The Following is a press release from the Office of Representative Sean Patrick Maloney D-NY 108th District issuedon August 6, 2019
On this date in 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act of 1965 into law. The landmark legislation of the civil rights movement expanded access to the ballot box for millions of Americans across the country.
Despite strong bipartisan support for the bill, key provisions of the Voting Rights Act were struck down in 2013 by the United States Supreme Court, including measures that block racial discrimination in voting access. On the first day of the new 116th Congress, House Democrats introduced H.R. 1, the For the People Act, a sweeping anti-corruption and voting rights bill which includes a provision reaffirming Congress’s intent to restore the full protections of the Voting Rights Act. Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney (NY-18) voted in support of H.R. 1, the For the People Act.
“The right to vote is fundamental to our democracy. Full stop.
“As we commemorate the 54th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act, we honor the brave men and women who fought for equal rights in communities across our country, and recommit to ensuring every American’s voice is heard and counted. I will continue to demand the Voting Rights Act is restored, especially as more and more voters are purged from voter rolls and access to the voting booth is denied,” said Sean Patrick Maloney.