OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

Voter Suppression

Floor Speech

Date: April 16, 2021
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Civil Liberties and Civil Rights Elections

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to sound the alarm about the ongoing efforts to pass voter suppression laws across our Nation and in my home State of Texas.

Republicans have made it a priority to pass so-called ``election integrity bills.'' These misnamed bills are solely aimed at limiting access to the ballot box, particularly in urban counties like mine in Harris County.

In the 2020 election, Harris County saw record turnout despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. We implemented drive-through voting, authorized voting sites to stay open until 10 p.m., and several locations were open for 24 hours. Hundreds of thousands of voters used these options to exercise their constitutional right without endangering themselves or their loved ones.

Now, Republicans in the State legislature are trying to ban and limit these measures under the false premise of ``election integrity.''

Madam Speaker, I strongly urge the Senate to pass H.R. 1, which would expand access to the ballot box and prohibit restrictions on drive- through voting for members of my community and all the voters across Texas.

Voting is a right that should be encouraged, not restricted.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT


Source
arrow_upward