Washington D.C. — Today, U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell (AL-07) released a video message on the 11^thanniversary of the Supreme Court’s 2013 Shelby County v. Holder decision which gutted the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (VRA).

Tonight at 7:15 p.m. EDT (6:15 p.m. CDT), in conjunction with the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), Rep. Sewell will host a Special Order Hour on the anniversary of the Shelby decision. Led by Sewell, members of the CBC will take to the House Floor to call on Congress to pass the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. Watch it here.

Tomorrow at 3:00 p.m. EDT (2:00 p.m. CDT), Rep. Sewell will host a press conference with House Democratic leadership on the 11^th anniversary of the Shelby decision. Sewell and her colleagues will highlight the urgent need to pass the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and protect access to the ballot box for every eligible American. Watch it live on Rep. Sewell’s official Facebook page here.

Background

On June 25, 2013, in its Shelby County v. Holder decision, the Supreme Court struck down key provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (VRA). Since then, state lawmakers have passed a wave of restrictive state voting laws targeting Black and minority voters. According to the Brennan Center for Justice, at least 31 states have passed 103 restrictive voting laws since the Shelby decision.

As the author and lead sponsor of H.R. 14, the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, Rep. Sewell is leading the effort in Congress to restore the protections of the VRA and safeguard the right of all Americans to vote.