February 6, 2012 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H503 But specifically on this amendment, The ranking member has asked to that curtail early voting and that again I’d like to thank the gentleman speak for the remaining time, so I eliminate same-day registration. Some from Missouri for his work on this. would yield that 1 minute to our rank- of these laws allow for the intimidation This amendment would ensure that the ing member, the gentlewoman from the of voter registration groups. Some General Services Administration ac- District of Columbia (Ms. NORTON). States are imposing strict ID require- counts for the total cost in the design Ms. NORTON. I thank the gentleman ments, creating barriers in getting the or lease of a building. for yielding. required ID and also putting up bar- Very often GSA makes decisions that I support the Carnahan amendment, riers to students who vote where they bind the taxpayer to significant finan- and I just want to indicate what the attend school. cial obligations when procuring space. agreement was with the chairman. Tonight, I am going to be joined by And unfortunately, currently GSA’s In the base bill, we would have a bill several Members, beginning with Con- analyses do not take into account the that Democrats and Republicans would gresswoman SHEILA JACKSON LEE from total life-cycle cost of the taxpayer in- support. What we have here is a bill Texas, to again begin to raise the coun- vestment. This amendment would cor- that somehow Republicans are divided try’s awareness of some of the voting rect this. I support the adoption of this on and that Democrats are expected to restrictions that are being put in place amendment as I’ve supported other somehow carry over the finish line. If, across this country and to let the pub- adoptions tonight. in fact, this bill had come as a base lic know that the Congressional Black Ms. JACKSON LEE of Texas. Will the bill, I think you would have had Demo- Caucus, just as we did last year, will go gentleman yield? crats in larger numbers supporting this across the country to raise awareness Mr. DENHAM. I yield to the gentle- bill. Whatever Republicans wanted to of the need for jobs. We will have job woman from Texas. do with the fact that the base bill did fairs from which we have actually put Ms. JACKSON LEE of Texas. I thank not always conform exactly to what people to work in several cities across the gentleman for yielding. they would have wanted would have this country. We’ve matched people I rise in support of Mr. CARNAHAN’s been made up for on our side. who were out of work with jobs. We’re amendment, and he ran out of time. The CHAIR. The question is on the still waiting for this Congress to pass First of all, I see a lot of comity and amendment offered by the gentleman jobs legislation, the American Jobs collegiality on the floor tonight. I’ve from Missouri (Mr. CARNAHAN). Act, and many of the other pieces of known the gentlelady from the District The amendment was agreed to. legislation that the CBC and other of Columbia for a very long time. Mr. Mr. DENHAM. Mr. Chairman, I move Members have put forth, but this time CARNAHAN said something that struck that the Committee do now rise. we’re going to go across the country my conscience, and that is that we are The motion was agreed to. and focus on protecting the right of able to master this legislative process Accordingly, the Committee rose; Americans to vote. that allows us to negotiate to the mo- and the Speaker pro tempore (Mr. At this time, I would yield such time ment that we might get this on the AMODEI) having assumed the chair, Mr. as she might consume to Congress- floor, which I understand may be to- HEILA ACKSON EE WOODALL, Chair of the Committee of woman S J L of Texas. Ms. JACKSON LEE of Texas. Let me morrow. the Whole House on the state of the I would encourage whatever it is pos- thank Congresswoman CHRISTENSEN for Union, reported that that Committee, sible to do, Mr. DENHAM. I’ve gotten to her leadership as well as thank our having had under consideration the bill know you—whatever is possible for a chairman, EMANUEL CLEAVER. We had (H.R. 1734) to decrease the deficit by re- bill as important as this. You men- the opportunity to host him in Houston aligning, consolidating, selling, dis- tioned the possibility of language, rec- this past weekend, and he raised the posing, and improving the efficiency of onciliation. I cannot speak for the gen- issue of the challenges of voter protec- federal buildings and other civilian tlelady from the District of Columbia, tion. real property, and for other purposes, and I don’t intend to do so. But I do I see that we are joined by our col- had come to no resolution thereon. know her as a person who keeps her league from Ohio. MARCY KAPTUR has word, who loves this Capitol, which she f been a champion on these issues as represents, and has a deep and abiding CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS: well, and, frankly, has seen her State concern about the homeless and obvi- VOTER PROTECTION be in the crosshairs of trying to protect ously this issue of the use of property. all citizens’ right to vote. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under I just want to follow up and say the b 2010 the Speaker’s announced policy of Jan- Voting Rights Act is an act that dig- I only entreat you to see what is pos- uary 5, 2011, the gentlewoman from the nifies all voters because its premise is sible as you have debated on the floor Virgin Islands (Mrs. CHRISTENSEN) is one person, one vote. The tenets and this evening for Mr. CARNAHAN and my recognized for 60 minutes as the des- the premise of the Voting Rights Act amendment. I would encourage that ignee of the minority leader. as passed: No matter what your back- there be further discussions if you and Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Thank you, Mr. ground in this Nation, you have an op- the gentlelady can secure that oppor- Speaker. portunity to vote. If we keep with the tunity. I think both would be able to This evening, the Congressional integrity of the Voting Rights Act, the hopefully have dialogue, but I do want Black Caucus is pleased to have a few gist of its message is don’t block indi- to have on record my high esteem and minutes of Special Order time to again viduals from voting. That’s simply respect for her leadership on these come back to the issue of voter protec- what its message is. issues. You are very kind to have yield- tion. This is more than appropriate for ed to me. As we know, many States have either which to rise to the floor today because Mr. DENHAM. In reclaiming my passed laws restricting voter participa- this is the month of the birth of Bar- time, I support the amendment, and tion in elections or are in the process bara Jordan, February 21. Last year look forward to bipartisan support on of doing so. These attacks, as we said was her 75th year, and we’re still com- the bill tomorrow morning. This is last week, have taken many forms. memorating it in Houston. She was, something that taxpayers need. This is They’ve been expanding the ban that again, part mother of the Voting something that will help us to reduce prevents felons from voting, cutting Rights Act by adding language minori- our debt in a way in which Republicans election administration budgets, cur- ties. By doing that, she spread the cov- and Democrats can come together and tailing early voting, and eliminating erage of the Voting Rights Act beyond work on something on a bipartisan same-day registration. the Deep South, which was the original level and actually give something back Just in November, two members of core group of States that was signed to the President that he is asking for. the Congressional Black Caucus, KEITH into law in 1965. I yield back the balance of my time. ELLISON and GWEN MOORE, introduced a So I say thank you to the Honorable The CHAIR. The gentleman from bill, the Voter Access Protection Act, Barbara Jordan, one of our colleagues Missouri has 1 minute remaining. which would protect those rights and and a member of the Congressional Mr. CARNAHAN. I want to thank the restore same-day voter registration. Black Caucus. I stand here today to re- gentleman for his remarks. The bill would reverse both the laws ject any undermining of the legislative

