Yield one minute to the gentlelady from washington, ms. Jayapal. The speaker pro tempore the gentlelady from washington is recognized. Ms. Jayapal i am so proud today to stand here to support h. R. 4, the Voting Rights advancement act. And i want to congratulate my incredible colleague, congresswoman sewell, for her leadership. When Congress Passed the Voting Rights act of 1965, it was a recognition that systemic discrimination based on race continued to deny people the right to vote. As an organizer, i understand the Voting Rights act as a victory that was hard fought by black activists like fannie lou hall of famer and ella baker and our esteemed colleague, representative lewis, who devoted their lives to fighting for the right to vote. And it was a victory of the movement that recognized this right to vote is absolutely fundamental to our concept and our actualization of democratcy. Unfortunately, we have not followed with the same courage. Instead, since 2013, states have enacted laws that have suppressed Voting Rights across the country, and today half of the country faces stricter voting regulations than they did nine years ago. If we want a true democracy, mr. Speaker, we must protect the right to vote for all. And this bill is critical to doing that. Thank you. The speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. The gentleman from georgia is recognized. Mr. Collins reserve. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from georgia reserves. The gentleman from new york is recognized. Mr. Nadler i now yield one minute to the distinguished majority leader, mr. Hoyer. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from maryland, the majority leader, is recognized. Mr. Hoyer i ask unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks. The speaker pro tempore without objection. Mr. Hoyer mr. Speaker, i thank the chairman of the Judiciary Committee for yielding this time. I thank him for his leadership. And of course i thank terri sewell who is from selma, alabama. Who has been a fighter for Voting Rights all of her life. I thank her for sponsoring this bill along with myself and so many others. Was in selma in 1965 that another friend and one of our dearest colleagues, john lewis, was nearly beaten to death for having the audacity to demand the right to vote, the right to register, the right to participate in a meaningful way until our democracy. That year after that bloody sunday in march of 1965, and the later march to montgomery that followed soon after, congress enacted the Voting Rights act to protect against Voter Suppression and disenfranchisement. One of its core provisions required that the federal Justice Department preclear any changes to voting rules in jurisdiction that is have a history of discrimination and Voter Suppression. Let me as an aside say that these elections are federal elections. So very frakely frankly, my constituents have an interest in making sure the constituents of every other district have an opportunity to have their voice heard. This is not a states rights issue as the administration puts forth. This is an issue of americas values as a democracy. Which is that all americans, that was not always the case. We had to amend the constitution of the United States in order to effect that end. That all americans have the right and ought to be facilitated in exercising that right to vote. And sadly we know that notwithstanding the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments that state, after state jurisdiction after jurisdiction, not solely in the south, adopted policies aimed at preventing the exercise of the franchise. Of preventing the ability to rebelster to votele register to vote. And to vote. And to neuter the vote being cast by restricting redistricting efforts that in effect put people in a place where they could not elect the person of their choice. As a result, millions of americans after the Voting Rights act was adopted were finally able to vote and have their voices heard in their democracy. However, my friends, we ought to be chastened as we consider this legislation in knowing at for 100 years after the 13th and 14th and 15th amendments were adopted, for 100 years, a century, it was Still Necessary for the john lewises and Martin Luther kings to march. Some gave their lives to redeem that promise. That so many gave their lives to ensure. Unfortunately, the Supreme Court struck down the formula for that preclearance process in 2013 and charged congress with updating it. We have responded this day to that charge. Under the previous republicanled congress, that charge was ignored. Again, i would ask my colleagues on the republican side of the aisle to think of heir failure to act. Ronald reagan said to gorbachev, tear down that wall. Today we have an opportunity to tear down the wall of discrimination and exclusion to millions of americans who have been confronted with policies that make it more difficult for them to vote. I hope the senate will join us in tearing down this wall of discrimination, oppression, and exclusion. I continue to believe that the decision made by the Supreme Court was a bad decision, which did not reflect the reality of the success of the preclearance provisions in the Voting Rights act. Indeed, Justice Ginsburg pointed out in her dissent that, i quote, throwing out preclearance when it has worked , when it has worked, when it has worked is continuing to work to stop discriminatory changes is like throwing out your umbrella in a rainstorm because you are not getting wet. Today the democraticled house will vote to restore the full force of the Voting Rights