Washington, D.C. – Today, ahead of the 60^th anniversary of Bloody Sunday and the historic Selma to Montgomery March, U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell (AL-07) led every House Democrat in introducing H.R. 14, the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. The bill would restore and modernize the protections of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (VRA), addressing modern-day voter suppression and ensuring every voter, regardless of race or background, has equal access to the ballot box. It is cosponsored by every House Democrat and supported by more than 140 organizations across the nation.

“Since the Supreme Court gutted the Voting Rights Act of 1965, we have seen state officials advance hundreds of new measures to make it harder for Americans to vote,” said Rep. Terri Sewell, author and lead sponsor. “As we prepare to commemorate the 60^th anniversary of Bloody Sunday in my hometown of Selma, Alabama, it is clear; the fight for voting rights is just as urgent today as it was decades ago. I’m proud to be reintroducing the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act with the support of every House Democrat. Our bill would give us the tools necessary to address modern-day voter suppression and ensure every American has equal access to the ballot box.”

"This whole notion of American democracy, the idea, the experiment in self-government relates directly to the ability of all Americans to have the unfettered right to vote," said House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries. "But voting rights are under attack across America, which is why the John Robert Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act is so critical. House Democrats are thankful for the leadership of Rep. Terri Sewell in reintroducing this important legislation that will put an end to the era of voter suppression in America once and for all."

"Democracy is under attack. Extremists are cutting people’s health care, rolling back civil rights, and hiking prices on working families. Our most powerful tool to fight back is our vote, which is exactly why those extremists are trying to strip it away,” said House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark. “If we want to preserve government by the people and defend all that Congressman Lewis fought for, we need to take action now. House Democrats demand a vote on the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, and we call on Congressional Republicans to join us.”

“It’s a privilege to join Rep. Sewell and my colleagues in the House Democratic Caucus as we commemorate the 60th anniversary of John Lewis marching across the Edmund Pettus Bridge and honor his memory with legislation righting a great wrong,” said House Democratic Caucus Chairman Pete Aguilar. “In 2013, the politicians on the Supreme Court gutted the Voting Rights Act, allowing states across the country to make it harder for people to vote. House Democrats want our elections to be more fair and more accessible so that everyone has the chance to make their voice heard. That’s why we must pass the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.”

“The right to vote is a sacred cornerstone of our democracy. My dear friend John Lewis recognized this and dedicated his life to ensuring people have free and unfettered access to the ballot box. I’m proud to continue the fight and honor his memory by joining Rep. Sewell in reintroducing the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act,” said Rep. James E. Clyburn. “We have a moral obligation to make this country’s greatness accessible and affordable for all Americans; fundamental to that mission is including all Americans in our great democracy. I urge our Republican colleagues to reconsider their partisan opposition to protecting the franchise. Right now — we need to rally the American people to do the things that are necessary to maintain this democracy."

“I commend Congresswoman Sewell for her years of leadership on this critical piece of legislation,” said Committee on House Administration Ranking Member Joseph Morelle. “60 years after the late Congressman John Lewis marched from Selma to Montgomery, we remind people that the fight for free, fair, and equal access to the ballot box is not over.”

“At a time of escalating racism and democratic backsliding, America must summon the moral compass of Congressman John Lewis, a Civil Rights Movement hero and steadfast public servant whom I was honored to call a friend,” said House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Jamie Raskin. “Ahead of the 60th anniversary of Bloody Sunday, where John was beaten within inches of his life while marching for voting rights, we reintroduce the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act to protect the right to vote and strengthen our democracy. I am grateful to Rep. Sewell for her leadership and partnership on this legislation and for championing voting rights and John Lewis’ legacy.”

“Over the past several years, we have seen a wave of voter suppression laws being introduced in jurisdictions around the country, including many with histories of racial voting discrimination,” said Congressional Black Caucus Chairwoman Yvette D. Clarke. “I thank my esteemed colleague Representative Terri Sewell for her leadership in reintroducing the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act in the 119th Congress. At a time when our democracy is under constant threat, particularly in Black communities, we must do all we can to protect our sacred right to vote. Protecting Americans’ access to the ballot box should not be a partisan issue. The CBC is calling on Republicans to work with Democrats to pass the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act to restore and modernize the protections of the VRAA to prevent states from erecting new barriers to the ballot box.”

“John Lewis put us in a position to take the next step on equal voting rights for all. Today, there are forces that not only want to stop us from taking that step, they want to erase John’s legacy,” said Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chairman Adriano Espaillat. “There is no more appropriate way to commemorate the 60^th anniversary of Bloody Sunday than the reintroduction of the John. R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.”

“As we approach the 60^th anniversary of Bloody Sunday on March 7, we remember the struggle and sacrifice of civil rights activists who put their lives at risk, including the late Rep. John Lewis, to ensure every American has the right to vote,” said Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus Chairwoman Grace Meng. “While we have made significant progress, this fight is not over. Americans' sacred right to vote is under attack by anti-democracy extremists, and it is our duty to protect our democracy from those who seek to undermine it. I am proud to co-sponsor the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act to ensure our country's system of governance, by the people and for the people, endures for generations to come.”

Background

On March 7, 1965, in Selma, Alabama, the late Congressman John Lewis and hundreds of Foot Soldiers were viciously attacked by police while peacefully demonstrating in support of the equal right of all Americans to vote. The brutality of Bloody Sunday galvanized the Civil Rights Movement and led to the passage of the landmark Voting Rights Act of 1965 (VRA).

For decades, the VRA prevented states with a history of voter discrimination from erecting new barriers to the ballot box, until it was gutted by the Supreme Court in the 2013 Shelby County v. Holder decision. Without its guardrails, state officials have enacted at least 94 restrictive voting laws, many in states with a history of racial voting discrimination. Subsequent Supreme Court decisions have further weakened the VRA, making it more difficult to challenge voter discrimination in court.

The John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act would restore and modernize the protections of the VRA. It would establish a modern-day framework to determine which states and localities have a recent history of voter discrimination and require those jurisdictions to pre-clear new voting laws with the Department of Justice.

Bill text is available here.

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