Terri Sewell

Ms. SEWELL of Alabama

Ms. SEWELL of Alabama. They were. Those DMV offices, as the gentleman from New York so aptly recited, were mostly located in heavily African American parts of the State of Alabama, but they were also predominantly rural parts of the State of Alabama. Those same areas have a hard time having transportation, public transportation, to get around in those areas. They said, of course, that the reason why they were closing down these DMV offices had nothing to do with voting, of course, but had to do with the fact that there were serious budgetary restraints. Obviously, one of the consequences of the closures of those DMV offices was to limit access to those people getting photo IDs, the most popular form of photo ID, which is a driver's license, and, therefore, limiting their ability to go vote. I did speak with our Governor, and he did open up those DMV offices on a limited basis, but only on a limited basis. And I say to you that it is unacceptable in America to have any limitations on the right to vote. I really ask all of my colleagues, especially those who have come to Selma over the years with John Lewis on these pilgrimages, to really search deep in their hearts. If they are really about access to the ballot box and being able to make sure that all Americans have an opportunity to exercise this fundamental right, then why would we not make it easier for people to vote? Instead of going the way of Alabama and having these photo ID laws, it seems to me that all of us should be adopting laws like the State of Oregon, which has mail-in ballots and same-day registration. There are ways that we can make it much easier for every American to exercise that most fundamental right to vote. So tonight I ask my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join in with the 168 cosponsors of the Voting Rights Advancement Act, and join us in this fight to make sure that we do a modern-day formula, a modern-day formula, with a look back, since 1990 going forward, to look at whether or not there have been discriminatory acts that have limited people's access to the ballot box. I also ask my colleagues to join us every Tuesday that we are in session. We have declared it to be Restoration Tuesday. And on those Tuesdays, since Tuesdays are the days that we vote, we go to the well of the floor, and we talk about why it is important to restore the vote. So I want to thank my colleagues, the gentleman from New York and the gentlewoman from Ohio, for leading us in this charge tonight. I hope that it will spill over to tomorrow, which is Restoration Tuesday, where we can really talk about the modern-day examples of people being denied access to the ballot box because of people's inability to actually get the credentials that people require them to have, or because they have to work late. They don't have the ability to be able to drop everything and go and vote and stand in long lines if those polling stations have been closed. I say all this to say that it is really imperative, I think, that we put real action behind our talk. We do a lot of talking about our democracy and upholding our Constitution. This is an opportunity for this august body to actually do something about it. In closing, I want to quote one of our Republican colleagues, who has been in this fight for a very long time, Republican Congressman Sensenbrenner from Wisconsin, who I think really best summed it up when he wrote in an op-ed in the New York Times after witnessing those long lines in Maricopa County, Arizona, the following: ``Ensuring that every eligible voter can cast a ballot without fear, deterrence, and prejudice is a basic American right. I would rather lose my job than suppress votes to keep it.'' I have to repeat that. ``I would rather lose my job than suppress votes to keep it.'' My Republican colleague went on to say: ``Our credibility as elected officials depends on the fairness of our elections.'' Mr. Speaker, voting rights transcend partisan agendas. It really solidifies that equality in voting is the Democratic way. I ask my colleagues to join all of us in this fight, this fight for our democracy. This crisis that we are in is a crisis that we can fix in Congress by coming up with a modern-day formula. We already have several bills in the House. Congressmen Sensenbrenner and Conyers introduced the Voting Rights Amendment Act. I have introduced the Voting Rights Advancement Act. There are several bills-- two bills, in fact--that would actually come up with a modern-day formula. I dare this august body to actually act on one. I am here to tell you that the American people will be stronger, and this Republic will be stronger, because of it.

