Jacobs Votes for Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act, Calls on Senate to Act
Washington, D.C. - Today, the House of Representatives passed the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act, a comprehensive legislative package to strengthen voting rights protections, protect against election subversion, stop partisan gerrymandering, and restore the preclearance provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to require states with a record of racial discrimination in voting to seek approval from the Department of Justice in order to enact changes to voting systems.
The legislation includes key components of legislation that has already passed the House in H.R. 1. For more information on the bill, click here.
Congresswoman Sara Jacobs (D-CA-53) proudly voted for the legislation and releases the following statement:
“I was proud to vote for the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act today on the House floor. The nationwide assault on voting rights, especially the voting rights of communities of color, requires federal action.
“As someone who has studied post-coup transitions and political violence in my work at the United Nations and State Department, I can tell you that democracies don’t magically last — they have to be defended. Our history, both in the long and short term, makes it clear that if we are not vigilant in protecting rights and strengthening our democratic institutions, they will be eroded. It’s happening right now.
“Now that the House has done its job, it is time for the Senate to act. The filibuster can't be more important than the overall health of our democracy.”
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