Political Quotes

“Let me thank Congresswoman Christensen for her leadership as well as thank our chairman, Emanuel Cleaver. We had the opportunity to host him in Houston this past weekend, and he raised the issue of the challenges of voter protection. I see that we are joined by our colleague from Ohio. Marcy Kaptur has been a champion on these issues as well, and, frankly, has seen her State be in the crosshairs of trying to protect all citizens' right to vote. I just want to follow up and say the Voting Rights Act is an act that dignifies all voters because its premise is one person, one vote. The tenets and the premise of the Voting Rights Act as passed: No matter what your background in this Nation, you have an opportunity to vote. If we keep with the integrity of the Voting Rights Act, the gist of its message is don't block individuals from voting. That's simply what its message is. This is more than appropriate for which to rise to the floor today because this is the month of the birth of Barbara Jordan, February 21. Last year was her 75th year, and we're still commemorating it in Houston. She was, again, part mother of the Voting Rights Act by adding language minorities. By doing that, she spread the coverage of the Voting Rights Act beyond the Deep South, which was the original core group of States that was signed into law in 1965. So I say thank you to the Honorable Barbara Jordan, one of our colleagues and a member of the Congressional Black Caucus.…”