Schumer Statement On House Passage Of The Voting Rights Advancement Act

Washington, D.C. – Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer today released the following statement after the House of Representatives passed H.R. 4, the Voting Rights Advancement Act:

“The Voting Rights Act is perhaps the most significant piece of civil rights legislation in US history. For more than 50 years, the law stood as a powerful force to prevent the type of racial discrimination in voting that marred our nation’s history prior to the bill’s passage. The Supreme Court’s disastrous decision in Shelby County v. Holder gutted this critical legislation and unleashed a surge of pernicious Republican-led voter suppression laws.

“Today the House of Representatives passed H.R. 4, the Voting Rights Advancement Act. This is a critical step towards restoring the protections of the Voting Rights Act and beating back the scourge of voter suppression. The right to vote is the very wellspring of our democracy. Generations have organized, protested, marched, and died to extend the franchise to all Americans.

“It is incumbent upon every Member of Congress to continue to fight to increase, rather than impede, access to the ballot box and ensure that every eligible American can have their voice heard. I urge Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to bring this legislation to the floor of the Senate.  Voting rights are simply too important to be banished to Leader McConnell’s legislative graveyard.”

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