Ms. SEWELL of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I would like to commend my distinguished colleague from New York and my distinguished colleague, the gentlewoman from Ohio, for this wonderful hour of power on voting. It is my great honor to stand with them, to rise today and to join with my CBC colleagues to discuss the reckless Republican assault on the right to vote in America. We began tonight by bringing attention to the ever-evolving crisis brewing in our democracy. Since the Supreme Court in the Shelby decision gutted the preclearance provision of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, there has been nothing short of an assault on the right to vote-- the most sacred right to vote. This 2016 election will be the first time in my lifetime and, I daresay, in the lifetime of the gentleman from New York, that we will have a Presidential election in which there will not be the full protections of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. As the gentleman so rightly acknowledged, I welcomed, in 2015, 100 Members of Congress, both Republican and Democratic, to my hometown of Selma, Alabama, in recognition of the 50th anniversary of the historic Bloody Sunday march from Selma to Montgomery, where people shed blood and tears. Our own colleague, John Lewis, was bludgeoned on that bridge, the Edmund Pettus Bridge, 50-some years ago in order to have the right to vote for all Americans. On that day, Republicans and Democrats held hands as we crossed the Edmund Pettus Bridge one more time, as John Lewis likes to say, this time on the 50th anniversary of Bloody Sunday. We all had a Kumbaya moment, if you will, but we came back to Congress and did nothing to try to restore the Voting Rights Act of 1965. I ask my colleagues, Mr. Speaker, have we really gone so far in the last 10 years? After all, the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was amended and reauthorized five times, most recently in 2006 under a Republican President, President George Bush, who was with us on that glorious day on the 50th anniversary of the Selma to Montgomery march to make sure that his support for the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was there. So I say to you, in 10 years since 2006 when we reauthorized the Voting Rights Act of 1965, overwhelmingly, in both Houses of Congress-- overwhelmingly--we reauthorized the Voting Rights Act for 25 years. Had it not been for the Shelby decision which gutted section 5, which provided that preclearance formula, and made the full protections of the Voting Rights Act null and void, we would still be living under a regime where, as the gentleman so rightfully said, it was not only the Deep South States that were part of the coverage formula, but New York was part of the coverage formula as well. So the Supreme Court, in the Shelby decision, really issued a challenge to Congress to come up with a modern-day formula. The challenge was that we shouldn't hold States like Alabama and the Deep South for past discriminations that were so long ago, back in the 1950s and the 1960s and the 1940s, but, rather, we should come up with a modern-day formula. The Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2015 does just that. I was privileged to introduce that bill along with my colleagues Linda Sanchez and Judy Chu; and Senator Leahy, on the Senate side, introduced that bill. It has a lookback not since the 1950s or 1960s, but it has a lookback of 25 years, since 1990 going forward. It says that if there have been five violations, statewide violations, that a State would be, then, opted in to preclearance if they had five. Do you know, Mr. Speaker, that not 1, but 13 States have had violations of voting discrimination over the last 25 years? Those States include California, New York, Arizona, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, and Florida. Thirteen States would actually fall under the rubric. I think that it is really telling that we, in 2016, saw such long lines wrapped around Maricopa County, Arizona, most recently in March, during their Presidential election primary in March. Do you know why? Because Maricopa County used to be covered under the coverage formula for the 1965 Voting Rights Act; and since it no longer has any teeth and has been gutted, they could summarily close down polling stations. It shouldn't surprise you, Mr. Speaker, that in 2008, Maricopa County had 800 polling stations, in 2012 it went down to 400 polling stations, and for 2016, 60 polling stations--and those 60 polling stations covered the whole county of Maricopa County, Phoenix, Arizona. It was clearly not enough to get all of the folks who wanted to vote to be able to vote. They could close down those polling stations without any advance notification because there was no more Voting Rights Act of 1965. My own State of Alabama was one of those States that, after the Shelby decision, decided to institute a photo ID law. So many of my constituents came up to me and said: We need a photo ID to get on the plane these days. We need a photo ID to get a passport. Why shouldn't we need a photo? How is that in some way discriminatory? I had to remind many of our constituents that so many of our elderly, especially in the rural communities that I represent, many of whom were born by midwives, don't have birth certificates and can't actually readily prove a birth certificate in order to get a photo ID law. Some seniors and those who are disabled, like my father who no longer drives, therefore, he doesn't have a driver's license. He was a nine- time stroke victim--actually, a survivor. He is still with us today. But my dad was determined to get that photo ID in 2014 when Alabama's law came into effect. He was highly motivated, Mr. Speaker, because his daughter's name was on a ballot, and he wanted to be able to vote. I want you to know that it took my dad 5 hours to get a photo ID. Now, if that is not a barrier--you say to yourself: Five hours. Why would it take 5 hours? Well, Dallas County Courthouse is a courthouse that actually was grandfathered into the ADA laws and so did not have to have a ramp by which people who have wheelchairs can get readily into the courthouse. It had been grandfathered in. We were very blessed to have a gentleman help us get my dad up those seven stairs into the courthouse. But when we got into the courthouse, because the voter registration was on the second floor, we had to take an elevator upstairs. Lo and behold, that particular day, the one elevator bank was what? Actually out of service. Out of service. Now, my mom, having been a former member of the City Council in Selma and, obviously, a very well-known member of the citizens of Selma, she could go across the hall and talk to the probate judge's office and say: Look, we are here today to get this photo ID, this nondriving photo voter ID, so that my husband can vote. It took 1\1/2\ hours, but they got someone to service that elevator. And by the time that elevator was working and we got up to the second floor, lo and behold, it was 11:30. And guess what? Lunchtime. Now, I say to you, Mr. Speaker, we no longer have to count how many marbles are in a jar, we no longer have to recite all 67 counties in the State of Alabama in order to get a voter registration card, but we should not in America have to go through so many hoops in order to exercise the most fundamental right, the most sacred right of our democracy--the right to vote. And I say to you, Mr. Speaker, that any denial of access to the ballot box, to me, totally obfuscates and really undermines the integrity of the electoral process. If one person who wants to go out and vote has to stand in line for hours upon hours and can't actually physically stand in line because they have other obligations like children and day care and jobs, then it is unfair. We are actually limiting access to the ballot box, which actually goes to the integrity of our electoral process. It is fundamental to our democracy. So I say to you tonight, I am honored to join my CBC colleagues as we fight for the opportunity of all Americans to have equal access to the ballot box. Mr. Speaker, my State of Alabama, after having a photo ID requirement and during the State budgetary process, had the gall to actually decide to close down 30 Department of Motor Vehicle offices, which, as all of us know, the most popular form of photo ID is a driver's license. So to actually require a citizen to have a photo ID and then to close down DMV offices in rural parts of my district in the State of Alabama was really unconscionable.

