Providing for Consideration of H.R. Terminating Cdc Requirement for Proof of Covid-19 Vaccination for Foreign Travelers; Providing for Consideration of H.J. Res. Disapproving the Action of the District of Columbia Council in Approving the Local Resident Voting Rights Amendment Act of Providing for Consideration of H.J. Res. Disapproving the Action of the District of Columbia Council in Approving the Revised Criminal Code Act of 2022

Floor Speech

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Mr. ALFORD. Mr. Speaker, my dad died 5 years ago. I think one of the most precious moments I remember with him as a child is going with him to vote back in the late 1960s, early 1970s, when the polling stations had the boxes you would go in and the curtains would close and you would go in and pull a lever.

My dad wanted to make sure that we all knew, me and my three brothers, just how important voting was. It is not only our right; it is our responsibility as U.S. citizens.

Today, I rise in support of the rule, House Resolution 24. Free, fair, and trusted elections are the most sacred and the most essential part of our democracy for a healthy republic.

Unfortunately, the D.C. Council has tried to undermine the voice of American citizens who vote in D.C. by granting illegal aliens the right to vote. This is wrong. We know it is wrong. It jeopardizes the sanctity of our elections. Law-abiding U.S. citizens should not be disenfranchised by noncitizens voting.

Preserving the integrity of our elections could not be more important. We must trust the vote. We must protect the vote. We must ensure the highest level of confidence for all Americans.

If the D.C. Council allows illegal voters to exercise the right to vote, this would have massive affects across our Nation.

Where would it end?

Our Constitution has set forth the founding law which determines voting rights, and it could not be more clear. The 26th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution says: ``The right of citizens of the United States, who are 18 years of age or older, to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of age.''

The Constitution is clear, Mr. Speaker. The right to vote is a privilege reserved for U.S. citizens, not illegal aliens.

Let me continue to section 2: ``The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.'' That is what we are here today to do, with appropriate legislation, this resolution.

The right to vote is one of the most sacred rights we have. It is a bedrock of our society. It is a fundamental part of what we are as a Nation. We cannot throw this right away to the D.C. Council. We will not let it happen.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to support this resolution and join my colleagues to take a stand to protect the integrity of our elections, the right of every U.S. citizen, including my late father.

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