VerDate Mar 15 2010 04:16 Feb 07, 2012 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00027 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K06FE7.058 H06FEPT1 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with HOUSE H504 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE February 6, 2012 intent and the coming together of Re- And then I have had seniors in my own Christian Leadership Conference in the publicans and Democrats who voted for district in wheelchairs, where they 1970s and beyond, I would go into that extension at the time she was in went with their family members to the places where people of African Amer- the United States Congress. site where they are to get their voter ican descent were frightened to vote, b 2020 ID, waiting long hours. were not registered to vote, were share- Right now in the State of Texas, we croppers on plantations—and I venture Now we’ve come more than 30-some don’t have an election date. We don’t to say that there are crises in commu- years later. When we reauthorized the even know what to tell our constitu- nities like that even today. For us to Voting Rights Act in 2007, there were a ents about getting a voter ID because— go into those places was almost as if lot of rumors and thought that we were thank goodness, if I might say—we’re we were creating an overthrow of the extinguishing the Voting Rights Act. now presently being reviewed by the government. In fact, I want to put all of our col- Department of Justice whether to I remember very distinctly—and I leagues on notice that the Voting preclear or not to preclear this voter will say it on this floor—going up to a Rights Act is always, in essence, in the ID law. I hope that truth will prevail leaning shanty building which was the crosshairs or in jeopardy for people that it is depressive and oppressive. place where these sharecroppers and who believe wrongly about the Voting So I am very grateful that the Con- others who lived in the area were sup- Rights Act. gressional Black Caucus will be trav- posed to be voting. The voting booth The Voting Rights Act and pro- eling to cities in a variety of regions of was, if you will, a ragged cloth cov- tecting voters’ rights, again, is to this Nation, including our Southwest ering an area that you allegedly were make sure that seniors, to make sure region, to argue vigorously for voter going to vote in. Sitting on the front that the disabled, to make sure that protections and for ensuring the pro- porch of this tattered general store was those who face hardships—as we recall, tection of all people’s right to vote. I a gentleman sitting with a rifle across there were enormous hardships during hope, as we experienced in 2010, that his lap to suggest no one is welcome Hurricane Katrina, when the citizens of the King Street Patriots who plagued here. When I went up with my then New Orleans were literally blocked our inner city precincts—many of rather young self, starry-eyed and try- from voting just because of the infra- whom I saw—will not intimidate our ing to ask if this was the voting site, structure collapse; and there were ter- voters. I hope that when this election all I could hear my colleagues say is rible conditions in Alabama and Mis- comes—for poll watchers and others ‘‘Run; he has a gun.’’ And the next souri with tornadoes. that come into our voting areas, mi- thing I heard as we were bending down I recall the infrastructure of the 2004 nority and poor areas, people who have behind cars—something I had never election in Ohio when our dear, late the right to vote—that we will be there heard that close to me—was shots ring- colleague Stephanie Tubbs Jones, protecting everyone’s right to vote. ing out. This is not a joke. This is not worked so hard, along with MARCY Let me be very clear: Poor is not a something we don’t take seriously. I’ll KAPTUR, to thwart the breakdown of respective color. It impacts all. And never forget that day for as long as I machines. I remember it well. We came poor people who have difficulty in live, that someone would block anyone to the floor. We took issue with the going somewhere to get a voter ID, or from coming to a sacred and somber election because how is it that, all of a in some States paying $40, a new poll place to cast a vote for a person of sudden, you have a breakdown of vot- tax, or can’t get off from work, that’s their choosing. ing machines, interestingly enough, in voter protection. You can imagine I want to thank the gentlelady for al- the minority community? there are people who work who are lowing me to participate, recognizing So this issue of voter protection is afraid to ask their bosses for the allot- that this fight is a fight that we should far-reaching. It is not necessarily as ted time off for them to be able to vote. never give up, and we should never cat- clear-cut as some would like to say, The efforts of the Congressional egorize that voting rights is something ‘‘It’s for those people.’’ It’s not for Black Caucus, joining with our col- about those minorities. Voting rights ‘‘those people.’’ In fact, it is for all leagues, will stand up for each and are American rights, and they’re rights Americans. every American. I am glad that Presi- vested in the Declaration of Independ- And right now, we have a dilemma. dent Lyndon Baines Johnson, a ence, which starts out by saying, We The dilemma is that we have an epi- Texan—I was just marveling at him all are created equal, with certain demic. Some 40 States have passed today; and his daughter, Luci Baines unalienable rights of life, liberty, and what we call voter ID. Texas happens Johnson, joined us when we honored the pursuit of happiness. to be one of those States. Ohio was one Barbara Jordan’s 75th birthday just a With that, I yield back to the gentle- of those States—and I’m not going to few months ago. We will continue that woman, closing and saying, the right give Ms. KAPTUR’s comments, but I do with additional commemoration. to vote is part of the pursuit of happi- want to congratulate Ohio for the work But the key is loving the right to ness. that they did. And she will tell you, it vote, protecting the right to vote; and Mr. Speaker, I rise today joined by my fel- was in the crosshairs. Again, I use that supporting the Voting Rights Act is low Congressional Black Caucus Members to frequently. It was conflicted, but it has not solely with respect to color. We speak about a challenge facing millions of been resolved; and she will, I’m sure, welcome everyone who will accept the Americans. This challenge skews the Constitu- address that. fact that it is our birthright, as citi- tional fabric of our American society. This fab- But there are other States who now zens, to be able to not be thwarted and ric, woven together by liberty, justice, and are subjected to the oppressive, depres- stopped and blocked from going to a equal rights, has endured tremendous odds sive voter ID law. In the instance of poll and expressing our right to democ- throughout the history of this great nation. the State of Texas, might I say, that racy. During Black History Month, we celebrate State allows you to use your gun li- Finally, let me say, I had the privi- the vast contributions of African Americans to cense to vote; but a student State- lege of working for the Southern Chris- our nation’s history and identity. Throughout issued ID cannot be used. Elderly peo- tian Leadership Conference; and I America’s history, African American men and ple now have to travel miles, many of might say, it wasn’t that long ago. It women have persevered through much hard- whom were born with midwives and was some years ago, but it wasn’t that ship and prejudice to enrich our national life in missing birth certificates, as was my long ago. And my friends, let me tell innumerable ways. mother who held onto her voting card you, I traveled throughout Georgia, There are new landmarks to celebrate as that she legitimately got until the end South Carolina, North Carolina, Ala- time marches forward. In November 2008, of her life. But she could not vote bama, Mississippi, the core States, Americans elected the first African American today because, try as we may, for among others, that started out with to be President. In October 2011, the new Ivalita Jackson to find her birth cer- Dr. King’s great march and great ef- Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial on the Na- tificate—we went halfway around the forts to push the Congress and the tional Mall was dedicated. On February 22, world and still were not able to secure President toward recognizing how there will be groundbreaking ceremony, on the a certified copy of her birth certificate. many people were left out of the right National Mall near the Washington Monument, I knew she was born because she lived. to vote. As a worker for the Southern for the National Museum of African American

