María Elvira Salazar: “at the outset of this historic day in the Senate, let me give my accolades to Senator Specter and to Senator Leahy for…”

“at the outset of this historic day in the Senate, let me give my accolades to Senator Specter and to Senator Leahy for their leadership in the reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act. This is one of the finest days of the Senate of the 109th Congress because it is a demonstration of Republicans and Democrats coming together to deal with the very important question of our Nation. I congratulate the Judiciary Committee and all of those who have created a template for how we should do business in the Senate. I rise today to offer my unequivocal support for the Fannie Lou Hamer, Rosa Parks, Coretta Scott King and Cesar E. Chavez Voting Rights Act Reauthorization and Amendments Act of 2006. Almost a year ago, I stood on the Senate floor to pay tribute to the Voting Rights Act on the occasion of its 40th anniversary. In my remarks on that day, I urged my colleagues to rise above the partisanship that often plagues this body and to renew the promise of the landmark civil rights legislation by reauthorizing the key provisions that were set to expire in 2007. I am extremely pleased that the Senate today is poised to take action on this important legislation.…”