House Approves Reauthorization of Landmark Civil Rights Bill

 

For Immediate Release

Contact: Paul Lindsay

 

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Charles W. Boustany, Jr. today hailed House passage of H.R. 9, the Fannie Lou Hamer, Rosa Parks, and Coretta Scott King Voting Rights Act Reauthorization and Amendments Act of 2006, which renews expiring provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.  Boustany, a cosponsor of the legislation, released the following statement following passage:

 

“In 1965, the Voting Rights Act was passed in order to right a great wrong.  For too long, millions of Americans, including many in Louisiana, were denied the right to vote based solely on the color of their skin.  While the United States has made significant progress in ensuring no American is denied this right, our work is not yet complete.  The legislation was necessary then, and this renewal is necessary today.” 

 

The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was passed to ensure that minority residents of states with a long history of discrimination could exercise their right to vote.  The reauthorization, which passed the House today by a vote of 333 to 33, renews expiring provisions for 25 years and updates the act by eliminating outdated provisions.

 

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