VerDate Mar 15 2010 04:16 Feb 07, 2012 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00028 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 9920 E:\CR\FM\K06FE7.060 H06FEPT1 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with HOUSE February 6, 2012 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H505 History and Culture, which Congress author- tion. Let us celebrate the African Americans VOTING RIGHTS ACT ized in December 2003. It is expected to open who made amazing sacrifices in the name of Never in the history of our nation, has the in 2015. justice and equality in the past and let us re- effect of one person, one vote, been more im- The theme of Black History Month this year commit ourselves to continuing to work for an portant. Our history has taught us that denying is ‘‘Black Women in American Culture and America that fully lives up to its ideals and en- the right to vote based on race, gender or History.’’ This gives all Americans the oppor- sures that every American has the tools and class is a blemish on the democratic principles tunity to pay tribute to the role African Amer- opportunity to pursue the American Dream. In that we all value. The Voting Rights Act (VRA) ican women have played in shaping our na- the present era, our African American elected was a reaction to the actions of our past and tion—with African American women often officials and the presidents of the various civil a way to pave the road to a new future. serving as champions of social and political rights, fraternal, business and religious organi- The VRA was adopted in 1965 and was ex- reforms. zations continue to encourage our nation to tended in 1970, 1975, and 1982. This legisla- Many African American families are still keep its commitment to freedom and equality. tion is considered the most successful piece of bearing the brunt of the worst economic down- VOTING RIGHTS civil rights legislation ever adopted by the turn since the Great Depression. In Sep- Mr. Speaker, I am joined by my colleagues United States Congress. The Act was due for tember, President Obama sent to Congress here today to call on all Americans to reject reauthorization in the 2nd session of the 108th the American Jobs Act, which would strength- and denounce tactics and measures that have Congress. The 108th voted to continue to pro- en the economy and is estimated to create 1.9 absolutely no place in this nation in 2012. We tect voting rights for all Americans in the fu- million jobs. Over the last several months, Re- cannot turn the clock back on the progress ture. publican obstruction has been blocking this bill made by African Americans, and other minori- Under the VRA, states with a long history of from moving forward. ties, throughout the past century. We have voting discrimination must obtain the approval ‘‘Jobs and the economy are the number-one made tremendous strides. Recent voter ID of the Justice Department or the D.C. District issue for African American families, just as legislation in states has attempted to turn back Court to change their voting practices. In they are for all American families,’’ com- the clock to disenfranchise millions of minori- 2006, Congress passed legislation that contin- mented Congresswoman SHEILA JACKSON LEE. ties in today’s America. ued to grant all Americans the right to vote. ‘‘That is why my immediate focus is on fighting During this Black History Month, we recog- Four states with new voter identification man- for a payroll tax cut for 20 million African nize the value that voting has placed upon our dates, including my home state of Texas, American workers and to extend the lifeline of society. In 1869, Americans voted to elect the South Carolina, Mississippi, and Alabama, are unemployment insurance for those who have first African American to the U.S. Senate— required under the Voting Rights Act to have lost a job through no fault of their own. Hiram Revels. Also in 1870, the right to vote these voting changes pre-cleared by either the I will also continue to work for the enact- allowed Joseph H. Rainey to become the first Department of Justice (DOJ) or a panel of fed- ment of other provisions of the President’s black member of the U.S. House of Rep- eral judges. Before they may be implemented, American Jobs Act, that create jobs by helping resentatives. In 1962, Americans elected Au- DOJ must certify that these laws do not have small businesses hire and grow, putting con- gustus Hawkins, the first African American the purpose or effect of restricting voting by struction workers back on the job rebuilding from California, to this great Body. racial or language minority groups. America, and preventing the layoff of teachers, American citizens cast their ballots in 1968 No right is more fundamental than the right firefighters and police officers. These steps to elect Shirley Chisholm as the first African to vote. It is protected by more constitutional are critical to helping improve the lives of Afri- American woman in Congress. In 1972, Amer- amendments than any other right we enjoy as can American families all across the country.’’ ican citizens exercised their right to vote and Americans. Broad political participation en- As we celebrate Black History Month let us elected the distinguished Barbara Jordan, who sures the preservation of all our other rights pay tribute to the extraordinary contributions of represented the 18th Congressional District of and freedoms. State laws that impose new re- past generations of African Americans and Texas that I am now privileged to serve. In strictions on voting, however, undermine our work to reignite the American Dream today 2008, Americans cast their ballots for Barack democracy by impeding access to the polls and for the next generation. We must continue Obama, and elected him to become the first and reducing the number of Americans who to work for an America that fully lives up to its African American President of the United vote and whose votes are counted. ideals and allows all Americans to reach their States. President Obama’s historical election CURRENT PRACTICES OF DISENFRANCHISEMENT full potential. has given hope to millions of African Ameri- There have been several restrictive voting Today, Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak to this cans across the country. In the face of great bills considered and approved by states in the Body about the need to protect democracy, to odds, the right to vote has given Americans past several years. The most commonly ad- protect the voice of the American people, and the power to stand fast for justice and fair- vanced initiatives are laws that require voters to ensure the right to vote continues to be ness, and yield to no one in the matter of de- to present photo identification when voting in treated as a right under the Constitution. fending the Constitution and upholding the person. Additionally, states have proposed or As we enter into Black History Month, it is most sacred principles of a democratic gov- passed laws to require proof of citizenship important to recognize the legacy that the right ernment. when registering to vote; to eliminate the right to vote has placed upon our nation. Black His- As a Member of this body, I firmly believe to register to vote and to submit a change of tory Month is a celebration of people who that we must protect the rights of all eligible address within the same state on Election have gone before us and on whose shoulders citizens to vote. Over the past decades, mi- Day; to shorten the time allowed for early vot- we stand, of people who stand among us norities in this country have witnessed a pat- ing; to make it more difficult for third-party or- today transfixed on a goal to achieve even tern of efforts to intimidate and harass minority ganizations to conduct voter registration; and more. It is a time to pause and renew our voters through so-called ‘‘Voter ID’’ require- even to eliminate a mandate on poll workers commitment to realize the progress and ments. I am sad to report that as we are be- to direct voters who go to the wrong precinct. achievements of our people and to go much ginning 2012, these efforts continue. A new crop of GOP governors and state further as we write our own chapter; a time to African Americans have always believed in legislators has passed a series of seemingly continue the legacy of African American His- the principles set forth in the Declaration of disconnected measures that could prevent mil- tory. Today, African Americans, as other mi- Independence and the U.S. Constitution. I call lions of students, minorities, immigrants, ex- norities, know that we have not yet overcome on all Americans to band together to fight for convicts and the elderly from casting ballots. the weight of not being treated as full citizens these principles and against efforts to limit the Republicans have long tried to drive Demo- of this great nation. right to vote for our elderly, African-Americans, cratic voters away from the polls. In a system- During Black History Month, we recognize Hispanic and Latino Americans, as well as atic campaign 38 states introduced legislation and celebrate the countless contributions of Asian-American voters. Let us stand together this year designed to impede voters at every African American pioneers. These honorable for the voting rights that are granted to citizens step of the electoral process. men and women faced unimaginable hard- of our nation by our laws and our Constitution. A dozen states have approved new obsta- ships and refused to allow the racial inequal- I call on Americans to stand against any cles to voting. Kansas and Alabama now re- ities and injustices of our past to inhibit their measures that would have the effect of pre- quire would-be voters to provide proof of citi- destiny. While we recognize these celebrated venting every eligible citizen from being able zenship before registering. Florida and Texas American heroes, it is important to understand to vote. Voting ensures active participation in made it harder for groups like the League of that Black History Month was also designed to democracy. The most effective way to curb Women Voters to register new voters. Maine highlight the extraordinary lives of ordinary tactics of intimidation and harassment is to repealed Election Day voter registration, which people who have helped build our great na- vote. had been on the books since 1973. Florida,