Ms. SEWELL of Alabama

Ms. SEWELL of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Today I rise in opposition to H.R. 4139, the Fostering Innovation Act. This bill permits certain public companies that would be valued at more than half a billion dollars to avoid an independent audit required by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 for up to a decade. While I support legislation that would enable emerging growth companies to use valuable resources to remain competitive, stable, and, ultimately, successful, I believe that this bill, as currently drafted, is overly broad and would potentially undermine critical investor protections and impede confidence in our capital markets. Ultimately, these auditor reports on public companies provide substantial benefits to investors and to companies. They promote confidence in the U.S. markets, strengthen internal controls, and, ultimately, prevent fraud. I urge my colleagues to oppose this legislation. I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. SEWELL of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. SEWELL of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record letters of opposition from Americans for Financial Reform, Public Citizen, and the SEC Investor Advocate. Americans for Financial Reform, Washington, DC, May 23, 2016. Dear Representative: On behalf of Americans for Financial Reform, we are writing to reiterate our opposition to H.R. 4139, the ``Fostering Innovation Act'' This legislation would double the length of the existing exemption from compliance with Sarbanes Oxley Section 404(b) for ``emerging growth companies'', from five years to ten years. The exemption granted in H.R. 4139 applies to companies with $50 million or less in annual gross revenues. Section 404(b) of Sarbanes-Oxley requires the auditor of a public company to attest to the accuracy of the company's financial reporting. This requirement was passed in response to the accounting scandals of the late 1990s, which revealed widespread deception and fraud in financial reporting. More recent research by the GAO has found that companies exempted from auditor attestation requirements have a higher frequency of accounting restatements, indicating that the financial reporting at such companies is deficient. Such accounting restatements are harmful both to investors and to the companies themselves, by virtue of making it harder to raise capital. We believe that the five year exemption provided for in the JOBS Act is already ample time for a publicly held company with tens of millions of dollars in revenue to develop the capacity to provide fully reliable and accurate financial statements. Ten years is an excessively long exemption. This is especially true given the significance to the public and the financial markets of accurate financial reporting. Congress should reject H.R. 4139. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Americans for Financial Reform. Following are the Partners of Americans for Financial Reform--All the organizations support the overall principles of AFR and are working for an accountable, fair and secure financial system. Not all of these organizations work on all of the issues covered by the coalition or have signed on to every statement. AARP, A New Way Forward, AFL-CIO, AFSCME, Alliance For Justice, American Income Life Insurance, American Sustainable Business Council, Americans for Democratic Action, Inc, Americans United for Change, Campaign for America's Future, Campaign Money, Center for Digital Democracy, Center for Economic and Policy Research, Center for Economic Progress, Center for Media and Democracy, Center for Responsible Lending, Center for Justice and Democracy, Center of Concern, Center for Effective Government, Change to Win, Clean Yield Asset Management, Coastal Enterprises Inc., Color of Change, Common Cause, Communications Workers of America, Community Development Transportation Lending Services, Consumer Action, Consumer Association Council, Consumers for Auto Safety and Reliability, Consumer Federation of America, Consumer Watchdog, Consumers Union, Corporation for Enterprise Development, CREDO Mobile, CTW Investment Group, Demos, Economic Policy Institute, Essential Action. Green America, Greenlining Institute, Good Business International, Government Accountability Project, HNMA Funding Company, Home Actions, Housing Counseling Services, Home Defenders League, Information Press, Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, Institute for Global Communications, Institute for Policy Studies: Global Economy Project, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Institute of Women's Policy Research, Krull & Company, Laborers' International Union of North America, Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, Main Street Alliance, Move On, NAACP, NASCAT, National Association of Consumer Advocates, National Association of Neighborhoods, National Community Reinvestment Coalition, National Consumer Law Center (on behalf of its low-income clients), National Consumers League, National Council of La Raza, National Council of Women's