Leger Fernández Statement On House Passage of H.R. 4, The John Lewis Voting Rights Act

Press Release

WASHINGTON - Today, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 4, the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, to restore key protections of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Congresswoman Leger Fernández, an original co-sponsor of the bill and a member of the House Administration Subcommittee on Elections released the following statement:

"As a member of the Subcommittee on Elections, I spent the last several months listening to experts warn about voter suppression practices across the country against communities of color. Taking away equal access to the polls is simply un-American. Free and fair elections are the foundation of our democracy. But the discriminatory practices we see spreading will only get worse without congressional action.

"Not only does Congress have the authority, but it is our sacred duty to protect the right of every American citizen to participate in our democracy. Today, we did just that. We passed H.R. 4, the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, to prevent any state from corrupting future elections. I urge my colleagues in the Senate to act swiftly and pass this critical legislation."

Earlier this month, the House Administration Subcommittee on Elections released its report Voting in America: Ensuring Free and Fair Access to the Ballot which documented voter suppression following Shelby Co. v. Holder and the ongoing onslaught on our freedom to vote. The report makes it absolutely clear that H.R. 4 and the full enforcement of the Voting Rights Act is necessary to protect our democracy.

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