VerDate Mar 15 2010 04:16 Feb 07, 2012 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00029 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 9920 E:\CR\FM\A06FE7.036 H06FEPT1 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with HOUSE H506 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE February 6, 2012 Georgia, Ohio, Tennessee and West Vir- single person for going to the polls and imper- ralization papers can run up to $200. People ginia—cut short their early voting periods. sonating an eligible voter, which the anti-fraud born out of state who lack transportation, work Florida and Iowa barred all ex-felons from the laws are supposedly designed to stop. Out of multiple jobs, have disabilities, or are home- polls, disenfranchising thousands of previously the 300 million votes cast in that period, fed- bound or poor cannot access or afford these eligible voters. And 6 states controlled by Re- eral prosecutors convicted only 86 people for documents. publican governors and legislatures—Ala- voter fraud—and many of the cases involved Now that many states have reduced hours bama, Kansas, South Carolina, Tennessee, immigrants and former felons who were simply and locations of motor vehicle departments Texas and Wisconsin—will require voters to unaware of their ineligibility. and other agencies because of budget cut- produce a government-issued ID before cast- According to Barnard political scientist Lor- backs, getting an ID can be a battle. In Wis- ing ballots. raine Minnite, most instances of improper vot- consin, 25 percent of DMV offices are open Furthermore, 6 states have introduced legis- ing involve registration and eligibility, such as one day a month or less, and fewer than half lation to impose new restrictions on voter reg- voters filling out registration forms incorrectly are open at least 20 hours a week. What can istration drives run by groups like Rock the or a person with felony convictions attempting prospective voters who have to work or care Vote and the League of Women Voters. The to register. Neither of those issues would be for their children during these limited hours do Republican-controlled legislature in Florida prevented by a state photo ID requirement. but go without? passed a law requiring anyone who signs up According to George Washington University Mr. Speaker, current voter ID laws are new voters to hand in registration forms to the law professor Spencer Overton, a former based on partisan politics. The push for photo state board of elections within 48 hours of col- member of the Commission on Federal Elec- ID laws and other restrictions is largely cham- lecting them, and to comply with a bombard- tion Reform, ‘‘a photo ID requirement would pioned by Republicans and conservative ment of burdensome, bureaucratic require- prevent over 1,000 legitimate votes (perhaps groups. Record rates of voter registration and ments. Those found to have submitted late over 10,000 legitimate votes) for every single turnout among young and minority voters in forms would face a $1,000 fine, as well as improper vote prevented.’’ 2008 affected federal races across the nation, possible felony prosecution. As a result, the There are people who believe that voter ID as about two-thirds of new voters registered law threatens to turn civic-minded volunteers is required because perpetrators of voting as Democrats in the 29 states that record into unintentional criminals. fraud do not face serious legal consequences. party affiliation. The 2010 midterms put more Florida and Ohio—which now have conserv- Both federal and state laws include stiff fines conservatives in office who want to combat ative Republican governors—have shortened and imprisonment for voter fraud. Under fed- this trend. The right-wing American Legislative the time for early voting for 2012. Early voting eral law, perpetrators face up to five years in Exchange Council, for example, drafted and will be cut from 14 to 8 days in Florida and prison and a fine of $10,000 for each act of promoted photo ID legislation that was intro- from 35 to 11 days in Ohio, with limited hours fraud. In Alabama, voter fraud is punishable duced in more than 30 states. on weekends. In addition, both states banned by up to two years in prison and a $2,000 fine. IMPACT OF REQUIRING VOTER ID voting on the Sunday before the election—a In Wisconsin, the punishment is up to 31⁄2 These recent changes are on top of the day when black churches historically mobilize years in prison and a $10,000 fine. Missouri disfranchisement laws in states that deprive their constituents. imposes a penalty of up to five years in prison minorities of their political voice. In total, more The biggest change in election rules for and a $10,000 fine. And in Texas, the max- than 21 million Americans of voting age lack 2012 is the number of states requiring a gov- imum prison sentence is 10 years. documentation that would satisfy photo ID ernment-issued photo ID, the most important Mr. Speaker, proponents further suggest laws and a disproportionate number of these tactic in the Republican war on voting. In that requiring ID at the polls impact all voters Americans are low-income, racial and ethnic Texas, under ‘‘emergency’’ legislation passed equally. Well, Mr. Speaker, the truth is State minorities, and the elderly. Minority citizens by the GOP-dominated legislature and signed photo ID restrictions disproportionately impact are less likely to possess government-issued by Gov. Rick Perry, a concealed-weapon per- African Americans, Latinos, young voters, peo- photo identification. African-American citizens mit is considered an acceptable ID but a stu- ple over 65 and people with disabilities. The also disproportionately lack photo identifica- dent ID is not. Republicans in Wisconsin man- Advancement Project showed that 11 percent tion. Nearly 25% of African-American voting- dated that students can only vote if their IDs of eligible voters, or about 21 million people, age citizens have no current government- include a current address, birth date, signature don’t have updated, state-issued photo IDs: 25 issued photo ID, compared to 8% of white vot- and two-year expiration date—requirements percent of which are African Americans, 15 ing-age citizens. Using 2000 census figures, that no college or university ID in the state percent of those earning less than $35,000, 18 this amounts to more than 5.5 million adult Af- currently meets. As a result, 242,000 students percent of citizens age 65 or older and 20 per- rican-American citizens without photo identi- in Wisconsin may lack the documentation re- cent of voters age 18 to 29. fication. Further, about 16% of Hispanic vot- quired to vote next year. Mr. Speaker, those who wish to restrict the ing-age citizens have no current government- In South Carolina, the 178,000 South Caro- right of Americans to vote believe that new issued photo ID. linians who do not have a state-issued ID voter ID laws are cheap and easy for states It is important to focus on both expanding must pay for a passport or a birth certificate to and citizens. Voter ID laws deny the right to the franchise and ending practices which actu- obtain the free state-issued ID now required to vote to thousands of registered voters who do ally threaten the integrity of the elections, such vote. Under the new law, many elderly black not have, and, in many instances, cannot ob- as improper purges of voters, voter harass- residents—who were born at home in the seg- tain the limited identification states accept for ment, and distribution of false information regated South and never had a birth certifi- voting. Many of these Americans cannot afford about when and where to vote. None of these cate—must now go to family court to prove to pay for the required documents needed to issues, however, are addressed or can be re- their identity. secure a government issued photo ID. As solved with a photo ID requirement. PROPONENTS such, these laws impede access to the polls Furthermore, requiring voters to pay for an The proponents of voter identification legis- and are contrary to the fundamental right to ID, as well as the background documents nec- lation suggest that there is extensive voter vote. essary to obtain an ID in order to vote is tan- fraud when Americans go to the polls. Mr. The Advancement Project’s report ‘‘What’s tamount to a poll tax. Although some states Speaker, I am here to lay that claim to rest. Wrong With This Picture?’’ shows that tax- issue IDs for free, the birth certificates, pass- Laws requiring photo identification to vote are payers will bear the costs of these meas- ports, or other documents that are required to a ‘‘solution’’ in search of a problem. The fact ures—more than $20 million in North Carolina, secure a government-issued ID cost money, is voter fraud in this United States is rare. for example, to educate voters and provide and many Americans simply cannot afford to There is no credible evidence that in-person free IDs to those without them, as the state’s pay for them. In addition, obtaining a govern- impersonation voter fraud—the only type of law requires. For voters, even if an ID is free, ment-issued photo ID is not an easy task for fraud that photo IDs could prevent—is even a getting the documents to obtain it can be ex- all members of the electorate. minor problem. Multiple studies have found pensive and difficult. According to the Brennan Center for Justice, that almost all cases of alleged in-person im- Many states require at least four original citizens with comparatively low incomes are personation voter ‘‘fraud’’ are actually the re- forms of identification to obtain a photo ID— less likely to possess photo identification. Citi- sult of a voter making an inadvertent mistake documents such as a certified birth certificate, zens earning less than $35,000 per year are about their eligibility to vote, and that even marriage or divorce record, adoption record, a more than twice as likely to lack current gov- these mistakes are extremely infrequent. Social Security card, or naturalization papers. ernment-issued photo identification as those A major probe by the Justice Department A birth certificate in Texas costs $22, a U.S. earning more than $35,000. At least 15 per- between 2002 and 2007 failed to prosecute a passport costs as much as $145 and natu- cent of voting-age American citizens earning

