which localities were subject to section five pretty clearance requirements, was unconstitutional because it was out of date because it was based on 19 64 history, if you're discriminating 19 64 you are subject to it and this is ancient history and we don't need it anymore. But if you could show based on a more modern test, then you could do it again. So the quote practically invited Congress to pass a new section for based on more modern tests and that is what this bill does. This bill and because, and the moment uh shelby was decided, we started the game of whack a mole over again and 19 States enacted the various restrictive laws and you see what's going on the lord Is designed with surgical precision against African American voters in North Carolina court said of course said that it threw it out after several elections is gone by and so they act. Another lot and that kept going we've got to stop the game of whack a mole. As was done in 19 65 by reenacting a new section for so that section five free clearance can be the law again that's. What this bill does. This bill should pass unanimously. It won't, but it should we will be having a judiciary Committee will be having a series of oversight, hearings to build along with marcia fudge is hearing A strong record to support an effective trigger for section uh five because the Supreme court tells us we gotta build a big record. We will do that and then hopefully and then the House will pass and hopefully, the Senate will join it in passing the voting rights advancement act introduced by representative sue and will finally say that the shame of voter suppression which we thought we were doing away with a 19 65. We are in fact doing away with now. Thank you I'm judy chew and, as chair of the congressional Asian Pacific American caucus, I'm proud to join my colleagues in supporting the voting rights, advancement act and I want to thank my colleague Congress, member terri sewell for her incredible effort and leading this bill. We are here because of the Supreme court's shelby County versus holder decision and, as Asian Pacific islanders, we know all too well what's, what's at stake when we are denied our seat at the table for 60 years Chinese Americans were denied the ability to vote because of the Chinese exclusion act, which The right to naturalized citizens, um but we've also had trouble having equal access at the voting booth. Uh Asian Americans have have voter disenfranchise ment tactics. Uh installed upon them, discriminatory voter id laws, voter intimidation and efforts to refuse language assistance at the polls. This is resulted in some api is being unable to vote because they could not read the ballot hearing that Eligible voter was kept from the polish should be chilling to anybody who cares about our democracy and it should be a call for action. Generations before us have fought long and hard to protect access to the ballot box. So that we can have a voice in our democracy today with the introduction of the Va. We are fighting to protect that voice and now I'd like to turn the podium over to my colleague Congress, member Ben From new Mexico, thank you, assistant Speaker, thank you, terry. Well, good afternoon. Everyone terri sewell. Thank you so much for the work you've done day in and day out. Um leading this initiative, uh since the day you are elected and days before that um terry is not let go of this and she shouldn't nor should anyone of us across America. Look this comes down to understanding that voting is a fundamental right for Americans understand that a vote Gives us all equal voice in our democracy, but we've seen time and again how the right to vote has been undermined and attacked. What this comes down to is understanding that there is nothing more cynical than looking to silence Americans for political purposes. We've seen it happen most recently in North Carolina in North dakota and Georgia cases that are bringing attention to let the nose being undermined in the state of Texas twice I'm proud Supporting the voting rights, advancement act, an essential first step in restoring the right to vote. I also want to thank congresswoman terri sewell and the Committee on elections for working with me and with native American voting rights advocates on the native American voting rights at it's time for Congress to move forward for the Senate to join the House and the will of the American people to be hurt terry. Thank you for your incredible work and I'll turn this back to the lead sponsor of the simple Of our incredible leader, terry school So to close out, I want to again thank those who are the steady drum beat uh of for voting rights in America are amazing. Voting rights advocates these groups have really been the drumbeat uh for so many of us. I know that we all want to take a picture with uh John Lewis, so I'm gonna close this out by just simply saying shelby decision really issued a challenge to Congress the Supreme court did for us to come Section four that was modern day, a modern day formula and our efforts are now to show that, without shelby it's been pretty easy to see what state legislatures have been doing across this country without the protection the full protections of the voting rights that they have been suppressing the right to vote in the name of fraud voter fraud in the name of not having enough resources, there, closing down polling locations uh in the name Of, of a sensibly making it uh fundamentally easier to vote, they are indeed making it harder to vote so we stand together today and we introduce along with 200 plus members of the House, uh today, the voting rights advancement act. I am very proud uh and want to acknowledge my great staff came up with these great buttons and all the wonderful work that we're all doing, but this is just a drumbeat. This legislate In order to become law must pass the Senate, the House, the Senate and be signed by President and currently we have an environment that's hostile to doing what we can do to make it easier for people to vote. We have to acknowledge that too many States have gone unchecked that's. Why we have court decisions like that in North Carolina, that said that they had, they had crafted a bill, a law, a state law with precision, surgical precision that was that was done to exclude African Americans and and the They're still battling so I think it's so important that we all acknowledge that there is a problem and that we are here to fix it. We believe that the voting rights advancement act uh is that fresh start it's a 25 year look back, not to the days of 19 16 not to the days of of 19 uh. You know the forties, but 19 94 going forward and we're gonna look to see those States that have been agreed this actors, I wanna thank all of those who have participated in today's um presser And onward and upward we're on our way to selma this weekend and we look forward to continuing to press uh for the voices of the excluded because after all, that's what restore the vote stands for we're restoring the vote. The voices of the excluded thank you all. Let's take a look at your
House Speaker Nancy PelosiVideosIntroduction of the Voting Rights Advancement Act