U.S. Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham
U.S. CONGRESSIONAL News:
U.S. Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham, N.M.-01, marked the 50th anniversary of the landmark Civil Rights Act July 2 by calling on Congress to pass an update to the landmark legislation, the most sweeping civil rights legislation since Reconstruction.
“It could be argued that the Civil Rights Act of 1964 is the most significant law in this nation’s history, and today’s anniversary is a time to remember the debt all of us owe to all of the courageous leaders of the civil rights movement,” Lujan Grisham said. “Although the Civil Rights Act of 1964 represented enormous progress, more progress is still needed. There could be no better way to mark this 50th anniversary than for Congress to pass a revised, renewed, and strengthened Voting Rights Act.”
Lujan Grisham has signed on to be a co-sponsor of a bipartisan bill by Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner, R-Wis. – the Voting Rights Amendment Act – that provides an effective, modern, flexible and forward-looking Voting Rights Act. Specifically, it prevents discriminatory voting practices to ensure that everyone, regardless of race or ethnicity, has a fair and equal opportunity to exercise their fundamental voting rights. The proposal will help repair the damage caused by a Supreme Court ruling last year that significantly weakened a key provision of the act.
“I call upon Members on both sides of the aisle to continue the bipartisan tradition of supporting civil rights and pass the Voting Rights Amendment Act,” Lujan Grisham said. “This action would be in the spirit of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and would continue to help America to better live up to our creed that all individuals are created equal.”
