On the recordNovember 3, 2011
Before I start, Mr. Speaker, let me just take a moment to comment about one of the previous speakers this morning, my dear friend, Congresswoman Barbara Lee from the State of California. Congresswoman Lee has been an advocate for low-income families for as long as I can remember; and especially since I first came to Congress some 7\1/2\ years ago, she has been tenacious on this issue. I just want to publicly thank her for her advocacy. I represent a low-income/ low-wealth district in eastern North Carolina. My district is the fourth poorest district in the Nation, so I understand full well the challenges that she has confronted, and I thank her so very much. Mr. Speaker, I've come to the floor this morning to talk about voter suppression--yes, voter suppression--across the country. Republicans are tightening the restrictions on who can vote and on how Americans can vote. During next year's elections, there will be millions of Americans who will find that since 2008 there are now new barriers that could prevent them from voting. The number of States with laws requiring voters to show government- issued photo identification has quadrupled. Mr. Speaker, it has quadrupled in the last 4 years. Actually, over the last year, it has quadrupled. In fact, at least 34 States have now introduced legislation that would require voters to show photo identification in order to vote.…
