Terri Sewell

It is past time for Congress to act.

We need to be able to use preclearance, an efficient and effective mechanism, to address these potential voting rights violations.

We have to do the right thing.

We still live in times where there are modern-day barriers to voting.

So many of my constituents, and I would say all our constituents who are disabled may not have that same right.

After the 2013 decision in Shelby and after Alabama imposed its restrictive photo law, which no longer allowed a validly issued Federal ID, a Social Security card, to be presented to show proof of who you were in order to get your ballot…

The purpose of H.R. 4 is nothing less than fortifying the cornerstone of our democracy.

The voter suppression we saw in the 2018 midterm elections makes it clear just how urgent it is that we pass the Voting Rights Advancement Act and restore the full protections of the Voting Rights Act.

Throwing out preclearance when it has worked and is continuing to work to stop discriminatory changes is like throwing away your umbrella in a rainstorm because you are not getting wet.

Just one day after the Court's Shelby decision, Alabama began requiring photo identification to vote.

With this powerful deterrent gone, a wave of restrictive voting laws went into place.

Make sure that the full protections of the Voting Rights Act are reinstated and vote for H.R. 4, the Voting Rights Advancement Act.

We stand on your shoulders, Ms. Amelia. We stand on your shoulders.

It is our job, as Members of Congress, to do what we know is right.

The bill that I have before you today, and I am honored to carry this bill, is H.R. 4, the Voting Rights Advancement Act.

In my home State, just one day after the Supreme Court's decision in Shelby, Alabama began to require photo identification to vote.

The Supreme Court gutted the Voting Rights Act of 1965 in its decision in Shelby County v. Holder.

The Voting Rights Act of 1965 is one of the crowning achievements of their legacy.

I believe we should pass H.R. 4, the Voting Rights Advancement Act.

North Carolina... passed a sweeping voter suppression law that a Federal appeals court ultimately held to be unconstitutional, finding that it intentionally 'targeted African Americans with almost surgical precision.'

Sadly, since the effective neutering of the preclearance provisions, voting rights for minorities once again is under sustained assault in many parts of this country.

Unfortunately, the right of African Americans and other Members of racial and language minorities to vote has been threatened and undermined throughout our Nation's history.

The right to vote is the right that guarantees all other rights in our democracy.

I rise as the designee of Mrs. Walorski for the Walorski-Sewell amendment. The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment. The text of the amendment is as follows: Page 4, line 24, after the dollar amount, insert ``(increased by…

We need Federal oversight in the State of Alabama.