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URGENT ACTION ALERT:
Voting Rights Act Must Be Renewed! Call Congress Now!
July 5, 2006
The landmark Voting Rights Act of 1965 continues to play a key role in preserving and protecting the right to vote for all Americans. The Act, parts of which are set to expire next year, must be reauthorized. Time is of the essence, because of the tight legislative schedules for the rest of this year.
Legislation to renew the Voting Rights Act (H.R.9/S.2703) has strong bipartisan support in both Houses of Congress and seemed set for passage. However, last minute objections raised by a minority of House members have derailed the bill.
In the Senate, Judiciary Chair Arlen Specter is the sponsor of the bill and has indicated the committee will consider the bill in July.
Members of Congress are in their home districts for the July 4 th week. They need to hear from their constituents that renewing the Voting Rights Acts must be a TOP priority when the Congressional resumes next week. Call or visit their local offices this week, and their Washington offices after July 9.
USCCB POSITION
The Catholic bishops have a longstanding commitment to civil rights, including the right
to vote. “No Catholic with a good Christian conscience can fail to recognize the rights of all citizens to vote,” wrote the Administrative Board of the National Catholic Welfare Conference (predecessor of the USCCB) in 1963. Portions of the Voting Rights Act were last renewed in 1992, with the support of the USCCB. The USCCB has continually emphasized the importance of voting and the right and responsibility of each citizen to vote, and has encouraged dioceses, parishes and other Catholic institutions to participate in non-partisan voting registration efforts. In June 2006, Domestic Policy Committee chairman Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio wrote to House leadership urging that the Voting Rights Act reauthorization bill be acted upon as soon as possible.
ACTION REQUESTED
- First, call or visit the local office of your Representative the week of July 4th. (Find the address and phone number in the blue pages of your phone book.) Share this message:
- We’ve just celebrated the 230 th birthday of our nation. The right to vote is a fundamental value of our democracy and our nation.
- The Voting Rights Act plays a key role in preserving and protecting the right to vote for all Americans.
- Congress must act NOW to reauthorize the expiring portions of the Voting Rights Act.
- The Fannie Lou Hamer, Rosa Parks and Coretta Scott King Voting Rights Act and Reauthorization Act of 2006 (H.R.9/S.2703) has strong bipartisan support. This is an opportunity for Congress to unite across party lines and do what is right for our country.
- Continue to call Members of the House of Representatives when they return to Washington, DC on July 10.
- If you have time to make another call, contact House leadership: House Speaker Hastert, House Majority Leader Boehner, and House Minority Leader Pelosi.
- Finally, contact your Senators and let them know you consider reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act a priority.
(To find phone and fax numbers for your Representative please visit http://www.house.gov/ or call the Capital Switchboard at 202-224-3131 and ask to be transferred to your Representative.)
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