“This Republican Congress has done nothing to address the real issues that America is facing.  The fact that this bill is coming up so close to the election shows that this is another political ploy to distract voters from Republicans’ inability to enact meaningful legislation,” stated Congresswoman Grace Napolitano, Chairwoman of the CHC. “In introducing measures like this bill, this Republican Congress is really striving to disenfranchise minority citizens, who tend to vote against them.”

 “After all our work to secure passage of the Voting Rights Act this year, supporters of this legislation are now hard at work to undermine its protections.  It is disheartening what is being done here today, creating another barrier to prevent American citizens from getting to the voting booth,” said Congressman Charles Gonzalez, Chair CHC Civil Rights Task force.  “We already require citizenship attestation on voter registration forms so it is unclear what exactly this bill attempts to accomplish beyond the requirement by mandating photo identification and proof of citizenship.”

“Those impacted by H.R. 4844 include the least among us – the elderly, disabled, the poor and ethnic minorities.  And it would clearly have a disproportionate impact on women, and many students.  Such a requirement will impose new and costly burdens, and in many cases, insurmountable obstacles, on American citizens trying to exercise their Constitutional right to vote,” said Congresswoman Juanita Millender-McDonald, Ranking Member on the House Administration Committee. 

# # #

The TriCaucus is comprised of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), and the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC).