Press Releases

Wilson Statement on Passage of the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act

Washington, DC – Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson issued the following passage of the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act:

"Today, I proudly voted to pass H.R. 4, the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, to restore critical protections of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and keep the promise of our democracy for all Americans. Since Democrats gained control of the White House and both chambers of Congress, Republican-controlled state legislatures across the nation have engaged in the most coordinated effort to restrict the right to vote in generations with hundreds of anti-voter bills. This blatant attempt at a power grab threatens our most precious right and the ability of voters to choose the elected officials who they believe have their interests at heart.

"In Florida, where until the November 2020 election cycle, had a voting process lauded by Republicans and Democrats alike, legislation signed into law in May makes the vote-by-mail process more burdensome, limits the usage of ballot drop boxes, and even includes draconian language that could be used to restrict volunteers from handing out water to voters. This law was not passed to improve the integrity of our elections, but to limit and discourage voter participation.

"H.R. 4 would prevent states and localities with a recent history of voter discrimination from restricting the right to vote by requiring these jurisdictions to obtain federal preclearance before changing their voting laws. It also honors the legacy of my late colleague and dear friend, Congressman John Lewis, who repeatedly literally put his life on the line alongside many others who ultimately died fighting for the sacred right of every eligible American citizen to exercise the sacred right to vote.

"As Congressman Lewis famously said, "When you see something that is not right, not fair, not just, you have to speak up. You have to say something; you have to do something." Unnecessary and discriminatory obstacles that aim to prevent people from participating in the most important democratic process is not right and today House Democrats did something. Now the Senate must act."

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