On the recordJanuary 13, 2022
As you know, voting rights are personal to me. It was in my hometown in 1965 on a bridge in Selma, Alabama, where John Lewis and the foot soldiers shed blood for the equal right of all Americans to vote. Fifty-six years later old battles have become new again as State legislatures erect direct barriers to the ballot box-- 400 bills introduced and 34 passed in 19 States. Once again, our Nation is at an inflection point. Today, the House of Representatives will, once again, send voting rights over to the Senate, and it must pass, Mr. Speaker. I implore our Senators: Do what is right. You have changed your rules 150 times, most recently to raise the debt ceiling. If you can protect the full faith and credit of the United States, then surely you can protect the democracy. The time is now. What we need is courage. As we prepare to observe the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, let us remember that justice delayed can be justice denied. Senators, we need your leadership. We need it now. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Members are reminded to address their remarks to the Chair.