Organizations, National Fair Housing Alliance, National Federation of Community Development Credit Unions, National Housing Resource Center, National Housing Trust, National Housing Trust Community Development Fund, National NeighborWorks Association, National Nurses United, National People's Action, National Urban League, Next Step, OpenTheGovemment.org, Opportunity Finance Network, Partners for the Common Good, PICO National Network, Progress Now Action, Progressive States Network. Poverty and Race Research Action Council, Public Citizen, Sargent Shriver Center on Poverty Law, SEIU, State Voices, Taxpayer's for Common Sense, The Association for Housing and Neighborhood Development, The Fuel Savers Club, The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, The Seminal, TICAS, U.S. Public Interest Research Group, UNITE HERE, United Food and Commercial Workers, United States Student Association, USAction, Veris Wealth Partners, Western States Center, We the People Now, Woodstock Institute, World Privacy Forum, UNET, Union Plus, Unitarian Universalist for a Just Economic Community. List of State and Local Partners Alaska PIRG, Arizona PIRG, Arizona Advocacy Network, Arizonans For Responsible Lending, Association for Neighborhood and Housing Development, NY, Audubon Partnership for Economic Development LDC, New York, NY, BAC Funding Consortium Inc., Miami, FL, Beech Capital Venture Corporation, Philadelphia, PA, California PIRG, California Reinvestment Coalition, Century Housing Corporation, Culver City, CA, CHANGER, NY, Chautauqua Home Rehabilitation and Improvement Corporation (NY), Chicago Community Loan Fund, Chicago, IL, Chicago Community Ventures, Chicago, IL, Chicago Consumer Coalition, Citizen Potawatomi CDC, Shawnee, OK. Colorado PIRG, Coalition on Homeless Housing in Ohio, Community Capital Fund, Bridgeport, CT, Community Capital of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, Community Development Financial Institution of the Tohono O'odham Nation, Sells, AZ, Community Redevelopment Loan and Investment Fund, Atlanta, GA, Community Reinvestment Association of North Carolina, Community Resource Group, Fayetteville A, Connecticut PIRG, Consumer Assistance Council, Cooper Square Committee (NYC), Cooperative Fund of New England, Wilmington, NC, Corporacion de Desarrollo Economico de Ceiba, Ceiba, PR, Delta Foundation, Inc., Greenville, MS, Economic Opportunity Fund (EOF), Philadelphia, PA, Empire Justice Center, NY, Empowering and Strengthening Ohio's People (ESOP), Cleveland. OH, Enterprises, Inc., Berea, KY, Fair Housing Contact Service, OH, Federation of Appalachian Housing, Fitness and Praise Youth Development, Inc., Baton Rouge, LA, Florida Consumer Action Network, Florida PIRG, Funding Partners for Housing Solutions, Ft. Collins, CO, Georgia PIRG, Grow Iowa Foundation, Greenfield, IA, Homewise, Inc., Santa Fe, NM, Idaho Nevada CDFI, Pocatello, ID, Idaho Chapter, National Association of Social Workers, Illinois PIRG, Impact Capital, Seattle, WA, Indiana PIRG, Iowa PIRG, Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement, JobStart Chautauqua, Inc., Mayville, NY, La Casa Federal Credit Union, Newark, NJ, Low Income Investment Fund, San Francisco, CA, Long Island Housing Services, NY, MaineStream Finance, Bangor, ME, Maryland PIRG, Massachusetts Consumers' Coalition, MASSPIRG, Massachusetts Fair Housing Center, Michigan PIRG. Midland Community Development Corporation, Midland, TX, Midwest Minnesota Community Development Corporation, Detroit Lakes, MN, Mile High Community Loan Fund, Denver, CO, Missouri PIRG, Mortgage Recovery Service Center of L.A., Montana Community Development Corporation, Missoula, MT, Montana PIRG, New Economy Project, New Hampshire PIRG, New Jersey Community Capital, Trenton, NJ, New Jersey Citizen Action, New Jersey PIRG New Mexico PIRG, New York PIRG, New York City Aids Housing Network, New Yorkers for Responsible Lending, NOAH Community Development Fund, Inc., Boston, MA, Nonprofit Finance Fund, New York, NY, Nonprofits Assistance Fund, Minneapolis, MN, North Carolina PIRG, Northside Community Development Fund, Pittsburgh, PA, Ohio Capital Corporation for Housing, Columbus, OH, Ohio PIRG, OligarchyUSA Oregon State PIRG, Our Oregon. PennPIRG, Piedmont Housing Alliance, Charlottesville VA, Michigan PIRG, Rocky Mountain Peace and Justice Center, CO, Rhode Island PIRG, Rural Community Assistance Corporation, West Sacramento, CA, Rural Organizing Project, OR, San Francisco Municipal Transportation Authority, Seattle Economic Development Fund, Community Capital Development, TexPIRG, The Fair Housing Council of Central New York, The Loan Fund, Albuquerque, NM, Third Reconstruction Institute, NC, Vermont PIRG, Village Capital Corporation, Cleveland, OH, Virginia Citizens Consumer Council, Virginia Poverty Law Center, War on Poverty--Florida, WashP1RG, Westchester Residential Opportunities Inc., Wigamig Owners Loan Fund, Inc., Lac du Flambeau, WI, WISPIRG. Small Businesses Blu, Bowden-Gill Environmental, Community MedPAC, Diversified Environmental Planning, Hayden & Craig, PLLC, Mid City Animal Hospital, Phoenix, AZ, UNET.