VerDate Mar 15 2010 04:16 Feb 07, 2012 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00030 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 9920 E:\CR\FM\A06FE7.037 H06FEPT1 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with HOUSE February 6, 2012 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H507 less than $35,000 per year do not have a valid the devastation of the region, which virtually I wanted to participate in this Spe- government-issued photo ID. Low-income indi- shut down civil services in the area. For exam- cial Order because of what we are going viduals who lack the funds to pay for docu- ple, New Orleans residents after Hurricane through in Texas and Ohio and Florida, mentation, people with disabilities with limited Katrina were scattered across 44 states. and around this country with redis- access to transportation, and elderly citizens These uprooted citizens had difficulty reg- tricting. It is true that Ohio, because are less likely to possess government-issued istering and voting both with absentee ballots the population hasn’t grown, has to photo identification. Nearly 18% of American and at satellite voting stations. As a result, lose two seats. But we have seen a re- citizens age 65 and above do not have current those elections took place fully 8 months after districting like none other. I wanted to government-issued photo ID. Using 2005 cen- the disaster, and it required the efforts of non- put some of this on the record because sus estimates, this amounts to more than 6 profits, such as the NAACP, to ensure that I think scholars around the country million senior citizens. voters had the access they are constitutionally and young people studying could really Americans, who never had a birth certificate guaranteed. take a look at what has happened in and cannot obtain alternate proof of their birth We need to address the election fraud that this recent redistricting that I think in the U.S., are among those who face signifi- we know is occurring, such as voting machine has a subtle and very insidious agenda cant or insurmountable obstacles to getting integrity and poll volunteer training and com- that isn’t immediately apparent to the the photo ID needed to exercise their right to petence. After every election that occurs in eye. vote. this country, we have solid documented evi- I had a woman come up to me yester- In addition, women who have changed their dence of voting inconsistencies and errors. In day in a church in Ohio. She happened names due to marriage or divorce often expe- 2004, in New Mexico, malfunctioning ma- to be an African American woman. She rience difficulties with identity documentation, chines mysteriously failed to properly register said: I want to ask you a question, Con- as did Andrea, who recently moved from Mas- a presidential vote on more than 20,000 bal- gresswoman. Why is my voting loca- sachusetts to South Carolina and who, in the lots. 1 million ballots nationwide were flawed tion changed all of the time? Why is span of a month, spent more than 17 hours by faulty voting equipment—roughly one for my precinct flipped all the time? online and in person trying without success to every 100 cast. I said: You know, ma’am, I know get a South Carolina driver’s license. Those who face the most significant barriers something is going on here that isn’t Instances of voter intimidation are not long are not only the poor, minorities, and rural good. Ohio was never technically a vot- ago and far away. Just last year I sent a letter populations. 1.5 million college students, ing rights State, but there’s something to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder to draw whose addresses often change, will also have strange. And I thought I would put on his attention to several disturbing instances of difficulty providing documentation. the record some of what’s strange voter intimidation that had taken place in In fact, newly married individuals face sig- about what’s happening in Ohio. Houston. In a single week there were at least nificant barriers to completing a change in sur- Individuals like herself constantly 15 reports of abuse of voter rights throughout name. For instance, it can take 6- 8 weeks to have to go to a different precinct. She the city of Houston. receive the marriage certificate in the mail, an- never moved her house. She lives in the As a Senior Member of the House Judiciary other two weeks (and a full day waiting in line) same place. A lot of people maybe don’t Committee, I called for an immediate inves- to get the new Social Security card, and finally realize that their precinct has been tigation of these instances. Many of these inci- three-four weeks to get the new driver’s li- changed, and some percent of people dents of voter intimidation were occurring in cense. There is a significant possibility that will not go to the other precinct. It predominately minority neighborhoods and this bill will also prohibit newlyweds from vot- may be a small percent. It may be 0.02 have been directed at African-Americans and ing if they are married within three months of percent; but you add that up around a Latinos. It is unconscionable to think that any- Election Day. State that votes 50/50, and you begin to one would deliberately employ the use of such The right to vote is a critical and sacred see a fall off in voting. forceful and intimidating tactics to undermine constitutionally protected civil right. To chal- I can tell you this, and I wish to the fundamental, Constitutional right to vote. lenge this is to erode our democracy, chal- place this on the Nation’s record to- However, such conduct has regrettably oc- lenge justice, and mock our moral standing. I night: for every Republican Congress curred in Houston, and I urge you to take ap- urge my colleagues to join me in dismissing Member from Ohio who sits here, and propriate action to ensure that it does not this crippling legislation, and pursue effective they have the majority, 13 out of 18, recur. solutions to the real problems of election fraud their home county was kept whole. A long, bitter, and bloody struggle was and error. We cannot let the rhetoric of an Every single one. But for every Demo- fought for the Voting Rights Act of 1965 so election year destroy a fundamental right upon crat—there are only five of us out of that all Americans could enjoy the right to which we have established liberty and free- 18—their home county was crashed and vote, regardless of race, ethnicity, or national dom. broken up into parts. origin. Americans died in that fight so that oth- Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. I thank you for Every urban county, if you look ers could achieve what they had been force- coming and for making that very around at the five of us who are here: fully deprived of for centuries—the ability to strong presentation and for sharing Cuyahoga has been split into four parts walk freely and without fear into the polling that story with us which lets us know in a very strange way; Lucas County is place and cast a voting ballot. that, not so very long ago, people were missing its western half now; you go VOTER ID really blocked from voting and took down to Akron, you look at that coun- An election with integrity is one that is open their lives in their hands just trying to ty, cities like Parma, Parma, Ohio, one to every eligible voter. Restrictive voter ID re- exercise that simple right, the right to of the largest cities in Ohio, sliced in quirements degrade the integrity of our elec- vote. half. What do those places all have in tions by systematically excluding large num- I would like to now yield to our col- common? They all happen to be urban bers of eligible Americans. league from Ohio, Congresswoman areas. They have mixed populations. I do not argue with the notion that we must MARCY KAPTUR. They have diversity. They like people prevent individuals from voting who are not al- who aren’t like themselves. They like lowed to vote. Yet a hidden argument in this b 2030 the diversity of life. Those commu- bill is that immigrants may ‘‘infiltrate’’ our vot- Ms. KAPTUR. I want to thank Dr. nities have been hacked apart