For Immediate Release: August 24, 2021
Contact: Colleen Ross | [email protected] | 202-601-7877
Catholic Lobby Celebrates House Passage of Voting Rights Bill, Urges Immediate Senate Passage
Sr. Quincy Howard: “Senators must do whatever it takes—including reform or eliminate the filibuster—to pass the VRAA and restore badly needed protections for the freedom to vote.”
WASHINGTON – Today, the House of Representatives passed the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act (H.R.4), a bill that will restore voting protections stripped away in recent Supreme Court rulings which have restricted voting rights for Black, Latinx, Native American, and AAPI communities. Passing the John Lewis VRAA is a critical, immediate step to put an end to racist, discriminatory voting laws.
Targeted disenfranchisement through poll closures, gerrymandering, early voting restrictions, and other tactics are rapidly infringing on the sacred right to vote across the country. NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice applauds swift passage of H.R.4 in the House, and calls for the Senate to bypass the racist filibuster and pass this legislation in tandem with the For the People Act.
Sister Quincy Howard, OP, NETWORK Government Relations Specialist, said:
“As an advocacy organization rooted in Catholic Social Teaching, we believe that protecting voting rights is a moral imperative for the common good of a just society. The right to vote is affirms the inherent dignity of every person. With states across the nation adopting voting rules and known practices that suppress the votes of communities of color, it is critical to restore the full power of the VRA if we hope to control these disturbing trends.
“We applaud the passage of the John Lewis VRAA in the House today and urge the Senate to quickly take up this bill. While the Voting Rights Act has a long history of bipartisan support, the sad reality in 2021 is that many Republicans are aligned with factions bent on undermining trust in our elections in order to suppress the vote. Senators must do whatever it takes—including reform or eliminate the filibuster—to pass the VRAA and restore badly needed protections for the freedom to vote.”
Executive Director of NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice, Mary J. Novak, said:
“Any time Congress allows voting protections and fair elections to be infringed, they are failing their moral duty to advance the common good and uphold the inherent, God-given dignity of every individual. Restoring the power of the Voting Rights Act is necessary to end racial discrimination at the polls and to build a new, truly representative democracy. I urge the Senate to pass H.R.4 immediately; there is no time to waste in the fight to save our democratic institutions.”
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NETWORK – advocates for justice inspired by Catholic sisters – educates, organizes, and lobbies for economic and social transformation. They have a 45-year track record of lobbying for critical federal programs that support those at the margins and prioritize the common good. www.networklobby.org
Sister Quincy Howard and Mary J. Novak are available for interviews. For inquiries, contact Colleen Ross [email protected] or 202-601-7877.