Political Quotes

Cleo Fields: “The gentleman mentioned diversity, and mentioned how the whole purpose of the Voting Rights Act or one of the purposes…”

On the recordApril 16, 1996
The gentleman mentioned diversity, and mentioned how the whole purpose of the Voting Rights Act or one of the purposes of the Voting Rights Act was to integrate the political system, such as the U.S. Congress and State legislatures across the country. The gentleman is absolutely right. Even today there are 535 Members that serve in the U.S. Congress, as you know, there are 435 that serve in this esteemed body and then 100 across the hall in the other distinguished body. And of the 535 Members, only 40 of them are African-Americans. So for anyone to even opine the thought that a person's rights have been violated simply because there are 40 African-Americans in the U.S. Congress, in a body that consists of 535 people, is absolutely wrong.
Said by
Cleo Fields
Democratic · Louisiana
Source
govinfo.gov

Editor's note · Context

Discussing representation of African-Americans in Congress in relation to the Voting Rights Act.

Share

Share on XShare on FacebookEmail this quote

More from Cleo Fields

May 21, 1996

I can only say to the gentlewoman that as Members of Congress, as you know, we should view education across the board, irrespective of what kind of household an individual actually comes from, what income level they come from. The national…

govinfo.gov
Jul 21, 2026

I feel my calling to serve the people is better put to use back home than here in D.C., and I intend to answer that call.

rollcall.com
Sep 11, 1996

I often wonder today, had I not had the opportunity to attend Southern University and had the opportunity to be freshman class president and president of an entire student body and had to manage a budget in excess of $150,000 as a young…

govinfo.gov
Jun 10, 1996

I am a coauthor of those pieces of legislation, and will be fighting profusely to pass those pieces on this floor, and to even make them stronger, because in listening to the President's address on Saturday, I do agree with the President…

govinfo.gov
View all Cleo Fields quotes

Other voices in this conversation