FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 28, 2006

CONTACT: Brendan Daly/Jennifer Crider 202-226-7616

Pelosi: ‘Language Assistance Is Vital to Protecting the Right to Vote’

Washington, D.C. – House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi released the following statement today in opposition to an amendment that would weaken the Voting Rights Act by denying language assistance for voters.  The amendment failed by a vote of 167 to 254:

“The Stearns amendment seeks to disenfranchise millions of American citizens by placing obstacles on their right – and their civic duty – to vote.  The essence of our democracy is the right to vote.  No right is more precious.

“Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act provides for ballot and language assistance for language minority citizens, so all citizens are fully able to participate in our democracy.  Ballots and procedures are often complex and bewildering, even for those completely proficient in English.  To ensure that all are able to participate on free and fair terms, language assistance is vital to protecting the right to vote, especially among Latinos, Native Americans, Asian Americans, and Alaskan Natives. 

“A key objective of the Voting Rights Act is not only to remedy past and current attempts to suppress the vote, but also to remove obstacles to the right to vote and bolster voter participation among populations where participation has historically been low.

“The Stearns amendment, by preventing enforcement of Section 203, will allow states and localities to discriminate against taxpaying American citizens because of their language ability, and impede their right to vote.  That is wrong.  In our country, our laws and our Constitution draws no distinction between American citizens born here or not.  In fact, three-quarters of those who are covered by the language assistance provision are native-born United States citizens.  The rest are naturalized U.S. citizens. 

“Any diminishing of language assistance is a diminishment of our American democracy.  The right to vote must never, ever be compromised.  Every vote counts – every vote must be counted.”

“ Democrats are united in presenting a New Direction for America, one that will make our nation as strong as its people, one that brings opportunity, security, and prosperity to all Americans. ”

Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi