Democratic Women’s Caucus Statement on Senate Failure to Pass Voting Rights Legislation
January 20, 2022
CONTACT: Michelle Moreno-Silva
Washington, D.C. – Today, Democratic Women’s Caucus (DWC) Co-Chairs Congresswomen Brenda Lawrence (MI-14), Jackie Speier (CA-14), and Lois Frankel (FL-21), and Vice Chairs Congresswomen Veronica Escobar (TX-16) and Sylvia Garcia (TX-29) issued the following statement on the Senate failure to pass voting rights legislation.
“Having just celebrated the legacy of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his life of activism and commitment to building a more just nation for all, we are deeply disappointed by the Senate’s failure to protect the constitutional right to vote and the integrity of fair elections,” said the Members. “The threat of voter suppression has intensified, with more than 440 voter suppression bills having been introduced across 49 states. These barriers systematically disenfranchise voters—including women of color—from having access to the ballot box at a time when so many other rights and freedoms are at stake. House Democrats took a key step to protect our democracy by passing and sending the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act to the Senate for urgent consideration. This bill is essential for enshrining voting rights into law, fighting big money in politics, and ending partisan gerrymandering. Senate Republicans’ shameful failure to secure this fundamental right for all Americans and uphold the very values that make our nation a strong democracy only strengthens the assault on Americans’ voting rights.”
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