Ritchie Torres: “I will use far fewer than 16 minutes. Madam Speaker, the lesson of history is State and local governments cannot be…”

“I will use far fewer than 16 minutes. Madam Speaker, the lesson of history is State and local governments cannot be trusted to respect voting rights in the absence of Federal oversight. Federal voting rights enforcement is essential, as essential as the right to vote itself. And the most powerful tool for voting rights enforcement is preclearance. Preclearance has been so effective that, from 1965 to 2006, it kept 1,200 State and local voting restrictions from taking effect. The John Lewis Voting Rights Act would restore preclearance as the gold standard of voting rights enforcement, not only for some States but for all. The John Lewis Voting Rights Act makes real the creed of America, liberty and justice for all. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time. ____________________”