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Today Congressman David Scott (GA-13) helped pass legislation to extend the Voting Rights Act for twenty-five years. The Fannie Lou Hamer, Rosa Parks, and Coretta Scott King Voting Rights Act Reauthorization and Amendments Act of 2006, H.R. 9, passed in the House by a 390-33 vote.

“I am very proud that key provisions of the Voting Rights Act were finally reauthorized today with strong bipartisan support,” said Congressman Scott.

“The Voting Rights Act is without question one of the most important pieces of legislation ever enacted by Congress. I am living proof of the success of the Voting Rights Act having been elected to Congress as an African-American to represent a district without a majority minority constituency.

"Our nation has made great progress in expanding and protecting the opportunity for participation in the political process for all Americans since President Lyndon Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act into law in 1965.

"Congress acted forthrightly to defeat all four opposing amendments offered today and to ensure that the Voting Rights Act’s legacy of success is not weakened or undone.”

H.R. 9 reauthorizes for 25 years key provisions of the Voting Rights Act that are set to expire in 2007. The expiring provisions include: Section 5, which requires jurisdictions with a history of discrimination in voting to get federal approval of any new voting practices or procedures; Section 203, which ensures that American citizens with limited English proficiency get the help they need at the polls; and Sections 6-9, which authorize the Attorney General to send federal examiners to register voters or observe elections if he or she feels it is advisable or receives greater than 20 complaints from any state.

Beginning in October 2005, Congressman Scott attended and participated in all ten Congressional hearings held to examine the impact and effectiveness of the Voting Rights Act. The hearings were held in the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution and laid the foundation for legislation to extend the Voting Rights Act for another 25 years - H.R. 9.

The Fannie Lou Hamer, Rosa Parks, and Coretta Scott King Voting Rights Act Reauthorization and Amendments Act of 2006 now heads to the Senate for consideration.

Watch Congressman Scott speak against the Westmoreland Amendment>>

Watch Congressman Scott speak in support of VRA Reauthorization>>