in Ohio. ing system. Legal immigrants who have suc- CHRISTENSEN for holding this very, Our colleague, Congresswoman cessfully navigated the citizenship maze are very important Special Order as we BETTY SUTTON, 42 percent of the pre- unlikely to draw the attention of the authorities begin Black History Month here in the cincts in her new district are broken. by attempting to register incorrectly. Similarly, United States and say how proud I am That means booth workers can make undocumented immigrants are even less likely to serve with her, her path-breaking mistakes. More than one Member of to risk deportation just to influence an election. work in health care, leading us to cov- Congress is running in that precinct. If for no other reason than after a major dis- erage for all, to Congresswoman SHEILA Sometimes as many as three are run- aster be it earth quakes, fires, floods or hurri- JACKSON LEE. I had not heard that ning in the same precinct. When that canes, we must all understand how vulnerable story, what she personally has lived goes on the ballot, do you realize how our system is. Families fleeing the hurricanes and helped push America forward to a much confusion, even if everybody has and fires suffered loss of property that in- new day. It is my distinct pleasure and an IQ of a gazillion, somebody is going cluded lost documents. Compounding this was honor to be here with them tonight. to go in the booth and put the wrong

VerDate Mar 15 2010 04:16 Feb 07, 2012 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00031 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A06FE7.038 H06FEPT1 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with HOUSE H508 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE February 6, 2012 vote on the ballot because of the confu- One of the individuals I would like to are a few whose names I would like to sion with so many Members running in talk about is a great writer, Toni Mor- read into the RECORD: Langston the same precinct. rison, a woman who was born in Lo- Hughes, playwright, poet and writer; Booth workers will make mistakes. rain, Ohio, now part of the Ninth Con- our dear beloved colleague, Stephanie And just like the woman I mentioned gressional District. We know how im- Tubbs Jones, the first black woman to at the beginning whose precinct keeps portant Black History Month is be- be elected to Congress from Ohio. I changing although she hasn’t moved, cause it’s the time of the year to re- miss her to this day. I have her picture there is a certain percentage of error flect and be thankful for the countless in my office. Halle Berry, the first involved in that. And it’s happening in contributions of African Americans black woman to win an Academy the Democratic areas, not the Repub- like Ms. Morrison who have made en- Award as best actress. Think about lican. during contributions to American life that. So I would say this: I would ask those and to world history. who are listening tonight to think This year’s Black History Month b 2040 about really peeling apart the layers of theme is ‘‘Black Women in American this redistricting in places like Texas Culture and History.’’ And I would say Carl B. Stokes was the first black and Ohio and look at the subtle nature this Caucasian woman is very proud to mayor—first black mayor—of a major of the type of gerrymandering that’s join my colleagues of color and say American city, and it was Cleveland, being done around the country. Com- that I’m glad it’s all women down here Ohio—Cleveland, Ohio. We are so proud munities are being hacked apart. Com- tonight for the moment because, real- of that. And I was proud to serve with munities of interest are being hacked ly, our voices need to be magnified, and his bother, Louis Stokes, who was here apart. certainly Ms. Morrison did that. In for so many years, who preceded me on Doesn’t Parma, Ohio, have the right honoring women, we honor her. She is the Appropriations Committee. to be its own city? It’s hard enough to exactly the type of person we should be I could go on, Mr. Speaker. There are get things done across communities recognizing, given this Black History others who wish to speak tonight. But where needs are great. We have so Month’s theme, for her work in Amer- I have to say, I’m proud to be an Ohi- many people losing their homes. ican literature. oan, one of the States that was always There’s all kinds of problems in this She is a Pulitzer Prize-winning au- a free State, home of the Underground country with the unemployment, but thor and became the first black woman Railroad as it came through, and peo- we make it harder for communities to to win the Nobel Prize in literature, ple disembarked and escaped for their hold together. There seems to be some- making her the 90th Nobel Laureate in lives to places like Canada through thing un-American about that. There literature. She came from Lorain, northern Ohio, through the commu- seems to be something really ugly, Ohio. She didn’t come from the places nities that I am privileged to represent something very insidious when it pulls that are known as the cultural meccas. now. people apart rather than holds them She came from a tough place where I am very proud to stand with my together. people work hard for a living. She was colleague, Dr. CHRISTENSEN, here to- We have one Congressman, actually a born during the Great Depression in night, in honoring all Americans, cer- Republican from the other side of the that working-class city. Ms. Morrison tainly in this Black History Month, aisle. Ohio has 88 counties. Do you showed an interest in literature at an and what they have taught us over our know how many counties they put in early age. Through hard work, she re- centuries about full representation and his district, 20; 20 out of 88. That means ceived degrees from Howard University the decent and fair treatment of peo- 60 county commissioners. Can you here and Cornell. She subsequently ple. What a legacy they have given and imagine how many mayors? Unbeliev- taught at Texas Southern University, continue to create for our country. I able. This makes no sense. But it’s Howard University, Yale, and Prince- want to thank the gentlelady for yield- what happened. And I am very con- ton. Her contributions to American ing to me this evening. cerned, as my colleagues are, about history come from her six novels. Dur- [From Cleveland.com—The Plain Dealer, what happens to people who are elder- ing her Nobel Prize ceremony, the Per- Feb. 2, 2012] ly, who can’t travel far, who sometimes manent Secretary of the Academy said: TONI MORRISON, AUTHOR, WON PULITZER, have trouble seeing. ‘‘In her depictions of the world of the NOBEL PRIZES: BLACK HISTORY MONTH And as you start switching things black people, in life as in legend, Toni (By Ellen Kleinerman) around and you make it more difficult, Morrison has given the Afro-American As part of Black History Month, we recog- even I notice the way they print the people their history back, piece by nize Toni Morrison, a Pulitzer Prize-winning absentee ballots in Ohio—I’m glad to piece.’’ novelist and the first black woman to win a have them early—but you need a mag- Mr. Speaker let us take time to fully Nobel Prize in literature. nifying glass to see the letters when we recognize the contributions of Toni Morrison, born Chloe Anthony Wofford in know that the population in many of Morrison and the many others during 1931, grew up during the Great Depression in these urban areas are a high percent- this year’s Black History Month. While a working-class neighborhood in Lorain, age of senior citizens. where European immigrants, Mexicans and the United States is facing many chal- Southern blacks lived. As a child, Morrison There’s something very un-American, lenges today, it is incumbent upon us listened intently to the stories her parents, something very unfriendly about what to ensure that the work of leaders such Ramah and George Wofford, told of the tradi- is going on here. It makes me think as Tony Morrison do not go unnoticed. tions and struggles of blacks in the South. about the Voting Rights Act and I just wanted to mention, also, she Morrison earned a B.A. at Howard Univer- maybe strengthening it and taking a penned a story about a girl from her sity in 1953 and an M.A. at Cornell Univer- particular look at urban areas that are childhood who prayed for blue eyes. I sity in 1955 in humanities. At Howard, she being broken up in very, very strange happen to have blue eyes. I never met Jamaican architect Harold Morrison. ways. You can’t even explain, the lines thought about that. She said this was They married in 1958, had two sons and di- vorced six years later. For a temporary es- don’t even make any sense where they the basis for her first novel, ‘‘The Blu- cape from her unhappy marriage, Morrision are putting them in urban areas. It’s est Eye,’’ published in 1970. I have to joined a small writer’s group, where she like they are shattering communities say I admire the African American peo- penned a story about a girl from her child- of interest. There’s something really ple because I always wanted curly hair, hood who prayed for blue eyes. This was the wrong about that. and I never really had it. So you see, basis for her first novel ‘‘The Bluest Eye,’’ I wanted to say also to Congress- we learn from one another and appre- published in 1970. woman CHRISTENSEN, in Ohio we’ve had ciate from one another. Morrison worked for Random House pub- a lot of great African Americans. I’ve In concluding tonight, let me say lishing and taught at several universities in- cluding Yale and Princeton. had the opportunity to serve with some that I wish to place in the RECORD from Her novel ‘‘Beloved,’’ about a captured of them here, and I would like to place the Cleveland Plain Dealer a wonderful slave woman who tried to kill her children in the RECORD tonight the names of story honoring the achievements of rather than see them live as slaves, won the some of them in honor of Black History great African Americans who have Pulitzer in 1988. She won the Nobel Prize in Month. come from our part of America. There 1993

