Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 1 minute to the gentleman from California (Mr. McNerney). Mr. McNERNEY. Mr. Speaker, my amendment would increase and decrease by $5 million the NSF Research and Related Activities budget to support a National Academy of Sciences study on approaches and procedures for creating and assessing congressional district maps. The mathematical community has focused on the theory of district map drawing and can now provide fair and unbiased methods of creating and evaluating district maps. Recent court rulings have shown that objective statistical evidence can be used to assess whether district maps have been drawn in an overly partisan manner. These rulings which have continually found congressional and State legislative districts in States across the country to be too partisan highlight the need for an impartial, unbiased system of creating and assessing district maps. My amendment would fund a study to define best practices for creating fair congressional districts and be in compliance with the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Mr. Speaker, I urge the adoption of this amendment.”