On Wednesday, June 26th at 3 p.m. EDT, U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell, AL-07, House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark, MA-05, House Democratic Caucus Chairman Pete Aguilar, CA-33, Congressional Black Caucus Chairman Steven Horsford, NV-04, and Rep. James Clyburn, SC-06, will host a press conference marking the 11th anniversary of the Supreme Court’s Shelby County v. Holder decision which gutted the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Rep. Sewell and her colleagues will call on Congress to pass the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and protect access to the ballot box for every eligible American.
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 HR14, 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.
