Scott joins panelists at Voting Rights Act Town Hall

Washington, Jun 20 -

Tomorrow Congressman David Scott (GA-13) will join members of the U.S. House of Representatives for debate and a vote on H.R. 9, the Fannie Lou Hamer, Rosa Parks, and Coretta Scott King Voting Rights Act Reauthorization and Amendments Act of 2006.

This bipartisan bill reauthorizes for 25 years key provisions of the Voting Rights Act that are set to expire in 2007. The expiring provisions include: Section 5, which requires jurisdictions with a history of discrimination in voting to get federal approval of any new voting practices or procedures; Section 203, which ensures that American citizens with limited English proficiency get the help they need at the polls; and Sections 6-9, which authorize the Attorney General to send federal examiners to register voters or observe elections if he or she feels it is advisable or receives greater than 20 complaints from any state.

“The Voting Rights Act is one of the most important pieces of legislation enacted by Congress in the 20^th century,” Congressman Scott stated. “The Act along with its special provisions has proven tremendously successful at expanding and protecting the opportunity for participation in the political process for all Americans. That is why Congress must not delay in extending and strengthening provisions of the Act which expire in 2007.”

Congressman David Scott strongly believes that these provisions need to be extended if not strengthened and has worked tirelessly to that end. In the fall of 2005 and the winter of 2006, Congressman Scott attended and participated in all ten Congressional hearings held to examine the impact and effectiveness of the Voting Rights Act. The hearings were held in the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution and laid the foundation for legislation to extend the Voting Rights Act for another 25 years - H.R. 9.