HR0909 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0909 LRB095 16544 JAM 42575 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Voting is the language of democracy and has proven to be one of the most effective tools in the ongoing battle against racism in our nation; and

WHEREAS, In 1965, the Voting Rights Act was passed by Congress to protect every American against racial discrimination in voting; and

WHEREAS, The Voting Rights Act was created to ensure that every person's vote is equal and that race should never shut any person out of the political process; and

WHEREAS, The Voting Rights Act of 1965 made specific provisions to mitigate against extraordinary racial discrimination in voting rights; and

WHEREAS, These provisions applied to certain areas of the nation for a limited period of time; these certain areas included several jurisdictions where voting irregularities took place during recent elections; and

WHEREAS, Racial discrimination in voting thus continues to be a problem today; and

WHEREAS, These provisions of the Voting Rights Act that provide safeguards against racial discrimination in voting are temporary and have required periodic reauthorization by Congress to remain in force; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge Congress to amend the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to make all its provisions permanent; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be delivered to the President pro tempore of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and each member of the Illinois congressional delegation.