NALEO > News and Media Center > Press Release
For Immediate Release |
Contact: Rosalind Gold |
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| July 20, 2006 | (213) 747-7606, ext. 120 |
as Victory for Democracy
The President Urged to Fulfill his Promise to Sign the Legislation Without Delay
Los Angeles, CA—Today the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) Educational Fund released the following statement regarding the U.S. Senate’s vote to renew key provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965:
“The U.S. Senate’s unanimous 98-0 vote to renew key provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 represents an historic victory for our nation’s democracy. By approving H.R. 9, the Senate has brought the legislation a step closer to final enactment, and has helped ensure that Latinos and all Americans have an equal and meaningful voice in our electoral process.
In the 40 years since its passage, the Voting Rights Act has paved the way for the political progress of Latinos and other minorities. One of the most powerful pieces of civil rights legislation ever enacted by Congress, the Voting Rights Act has served as an indispensable tool to combat discrimination in the electoral process, and renewal of its key provisions is necessary to eliminate the barriers that still stand in the way of full
and fair political participation.
When Congress first enacted the Voting Rights Act, it recognized that the right to
vote is one of the most fundamental rights our nation bestows upon our citizens.
We commend the group of bi-partisan Senators who have built upon this legacy
through their collaborative work on behalf of the renewal legislation, including U.S. Senate Judiciary Chair Arlen Specter (R-PA), Ranking Judiciary Member Senator
Patrick Leahy (D-VT), and Senator Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA).
The VRA renewal legislation now moves to the President for final approval. The
President has publicly stated his committment to signing H.R. 9, and we urge the President to fulfill his promise before the August Congressional recess.
The VRA has helped Latinos on their journey to achieve fair representation in public office and full participation in the American political process. In the last two decades, the number of Latino elected officials has grown from 3,128 in 1984, to 5,132 in January, 2006. The renewal of the VRA will now shape the future of our democracy,
by making it stronger, more vital and responsive to all of our citizen’s voices."
About the NALEO Educational Fund - The NALEO Educational Fund is the leading organization that facilitates full Latino participation in the American political process, from citizenship to public service. The NALEO Educational Fund is a national non-profit, non-partisan organization whose constituency includes the more than 6,000 Latino elected and appointed officials nationwide.
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