Ms. SEWELL of Alabama

Ms. SEWELL of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support this year's Intelligence Authorization Act. Our national security is truly a bipartisan issue, and this legislation is a reflection of both parties' shared commitment to the safety and security of all Americans. This bill helps provide our intelligence community with the necessary resources and capabilities to defend our Nation against ongoing and emerging threats around the world. As a ranking member on the DOD Intelligence and Overhead Architecture Subcommittee, I am pleased that the language and direction in this bill continues to advance our capabilities on the ground and in space, and provides necessary oversight of many critical DOD, NRO, and NGA programs. Additionally, this legislation takes important steps towards enhancing thorough oversight of our surveillance capabilities while continuing to make calculated investments in critically important strategic efforts. In the IAA, we also invest in our greatest national resource--our people. By accepting provisions that I drafted to promote diversity in the IC workforce, we are now able to provide a summer internship program to students from the existing Centers of Academic Excellence. We also now hold the IC more accountable for doing a better job of developing a matrix to assess how minority fellowship and internship programs actually achieve their desired results. This past weekend I had the pleasure, along with Congressman Andre Carson, to attend and be honored at the 3rd Annual African American National Security and Intelligence Leadership Summit. This annual event serves as a rare opportunity for African Americans in the IC to gain leadership insights from top national security officials. It was also a great occasion and further reaffirmed my commitment to helping ensure robust diversity throughout the entire IC. We were also successful in this year's IAA to include bipartisan language that promotes accountability and transparency in all IC federally funded academic programs by requiring agencies to report on their recruitment and retention efforts. Increasing diversity and accountability in the IC is a good governance issue and makes all of us better because it ensures unique and creative ways of problem-solving, which is increasingly necessary as we face more complex intelligence challenges. As a committee, I am extremely proud of the work we did. We took great pains to cut unnecessary funding while prioritizing the need to improve upon processes and promote efficiencies in the IC. The reality is that we live in a world where potential threats to our Nation are constantly developing and changing. As our military missions and intelligence objectives continue to evolve, we need an intelligence community that is diverse, agile, and adequately funded. I am proud to support this year's Intelligence Authorization Act. I want to commend my chairman and ranking member and all of the staff for all of their hard work on this bill. I urge my colleagues to support this critically important piece of legislation.