act, and i hope every republican will join us. If they want to ensure that discriminatory practices do not prevent citizens from voting. We have given this bill the designation of h. R. 4. I said in a press conference. St a little time ago, h. R. 4 h. R. 4, the people. Or orf u spell itf didour this is for the people, for justice for inclusion. We have given this bill designation h. R. 4 tause because its one of our most important pieces of legislation. Along with h. R. 1, the for the people act, which contained a number of provisions strengthening ballot access, making Voter Registration automatic, and expanding early voting, h. R. 4 is part of democrats evident to protect americans fundamental right to vote. H. R. 4, my colleagues, restores the full protections of the Voting Rights act. As you take your card and contemplate putting it in the slot and pushing either the green button or red button, reflect upon those who died. Not only in the Civil Rights Movement, but those who died on foreign shores defending freedom and democracy. Because as you vote today, you will be voting to defend or to ignore the fundamental formula for democracy. Which is having peoples vote count. The preclearance formula requiring reasonable Public Notice before changes to voting laws or organizations permitting the attorney general to request the presence of election observers anywhere there is a threat of Racial Discrimination at the ballot box, these are not just state elections, i tell my friends. These are elections which impact my constituents, in your state, ander other state when they elect members of congress and the United States senate. And increasing accessibility and protections for native americans, alaska native voters. Again i want to thank representative sewell, her leadership in this effort, and john lewis, and so many other heroes, my friend jim clyburn. Democratic whip, who fought for Voting Rights. For all those of africanamerican descent who fought for Voting Rights. Of native americans, first two women whom we have in the congress now. I thank chairman nad already for working nadler for working closely with terri sewell and others to strengthen this legislation by including language to ensure that jurisdiction that is purge voter rolls or reduce early voting opportunities are subject to preclearance requirements. Its very nice to say well you can file a suit after the election is over. You may not have the money to do that, and in any event it is a fait accompli. It is too late. Thats why preclearance has been honored for half a century and thats why its so sad that the Supreme Court set it aside. Of course i want to thank one more time my dear friend who throughout his lifetime has held up the beloved community. Voting rights is part of that beloved community. Some 54 years ago john risked his future, his life, and limb so every american could cast a vote. Ought to join john lewis. Not walking across a bridge with alabama troopers waiting , but t us and confront us that little box where we have the right to vote. Nobody can stop us from voting in that box today. Lets make sure that nobody stops any of our fellow americans from putting their card and that voting slot and making democracy all that our founders promised it to be. I yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from maryland yields back the balance of his time. The gentleman from georgia is recognized. The gentleman from georgia reserves. The gentleman from new york is recognized. Mr. Nadler mr. Speaker, i now yield one minute to the gentleman from new york, representative jeffries. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from new york, representative jeffries, now is recognized. Mr. Jeffries the right to vote is precious and central to the integrity of our democratcy. It is not a democratic issue or republican issue. It is an american issue. The Republican Party used to support the unfettered right to vote. In fact, every single time the Voting Rights act has been reauthorized, it was sign by a republican president. 1970, richard nixon. 1975, jerald ford. 1982, ronald reagan. 2006, george w. Bush. The unfettered right to vote should be a bipartisan issue. But the party of lincoln is gone. The party of reagan is gone. The party of mccain is gone. Voter suppression is not a legitimate electoral tactic. It is a stain on our democracy and it must be crushed. Ote yes on h. R. 4. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from new york reserves. The gentleman from georgia. Mr. Collins thank you, mr. Speaker. Id just like to remind those of us voting we can lock this bill this is not a reauthorization of the Voting Rights act. This is in addition to and something we talked about on our side. We appreciate debate going object but just as clarification, we are not reauthorizing the Voting Rights act. Sections there will still be there. This is a different part of that. We just make that clear. We reserve. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from georgia reserves. The gentleman from new york is recognized. Mr. Nadler mr. Speaker, how much time may inquire how much time remains on each side . The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from new york has 10 minutes remaining. The gentleman from georgia has 20 minutes remaining. Mr. Nadler i would simply comment that this is a restoration of the previously authorized Voting Rights act before the Supreme Court did its dastardly deed. I now yield one minute to the gentleman from louisiana, mr. Richmond. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Richmond thank you, mr. Speaker. