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[Pages S1719-S1720]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
VOTING RIGHTS
Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, on another matter, voting rights, today
marks the 54th anniversary of Bloody Sunday, the protest march in
Selma, AL, that led ultimately to the passage of the Voting Rights Act.
It was one of the most noble acts in American history. The courage of
those who marched across that bridge, including our colleague, John
Lewis, will be remembered centuries from now. It is a reminder that one
thread of the American story is about how, despite our founding, our
democratic principles, there has been a long march toward achieving the
franchise.
We had democratic principles in the beginning. It was brand new. It
was great, but remember, in 1789, in almost every State, the only
people who could vote were White, male, Protestant property owners. I
would imagine that would probably leave out even a majority in this
Chamber who would be able to vote.
We have to keep improving that democracy. No one says we should only
have White, male, Protestant property owners vote today because it was
true in 1789. We have to move forward. We have to make voting more
available and easier because the right to vote, without barriers, is
what our soldiers, for centuries, have died for and what the people on
that bridge marched for.
The march is still not over. In the wake of the disaster that was the
Supreme Court's Shelby decision, 19 States rushed to pass
discriminatory voter restrictions.
In North Carolina, the Republican State legislature drew up laws that
``targeted African Americans with almost surgical precision.'' How
despicable. How despicable that the Republican legislature did that.
Those are not my words; those are the court's words after looking at
the evidence.
Fifty million Americans are now not registered to vote. Even though
we don't talk about it enough, we have a population larger than two
States living here in Washington, DC, without full congressional
representation. We Democrats are ready to work.
Again, Leader McConnell gets up, and he talks about all of this
negativity, exaggeration, hyping, and scaring just like Donald Trump.
Why doesn't Leader McConnell put some legislation on the floor? Today,
on the anniversary of Bloody Sunday, I want to mention three things we
could do right now to bolster voting rights: one, undo the damage of
the Shelby County decision by restoring the formula for preclearance;
two, automatic voter registration; three, DC statehood.
Anyone who has been observing the floor of the Senate will have
noticed by now just how vociferously our Republican leader opposes H.R.
1, which, among other things, would make election day a Federal holiday
and attempt to get Big Money out of politics. Leader McConnell has gone
on to call these ideas a power grab, labeling the bill the Democratic
politician protection Act.
Leader McConnell, we are proud that we want more people to vote. Why
are you ashamed of it? Why do you run away from it?
Leader McConnell, we are proud that we want to get the influence of
big, special interest money out of politics. Why do you say that is
partisan? It is the wrong thing to do, and 90 percent of all Americans,
Democratic and Republican, don't like to see Big Money cascading into
politics. Argue the merits, Leader.
When you think doing those things are democratic things, we are
proud, and the Republican Party should be ashamed that they are not for
them and have to call them names. To say that allowing more Americans
to vote and getting Big Money out of politics is bad for Republicans
and good for Democrats, that says a lot right there.
It is a dark day--a dark day--for the Republican Party if their
leader in the Senate has to argue against more Americans voting because
it would hurt their party at the polls. Maybe we should go back to the
old days and have fewer people vote, like in 1789, when only White,
male, Protestant property owners could vote. Come on. This idea that
having more people vote is a Democratic power grab, when it is part of
the fundamental root of our democracy--it is an act of desperation by
the Republican leader.
I don't think it is a coincidence that the Republican leader has
pledged to bring up his version of the Green New Deal for a vote but
not H.R. 1. He is happy to twist words against it himself, but he knows
voting rights are a hard thing to argue about.
If he wants to try to bring it up on the floor, we welcome it. We
welcome a
[[Page S1720]]
discussion. Make no mistake, Democrats are going to fight to make the
ballot access easier, challenge all attempts to disenfranchise American
citizens, and get the influence of big special interest money out of
politics.
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