Byron Donalds: “I think it is important as we have this debate, frankly, on a bill that was dropped last night with provisions that have…”

“I think it is important as we have this debate, frankly, on a bill that was dropped last night with provisions that have gone through this Chamber before which, frankly, have gone nowhere in the Senate, it is important to understand for the context of this discussion that I actually represent a preclearance county. I have lived in one for 20 years. It is Collier County, Florida. You see, Collier County was subject to preclearance in 1965 under the Voting Rights Act. But since I have lived there the last 20 years, there has been no evidence whatsoever that Collier County should even continue to be subject to preclearance. So much so that the Supreme Court agreed and actually decided that it was no longer needed to do preclearance in the United States because the evidence did not suggest it. But what this bill seeks to do is unleash preclearance across the entire United States with no evidence for it being needed, the evidence that did exist in 1965. Mr. Speaker, I represent such a county today, and something tells me that in 1965, I wouldn't have represented that county then at that time. I do today. The evidence is clear. There is no reason to unleash preclearance on the United States, no need at all. The other provisions of the 1965 Voting Rights Act still exists today and will continue to exist. But the preclearance provision is no longer needed. So what is this really about?…”