‘Xenophobic Attack’: Summer Lee Blasts GOP Bill Requiring Proof Of Citizenship To Vote

3 months ago

During House floor remarks on Wednesday, Rep. Summer Lee (D-PA) spoke against H.R.8281 - Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act.

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Transcript

00:00Thank you, Mr. Speaker. When we say that the right to vote is under attack, we're not talking

00:04about hypotheticals. It is under attack right now, right here, with this very bill. Republicans

00:11want to throw up barriers because when people vote, they lose. Let me be clear, they don't

00:16want you to vote. They don't want to hear black voices, brown voices, LGBTQIA voices,

00:22young voices. Our fundamental access to our democracy is being politicized. And this xenophobic

00:27attack that we're debating today will make it harder for Americans to vote. My Republican

00:32colleagues will claim that requiring IDs is a small ask, but nearly 30 million people

00:37lack a valid driver's license. And about 15 to 18 million adults don't have access to

00:42documents proving their birth or citizenship. Americans don't need more obstacles. It's

00:47already hard enough. That's why I'm proud to have introduced the Right to Vote Act with

00:51my colleagues, Assistant Leader Neguse and Senator Ossoff. This bill would enshrine people's

00:56rights to vote and prohibit governments on all levels from restricting that right with

01:00bills like this one. This bill is part of the Democrats' Freedom to Vote Act. And along

01:04with the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, these acts...

01:08Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to ask permission to continue to allow the gentlelady another

01:1530 seconds.

01:16Gentlelady is recognized for 30 seconds.

01:18Thank you. This bill, which is a part of the Freedom to Vote Act, and along with the John

01:22Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, are the types of bills we should be bringing to the

01:25floor. Not this nonsense. Every day that we let right-wing Republicans pass laws like

01:30this that restrict ballot access, reducing polling stations in black neighborhoods, or

01:34drown out our voices with big-money campaigns, we fail the American people. And for that

01:38reason, I urge my colleagues to oppose this harmful legislation. I yield back.

‘Xenophobic Attack’: Summer Lee Blasts GOP Bill Requiring Proof Of Citizenship To Vote

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