Ms. SEWELL of Alabama

Ms. SEWELL of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to acknowledge the Freedom Rides Museum in Montgomery, Alabama in its commemoration of the 55th anniversary of the Freedom Riders--the brave civil rights activists who peacefully fought against the unconstitutional public transportation segregation in the deep South in 1961. On May 14, 1961, Freedom Riders arrived in Anniston, Alabama on a Greyhound bus. They were met by an angry mob of nearly 200 white people who surrounded the bus and caused the driver to pass the bus stop. They were followed by the angry mob until the bus tires blew out which is when a bomb was thrown into the bus filled with peaceful civil rights activists. Barely escaping with their lives, the Freedom Riders watched the bus burst into flames and were then brutally beaten by members of the surrounding mob. A second bus traveled to Birmingham, Alabama. Those Freedom Riders were also met by angry mobs and were savagely beaten, some by metal pipes. The Birmingham Public Safety Commissioner at the time stated that he knew the Freedom Riders would be met with violence but posted no police protection because it was a holiday--Mother's Day. On May 20, 1961, it was the Montgomery, Alabama city line where the Govenor-appointed Highway Patrol abandoned the Freedom Riders they were charged to escort into the city. Their nonviolence was met with organized brutality of the worst kind. At the historic Montgomery Greyhound Station, the Freedom Riders were attacked as they exited by Jim Crow enthusiasts, beaten within inches of their lives by bats and iron pipes. Many riders were left for dead in the streets. Ambulances refused to transport the wounded to hospitals. Some members of the community stepped in, and tried to rescue the lives of those who dared challenge the unconstitutional Jim Crow laws of the South. It is my great honor to represent the 7th Congressional District--an area that is rich with the history of the young activists who defied systemic oppression, fought for the rights of others and asked for nothing except recognition as humans in return. These individuals continue to inspire me and the work I do day after day. In commemoration of the 55th anniversary, I want to recognize the Freedom Riders who risked their reputations and lives for the humanity of others. This diverse group of young people believed in persistence for obtaining equality and justice for all people and inspired millions to take a stand for their own beliefs of equity. The Freedom Riders made a daring choice in 1961--to fight against segregation and oppression in an innovative way that changed the course of American history forever. The valiant efforts of Freedom Riders such as Charles Person, William Harbour, Catherine Burks-Brooks, Bernard Lafayette, Jr., Ernest ``Rip'' Patton, Jr., Kwame Leo Lillard, Frances Wilson Canty, Allen Cason Jr., David Dennis, Larry Hunter, Alphonso Petway, Kredelle Petway, Betty Daniels Rosemond, Mary Jean Smith, Doratha Smith-Simmons, Willie Thomas, Jean Thompson, Joan C. Browning and Etta Simpson Ray led the charge to the ultimate desegregation of the bus system in Montgomery and the unification of a people to continue to fight for their rights. The Freedom Rides Museum in Montgomery, AL serves as a strong cornerstone in the narrative of the role of Alabama in the Civil Rights Movement. I want to thank the Alabama Historical Commission and its director Lisa Jones for their role in safeguarding Alabama's historic buildings and sites such as the Freedom Rides Museum. A special thanks to the leadership of Museum director Dorothy Walker and the amazing supporting staff members of the Freedom Rides Museum for their efforts in honoring the past and preserving the present for future generations to learn. The Freedom Rides Museum could not have been what it is without support from community members as well such as Judge Myron Thompson who helped save the building that is now the Museum as well as Johnnie Carr, former President of the Montgomery Improvement Association for all of her support as well as Louretta Wimberly of the Black Heritage Council. A special thanks to historian Dr. J. Mills Thornton who played a pivotal role in the creation of the Museum. The Freedom Riders are quintessential examples of how change can happen when we work together and fearlessly stand for what is right. I give us all the charge to--like the Freedom Riders, continue to battle against inequality and stand strong by our great nation's principles of democracy, liberty and justice for all. I ask my colleagues to join me in commemorating the 55th Anniversary of the Freedom Riders who in the summer of 1961 dared to make a difference and forever changed America for the better.

Ms. SEWELL of Alabama

Ms. SEWELL of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted No on Roll Call No. 222.

Ms. SEWELL of Alabama

Ms. SEWELL of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the En Bloc Amendment package Number 2 offered by Chairman Thornberry. I want to thank the Chairman and Ranking Member Smith for including my amendment, marked as Sewell Amendment Number 34, in this package. My amendment is a very simple one that not only promotes our continued efforts to increase training and readiness in the area of cybersecurity but also helps encourage and promote the critically important pipelines between our senior military colleges, local educational agencies and ROTC programs. The need for improvement in the area of cybersecurity is increasingly apparent. Over the past several years, there has been a sharp increase in the number of cyberattacks that threaten our national security and economic stability. This bill seeks to address this emerging threat by establishing ROTC cyber institutes at our senior military colleges. My amendment simply allows for these cyber institutes to place a special emphasis on entering into partnerships with local educational agencies that service rural, underserved, or underrepresented communities. Our nation's ROTC programs around the country help provide students with invaluable character education and promote student achievement, leadership, and diversity. These cooperative efforts between our military branches and local educational institutions help produce successful students and citizens. In particular, in rural and underserved communities, like the ones I represent in the 7th Congressional District of Alabama, ROTC programs not only provide the critically important tools to be successful academically and socially, but also represent an opportunity to improve their social mobility and expand their world beyond their communities. The outcomes of these programs are both apparent and convincing. They help increase the odds of students graduating high school, finding employment, going to college and becoming an even more productive member of society. The new ROTC cyber institutes established in this legislation are a perfect symbiosis between a program with a proven track record and an emerging national security threat that will require recruitment and training of the best and brightest from ALL walks of life. Again I want to thank the Chairman and Ranking Member for supporting this common sense yet critically important amendment. This is a win for everyone involved.