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Let me just pick up where they left off. Whether its a reauthorization whether its a restoration, it does not matter. What this is, its fixing the stain on america that prohibited and stopped africanamericans and other minorities from voting. Because on day torn one hand, im elated that this house is finally moving h. R. 4 so that we can protect the right to vote. But on the other hand, im disappointed because we have to do it by ourselves. This is not a bipartisan effort to ensure the precious right to vote. Many people may say that it is a burden on the state. What about the burden that the state put on us . So in the spirit of goodman, chaney, and others who were killed so that i could vote, john lewis, others who crossed the Edmund Pettus bridge, who were beat so i can vote. The speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. Mr. Richmond i rise today to ask everyone support h. R. 4. We should join hands and do it together. Thank you, mr. Chairman, i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from georgia is recognized. The gentleman from georgia reserves. The gentleman from new york. Mr. Nadler i yield one minute to the gentleman from texas, ms. Garcia. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman from houston, texas, is recognized. Ms. Garcia i support this bill in its efforts to protect access the ballot box it prevents it represents justice for all. Enfranchising minority voters will strengthen our democracy because when all eligible voter can exercise their right, our Government Works better by living up to its ideals of we the people. This bill aims to maintain elections free, fair, and access to believe all. Eligible voters. Congress must pass the voting advancement act to extend Voting Rights to all, we are all equal at the ballot box and this aims to make sure this is a reality today, tomorrow and every day. I uverage my colleagues to join me in support of h. R. 4. Thank you and i yield back the remainder of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman yields back. The gentleman from georgia is ecognized. The gentleman from georgia is recognized. Mr. Collins i reserve. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman reserves. The gentleman from new york. Mr. Nadler i now yield one minute though gentlelady from georgia, ms. Mcbalt. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman is recognized. Mrs. Mcbath thank you, mr. Chairman. I rise in support of h. R. 4, the Voting Rights advancement act, led by our esteemed colleague, representative sewell. During the Civil Rights Movement i was a child in the stroller at the march on washington my father served as Illinois Branch president of the naacp for over 25 years. And i was raised to always fight for what is right and just. To stand up for those who do not always have a voice. My father planned marches to strengthen our Voting Rights. I can still picture him presiding over meetings in our kitchen table, our house filled with poster boards in preparation and hope. When it comes to Voting Rights my fathers work is still unfinished. Today im so proud that we have taking this step toward completing that work. I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting the Voting Rights advancement act and i yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman yields back. The gentleman georgia is recognized. Mr. Collins thank you, though i have made my statements very clear on this and i will continue to do so this is also i recognize something that those who have struggled with im going to say this is a time when we can reach out occasionally across the aisle and help my chairman with a little time. I yield two minute to the gentleman from South Carolina, mr. Clyburn. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from South Carolina is recognized. Mr. Clyburn thank you very much. I thank the gentleman from georgia for yielding me time. I have been thinking a lot this morning about my growing up in South Carolina. I still remember as a young man in the driving rain going up to the little town of kingstree in williamsburg, county in Williamsburg County where i now represent here in this body. On that day, Martin Luther king jr. Was coming to Williamsburg County to extol all of us of the necessity of voting. Ill never forget his theme that day. March to the ballot box. It was just a few months after the 1965 Voting Rights act had been passed into law. And that law had been renewed time and time again throughout the years. But several years ago the Supreme Court took a look at the lay and decided that the formula that had been used in section 4 should be updated. This bill, thanks to the work of terri sewell of alabama, marcia fudge of ohio, weve had 17 hearings around the country. Eight by the Judiciary Committee, mr. Chairman, thank you so much for that. D nine by marcia fudges committee. And we have wrapped all of those findings into one bill. Because we are hearing what chief Justice Roberts asked us to do. Update the formula. And we have updated the formula, we are putting it on the floor today, and i do believe that this piece of legislation is deserving of bipartisan support. I can remember when this bill, Voting Rights bill could pass both houses unanimously. Lets do that today and demonstrate that we are making this democracy work for all. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from new york is recognized. Mr. Nadler i now yield one minute to the gentlelady from new york, representative maloney. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman from new york is recognized for one