Floor SpeechNeutral2026-04-30

DEVASTATING BLOW TO VOTING RIGHTS ACT

Voting RightsCivil Rights

Context

On 2026-04-30, Representative Melanie A. Stansbury (D-NM-1) delivered a floor speech titled "DEVASTATING BLOW TO VOTING RIGHTS ACT" in the House. The speech addressed voting rights and also covered civil rights.

Full Text

DEVASTATING BLOW TO VOTING RIGHTS ACT

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 76 (Thursday, April 30, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 76 (Thursday, April 30, 2026)] [House] [Pages H3327-H3328] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] DEVASTATING BLOW TO VOTING RIGHTS ACT (Ms. STANSBURY asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.) Ms. STANSBURY. Mr. Speaker, this week the Supreme Court of the United States dealt another devastating blow to the Voting Rights Act of 1965, a law that for nearly six decades has stood as a promise that every American, no matter who you are or where you live, has a voice in our democracy, a law that generations fought for, marched for, and organized for. [[Page H3328]] This decision is not just about the law. It is about our people, about our future, about our democracy, and about whether or not this country is by the people, for the people. Mr. Speaker, we are angry, we are sad, and we are mad about the politics that have led us to this moment, that at every moment we have turned backwards, the American people have risen and taken this country forward, and so we will today. We will fight back. We will fight back in Congress. We will fight back in the courts. We will fight back in our communities. The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Wied). The time of the gentlewoman has expired. Ms. STANSBURY. We will continue to show up at every election at every level because our democracy-- The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentlewoman is no longer recognized. ____________________

View original source →

DEVASTATING BLOW TO VOTING RIGHTS ACT Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 76 (Thursday, April 30, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 76 (Thursday, April 30, 2026)] [House] [Pages H3327-H3328] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] DEVASTATING BLOW TO VOTING RIGHTS ACT (Ms. STANSBURY asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.) Ms. STANSBURY. Mr. Speaker, this week the Supreme Court of the United States dealt another devastating blow to the Voting Rights Act of 1965, a law that for nearly six decades has stood as a promise that every American, no matter who you are or where you live, has a voice in our democracy, a law that generations fought for, marched for, and organized for. [[Page H3328]] This decision is not just about the law. It is about our people, about our future, about our democracy, and about whether or not this country is by the people, for the people. Mr. Speaker, we are angry, we are sad, and we are mad about the politics that have led us to this moment, that at every moment we have turned backwards, the American people have risen and taken this country forward, and so we will today. We will fight back. We will fight back in Congress. We will fight back in the courts. We will fight back in our communities. The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Wied). The time of the gentlewoman has expired. Ms. STANSBURY. We will continue to show up at every election at every level because our democracy-- The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentlewoman is no longer recognized. ____________________