Ms. SEWELL of Alabama

Ms. SEWELL of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, today on this Restoration Tuesday, I rise to bring attention to the continued voter suppression affecting Americans around the country during this election year and the ongoing battle to protect the constitutional right to vote. It has been said that new restrictive voting laws were made to prevent voter fraud, but there is little evidence showing a significant problem. It has been said that having certain photo IDs are a simple request for those seeking to vote, while thousands of Americans such as the elderly, college students and city-dwellers who use public transportation and others lack such newly required IDs. Much is done in the name of noble reasons, but often the truth lies not in words but in deeds and results. The truth is this--Americans want to vote, but these new suppressive state voting laws are making it especially difficult. Here are some numbers: Seventeen states have introduced new voting procedures to be in place for the November election, more than half of which are being challenged in court. In all, over 30 states across the country have implemented new restrictive laws aimed at blocking the American people from the ballot box. After the Supreme Court decision in the Shelby case, the state of Alabama closed over 30 DMVs, the most common location to receive a photo ID. Strict voting ID laws in Texas could leave up to 600,000 voters without the proper ID. Also in 2008, Arizona had 400 voting polls. They went down to 200 voting polls in 2012 and now in 2016 they are down to 60. Across the nation, voting polls have been shut down and voters have been shut out. New photo ID laws have been passed and eligible voters have been passed up. With so many new state laws that have made it harder for voters to get to the polls, we must take a hard look around and ask the question--why don't we want people to vote? Why make voting for eligible voters harder and not easier? Are these new laws really about preventing voter fraud? The leaders in Congress need to have answers to these questions. Suppression of the right to vote is especially un-democratic and ultimately un-American. In the midst of this devastating blow to our democratic process, here are some numbers that we can be proud of: Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe recently restored voting rights to about 200,000 individuals with a past felony conviction. On March 10th of this year, Maryland also restored the right to vote for an estimated 40,000 individuals with past felony convictions. It is encouraging to see examples of leaders who believe in our democracy and believe in the Constitutional right to have one's voice heard through their right to vote. I don't have to remind anyone that this is an election year. But when I look around and see the ongoing suppression of the right to vote, I feel obligated to remind us all of what is at stake in this election. Every voice matters, every vote matters. Unfortunately, if eligible voters continue to be hindered by these new suppressive state laws; every voice will not be heard. Every potential vote will not be counted. Voting rights need to be protected and eligible voters need proponents of the Constitution and the democratic process to fight for them--to fight for their rights. The suppression needs to stop, the oppression needs to stop, and the excuses need to stop. There is too much at stake this election year and Congress needs to stand up and do something about it now. On this Restoration Tuesday, I give us all the charge to battle against the continued suppression of the American vote and stand strong by our principles of democracy, liberty, and justice for all. Mr. Speaker, my Republican colleagues should join the 168 members of Congress and support H.R. 2867--the Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2015. Let's restore the Voting Rights Act of 1965. It is the right thing to do.

Ms. SEWELL of Alabama

Ms. SEWELL of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted Yea on Roll Call Number 184.

Ms. SEWELL of Alabama

Ms. SEWELL of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to pay tribute to a hidden jewel in Alabama's Seventh Congressional District: Wallace Community College Selma. Wallace Community College Selma is a stellar 2-year institution that provides incredible educational opportunities to the students of Dallas County and across the Black Belt of Alabama. Now, more than ever, America needs greater innovation in our educational system to meet the demanding needs of tomorrow. Outstanding higher education institutes in the State of Alabama are producing some of our State's and our Nation's best and brightest who will lead us into the next era of American innovation. Wallace Community College Selma is leading that charge in my district through its dual enrollment program, which allows high school students to complete college courses and graduate with a high school diploma as well as an associate degree from this junior college. In 2008, Wallace Community College Selma graduated 31 students from the Selma Early College High School, which was the first of its kind on a college campus in the State of Alabama. The 2016 graduating class will include 22 dual enrollment students, including 20 students that participated in a special partnership with Tuskegee University. The Howard Hughes Medical Institute program with Tuskegee allowed Wallace Community College Selma to increase the participation of underrepresented minority students from Alabama's Black Belt counties in the important fields of science and research. This dual enrollment program with Tuskegee offers high school students an opportunity to take classes at Wallace Community College Selma as well as Tuskegee, and to graduate with their high school diploma as well as an associate degree in science. Mr. Speaker, the dual enrollment program at Wallace Community College Selma is accomplishing what it set out to do: to give Dallas County high school students a head start in college. The benefits of this important opportunity are immeasurable: cutting the cost and the time spent in college while providing high school students significant exposure to the types of classes and fields of interest that will give them an important advantage and jump start on their peers. Collaborations like these are so critically important to our youth gaining important and invaluable educational experience while obtaining college credit through dual enrollment. America must encourage more of these types of programs as we seek to lead the world in educating our people and attracting new generations of high-tech and high-paying jobs. As a Member of Congress for the Seventh Congressional District, I take great pride in working to offer solutions that will help lay the foundation for creating better paying jobs and for our educational system to thrive in the future. I am so proud to acknowledge today the tremendous efforts and the outstanding programs offered at Wallace Community College Selma which exemplify the invaluable role our 2-year colleges play in our communities. This college's leadership and innovation in creating a 21st century learning environment is to be commended--what a jewel to have serving the students of the Black Belt of Alabama. I am proud to represent them in my district and also to help encourage more students to participate in the dual enrollment program and Wallace Community College Selma. Mr. Speaker, I want to commend Dr. James Mitchell for his tremendous leadership as president of Wallace Community College Selma. I want to commend the faculty, administrators, and students of Wallace Community College Selma for being truly outstanding. This Friday, May 13, 2016, is graduation day at Wallace Community College Selma. I want to congratulate the entire class of 2016 and especially acknowledge the academic achievement of the 22 dual enrollment students who will receive a special congressional commendation on Friday. The names of these students will be listed in this Congressional Record. I would also like to acknowledge the tremendous efforts and the tremendous achievements of the Wallace students who participated in Alabama Skills USA: Alabama Skill USA winner Jonniece Collins won first place in masonry and, as such, was the first woman in the State of Alabama to win this honor. Other winners included Roderick Perkins, who won second place in masonry; Terrence Campbell, who won third place in masonry; and Francis Phillips, who won second place in cosmetology in the men's hair design competition. I want to also pay special tribute to the outstanding athletic achievements of Ki'Onna Likely, who was the 2015-2016 Alabama Community College Conference Player of the Year as well as NJCAA Second Team All- American. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring all of the accomplishments of the outstanding students and graduates of Wallace Community College Selma and to praise the leadership of Dr. James Mitchell and the hardworking staff and faculty of Wallace Community College. Congratulations to the graduating class of 2016. I wish you all the very best in all of your future endeavors. We are counting on you to make a difference.

