On the recordApril 22, 2021
In the Judiciary Committee right now, we are holding hearings to fight against the scourge of voter suppression and the unfortunate abolishment of section 5 by the Shelby case. I heard shouts of hallelujah when that case was abolished. The reason is because we are here today denying citizens of the United States the right to be represented fairly in the United States Congress. The 23rd Amendment? Well, I can cite for you the 14th Amendment and the 15th Amendment, not depriving people of their liberty and their justice. What about those soldiers who shed blood from the District of Columbia? What about those who are paying taxes from the District of Columbia? What about the very citizens who work to move the engine of government living in the District of Columbia? My friends know that the Capitol will be separated. My friends understand that there is a basic constitutional unfairness when you deny people the right to vote. I wonder whether or not the problem is that, when I first arrived here many years ago, it was called chocolate city. Let us not make this a racial issue. Let us make this a justice issue, a constitutional issue. It is important, Mr. Speaker. Vote for this legislation, for the 51st State. Mr. Speaker, as a senior member of the Committee on the Judiciary, as an original cosponsor of the legislation, I rise in strong and enthusiastic support of H.R. 51, the Washington, D.C.…