VerDate Mar 15 2010 04:16 Feb 07, 2012 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00032 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K06FE7.064 H06FEPT1 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with HOUSE February 6, 2012 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H509 [From Cleveland.com—[The Plain Dealer, in this area of publishing the history of She, too, suffered the same fate as the Feb. 2, 2012] Africans in the Americas, known as Af- Honorable Rosa Parks, but she didn’t HONORING ACHIEVEMENTS rican Americans. make the headlines. She did make As part of Black History Month, The Plain I’d like to, tonight, just address a headway such that when the Honorable Dealer will recognize accomplishments of very simple topic that has a lot of Rosa Parks was arrested, it become the region’s black community. The news- meaning, the whole notion that great more of a story. Of course, Rosa Parks paper will profile important people, places people will always rise to the occasion. had status in the community, and that and events daily through February. However, it also takes great people to was, in no small way, a contribution to This is the second year that the paper has her receiving the attention that she published a monthlong series of profiles for make the occasion; and on occasions Black History Month. Go to cleveland.com/ such as this, we often mention the did. specialreports to see profiles from last year. great ones: the great Thurgood Mar- And, by the way, Rosa Parks wasn’t Last year’s list included: shall, the great litigator that he was, just tired. She was tired in the sense Langston Hughes, playwright, poet and winning more than 29 cases, I believe, that she was tired of injustice, and she writer before the Supreme Court of the United took a stand against injustice because Larry Doby, the first black player in the States of America. she was tired of injustice. American League But in talking about the cases that The interesting thing about this Garrett A. Morgan, inventor of the gas story is that the bus boycott that took mask and traffic signal he won, approximately 29 is what I re- call, we also should remember that place didn’t end because of the boycott St. John’s Episcopal Church, one of the alone. I think that had something to do stops on the Underground Railroad there were other persons who helped to Stephanie Tubbs Jones, first black woman make the occasion for the great with it because it probably helped to elected to Congress in Ohio Thurgood Marshall who went on to be- shape public opinion. But there were three other females who filed a lawsuit Charlie Sifford, first black golfer on the come a Justice on the Supreme Court that made its way to the Supreme PGA Tour of the United States of America. One Frank Robinson, first black manager of a Court of the United States of America: such person would be Charles Hamilton major-league baseball team Browder, McDonald, and Smith. It was Houston. Jesse Owens, track gold medalist that lawsuit that they won, they made A great story about Charles Ham- The Rev. Otis Moss, Jr., civil rights leader headway. They didn’t make the lasting Cleveland Buckeyes, Negro League Base- ilton Houston, he was the person who headlines, but they made the difference ball team produced the strategy that the Honor- Thomas Fleming, first black Cleveland in the Montgomery bus boycott. able Thurgood Marshall followed to And, of course, we always talk about councilman help the NAACP litigate the cases that Jim Brown, Cleveland Browns fullback and Dr. King, and we should, because he NFL Hall of Famer went before the Supreme Court, more paid the ultimate price. He made the Bertha Josephine Blue, taught Italian im- specifically, the case of Brown v. Board ultimate sacrifice. But we should not migrants English of Education, which helped us to inte- forget that before Dr. King marched John Patterson Green, first black state grate society by way of desegregation. from Selma to Montgomery, there were senator from the North There’s a story about Thurgood that others who set out to march from Halle Berry, first black woman to win an many people are not aware of. He ap- Academy Award as best actress Selma to Montgomery, and they did plied to the University of Maryland not make it across. Well, they made it Harry Edward Davis, second black in the Law School and he was denied access Ohio Senate across the Edmund Pettus Bridge, but John O. Holly, Jr., civil rights leader because of his color. And I’m not angry that was where they met strong resist- Mary B. Martin, the first black woman with the University of Maryland. As a ance from officers who had billy clubs, elected to the Cleveland Board of Education matter of fact, it was because they re- and they resisted the marchers. They Eliza Bryant, created first facility for jected him that he went to Howard didn’t resist them; they actually took aging blacks University, where he met the Honor- League Park, supported the Negro League them on, and they beat them all the able Charles Hamilton Houston. And it way back to the church where they during segregation was there that their friendship blos- Carl B. Stokes, first black mayor of a started. major American city somed such that Thurgood acquired I enjoy hearing JOHN LEWIS tell the Arsenio Hall, comedian, actor and late- this intelligence about the strategy to story not because of the suffering, but night talk show host use the Constitution and litigation to because he tells it in such a way as to Jane Edna Hunter, nurse, lawyer and social bring about a more perfect Union. cause me to have some degree of appre- worker who founded the Phillis Wheatley As- The interesting story, however, is ciation for what they went through on sociation not complete unless we go on to talk Bloody Sunday and how they paid a Harrison Dillard, Olympic gold medalist about how Thurgood, who graduated at price. There were many people there on President Barack Obama’s 2008 rally the top of his class, went on to practice Phillis Wheatley Association, helped black Bloody Sunday. The Honorable JOHN women who migrated from the South law, and one of his first cases involved LEWIS was among them. They made Central High School, allowed black stu- a person who was denied access to the headway and they made headlines, but dents to enroll before the Civil War University of Maryland. He won that their names have not been mentioned. Karamu House, the longest-running black lawsuit. So history has a way of caus- And these are the people who made the arts and theater center in the country ing persons who have been rejected to occasion such that the Honorable Dr. Chester Himes, first black mystery writer have the opportunity to make a dif- Martin Luther King would come to Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Well, thank ference in the lives of other persons Selma and proceed with the march that you. We appreciate your joining us and who may be similarly situated. eventually took them from Selma to pointing out some of the inconsist- I am so honored that Thurgood Mar- Montgomery. They made headway. encies that are occurring in Ohio and shall finished at Howard University They didn’t always make headlines, also paying tribute to Toni Morrison. and went to become chief litigator for but they made a great contribution. We do have one of the gentlemen of the NAACP; but all of this was predi- And, of course, we know of the Hon- the Congressional Black Caucus joining cated upon his having a great relation- orable Barack Obama, the first African us tonight, and that is Congressman AL ship with another person who made American President of the United GREEN of Texas, a leader in his area in headway, did not necessarily make the States of America, who did not get the NAACP for many years, and now a same kind of headlines, the honorable there because of his color. He is Presi- leader in the Congress and all the time Charles Hamilton Houston. dent because he is capable, competent, a leader of our country. We talk about the Honorable Rosa and qualified. But before he ran, there Thank you for joining us, Congress- Parks and how she took a seat and ig- was a woman who ran, the Honorable man AL GREEN. nited a spark that started the civil Shirley Chisholm. She was the first Af- Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Thank you rights movement, but there was an- rican American to run for President very much for yielding to me. I greatly other person who took a seat before from a major political party. She appreciate it. And, of course, I want to Rosa who was arrested, handcuffed, and didn’t get the nomination of the party, thank all of the members of the CBC taken to jail. She was a 15-year-old but she did run from a major political for the stellar work that has been done girl. Her name was Claudette Colvin. party.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 05:19 Feb 07, 2012 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00033 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A06FE7.028 H06FEPT1 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with HOUSE H510 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE February 6, 2012 So we should remember that for back to; and SHEILA JACKSON LEE, Angelou, African Americans have been re- every James Chaney, there were per- when she was speaking earlier, re- sponsible for many of the successes and inno- sons who were in the shadows who minded us of some of that history. vations that have defined our Nation. Since made a difference. JOHN LEWIS was one Going back to the other topic of our Black History Month was first conceived, we of them. For every Thurgood Marshall, Special Order, the right to vote and recognized these ground-breaking accomplish- there’s a Charles Hamilton Houston protecting that right to vote, tomor- ments and celebrated them together as a who mentored, who made a difference row the Congressional Black Caucus, country. in the life of a Thurgood Marshall such led by our chairman, Reverend Con- However, every great triumph is not without that he could go on to do the great gressman EMANUEL CLEAVER, will be tribulation. Much of what Black History Month things that he did. For every Rosa submitting a House resolution con- is about is the recognition of the suffering that Parks, there is a person who is in the demning the passage of legislation that African Americans have had to endure. After shadows, who made a difference, who would unduly burden an American citi- slavery was abolished, Black Americans still helped to make the occasion such that zen’s ability to vote, and opposing any faced racial intolerance and inequality. We Rosa Parks could rise to the occasion State election law or proposed legisla- need only to look to history to reflect on a pe- by taking a seat and igniting a spark tion that would have a dispropor- riod when African Americans were denied the that started the civil rights movement. tionate impact on vulnerable commu- right to vote. Let us remember not only the per- nities across this country. Even with passage of the Fifteenth Amend- sons who made the great headlines that When we introduce this, I think this ment to the U.S. Constitution, many still chose we continually recognize, but let’s re- is clearly a resolution that would sig- to circumvent the law and disenfranchise vot- member that there were other persons nify the sense of Congress. It should be ers. From literacy tests to poll taxes, these who made great headway who don’t get a resolution that every Member, Re- tactics were designed to keep U.S. citizens the recognition today that they merit, publican and Democrat, should sup- from exercising their right to vote, and to have port, supporting the right of every but they were a part of this great a voice in a diverse democratic system. It was American citizen to vote freely and to movement for liberty and justice for not until the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was ul- have that vote counted. And we would African Americans across the length timately enacted that these menacing policies invite all of the Members of the House and breadth of this country. were outlawed. to join us in that resolution, to become Mr. Speaker, Black History Month goes fur- b 2050 cosponsors, and we would ask the lead- ther than just the recognition of African Ameri- ership to bring it to the floor for a At some point, I shall talk about per- cans and their distinct role in shaping U.S. his- vote. sons who were of many hues who also tory. Black History Month is very much about participated in this great movement, Again, it condemns the passage of legislation that would unduly burden our struggle as a Nation to uphold our demo- because we didn’t get here by our- cratic principles of fairness and equality for all. selves. There were many persons of an American citizen’s ability to vote and opposes any of those State election The struggle and triumph that is honored dur- many colors who marched and pro- ing this important time has come to benefit tested. Many of them gave their lives laws or proposed laws that would have a disproportionate impact, because his- every American—regardless of their gender, to this movement as well—John race, or creed—by furthering a culture of Shillady comes to mind, who was beat- torically we know that people of color have been barred from voting. equality, fairness, and justice. These important en in Austin, Texas, and as a result of lessons from our past are ones that we must that beating lost his life. He was an The passage of these restrictive vot- ing laws, the resolution reminds us, is never forget as we move triumphantly into the NAACPer, he was Anglo. Of course we future. know about Goodman and Chaney and reminiscent of the Jim Crow-era poll taxes and literacy tests that disenfran- Schwerner. And two of them, of course, f were not African Americans, chised thousands of African Americans. Schwerner and Goodman. It also reminds us that these laws do LEAVE OF ABSENCE more to suppress the right to vote than So I think that on occasions like this By unanimous consent, leave of ab- we should always celebrate the great to protect our electoral system. There’s a lot of talk about these laws sence was granted to: and noble African Americans who made being passed and proposed because of Mr. CLYBURN (at the request of Ms. great sacrifices, remember those who fraud in the election system, but PELOSI) for today on account of attend- were in the shadows, and also remem- there’s no proof that there is any fraud. ing a funeral. ber that there were others of many So these laws are really about sup- Mr. ENGEL (at the request of Ms. hues, of many ethnicities and many re- pressing the right to vote. PELOSI) for today on account of official ligions who were right there with us to business. help us arrive at this point in our his- GENERAL LEAVE Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I Mr. LYNCH (at the request of Ms. tory. ask unanimous consent that all Mem- PELOSI) for today. And I thank you so much for this bers may have 5 legislative days in Mr. REYES (at the request of Ms. time to mention some of the great which to revise and extend their re- PELOSI) for today on account of med- ones, and some of those who were great marks and include extraneous material ical reasons. but did not receive the acclaim that on the subject of this Special Order. Mr. VAN HOLLEN (at the request of they richly deserve. And I thank you The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there Ms. PELOSI) for today. again. God bless you, and God bless objection to the request of the gentle- Mr. POE of Texas (at the request of America. woman from the Virgin Islands? Mr. CANTOR) for today on account of of- Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Thank you, There was no objection. ficial business. Congressman GREEN. And thank you Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I Ms. BUERKLE (at the request of Mr. for reminding us of the many, many yield back the balance of my time. CANTOR) for today on account of offi- unsung heroes and heroines on whose Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. cial business. shoulders we also stand here today. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about the This is Black History Month, and on significance of February as Black History f many occasions throughout February Month. Black History Month was first observed the Congressional Black Caucus will be in 1976, and has become a successful effort BILL PRESENTED TO THE here on the floor to talk about the ones to bring a greater understanding of African PRESIDENT that we know and those that we don’t American history to all people in the U.S. Karen L. Haas, Clerk of the House re- hear much about. There is a lot of our Since the first observance of Black History ports that on February 6, 2012 she pre- history that of course we’re very proud Month, this country has seen increased rec- sented to the President of the United of—the Long March to Freedom, the ognition of the numerous contributions and States, for his approval, the following march for the right to vote, and today, sacrifices that African Americans have made bill. where we now have 43 members of the throughout the United States. H.R. 588. To redesignate the Noxubee Na- Congressional Black Caucus. But we From the pioneering inventions of Garrett A. tional Wildlife Refuge as the Sam D. Ham- also have history that we’re not going Morgan, to the famous writings of Maya ilton Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge.

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