Ms. SEWELL of Alabama

Ms. SEWELL of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a hidden jewel in Alabama's 7th Congressional District--Wallace Community College of Selma, Alabama. Wallace Community College--Selma is a stellar two-year institution that provides incredible educational opportunities to students of Dallas County and across the Black Belt of Alabama. Now more than ever, America needs greater innovation in our educational system to meet the increasingly demanding needs of tomorrow. Outstanding higher education institutions in the State of Alabama are producing some of our state's and nation's best and brightest who will lead us into the next era of American cutting-edge technology, research, business leadership, entrepreneurship, science and innovation. Wallace Community College--Selma (WCCS) is leading that charge in my district through its dual-enrollment program which allows high school students to complete college courses and graduate with a high school diploma as well as an associate degree from this junior college. In 2008, Wallace Community College--Selma graduated 31 students from the Selma Early College High School (ECHS), which was the first of its kind on a college campus in the state of Alabama. The 2016 graduation class will include 22 dual enrollment students including 20 students that participated in a special partnership with Tuskegee University. The Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) program with Tuskegee allowed WCCS to increase the participation of underrepresented minority students from Alabama's Black Belt counties in the important fields of science and research. The Howard Hughes Medical Institute dual enrollment program offers high school students an opportunity to take classes at WCCS and Tuskegee and graduate with their high school diploma as well as an associate degree in science. Mr. Speaker, the dual-enrollment program at Wallace Community College-Selma is accomplishing what it set out to do--giving Dallas County high school students a head start on college. The benefits of this important opportunity are immeasurable. Cutting the cost and time spent in College while providing high school students significant exposure to the types of classes and fields of interest that will give them an important advantage and jump start on their peers. Collaborations like these are so critically important to our youth gaining invaluable educational experience while obtaining college credit through dual-enrollment. America must encourage more of these types of efforts as we seek to lead the world in educating our people and attracting a new generation of high-tech and high-paying jobs and careers--understanding that science and technology are critical to our nation's economic growth and sustainability. As the Member of Congress for the 7th Congressional District, I take great pride in working to offer solutions that will help lay the foundation for creating better-paying jobs, and for our education system to thrive into the future. In order to achieve this, we need innovative approaches to education and create a pipeline with our K-12 school systems, community colleges and universities to provide the resources our students need to become the best trained workforce. Our children deserve our greatest effort and America deserves our best workforce. I am so proud to acknowledge today the tremendous efforts and outstanding programs offered at Wallace Community College--Selma which exemplify the invaluable role our two-year institutions serve in our communities. This college's leadership and innovation in creating a 21st century learning environment is to be greatly commended. What a jewel to have serving our students in the Black Belt of Alabama. I am proud to represent a district that cares so greatly for the future of the community and the future of this great nation. Mr. Speaker, I want to commend Dr. James Mitchell for his tremendous leadership as President of WCCS. The faculty, administrators and students of the WCCS are truly outstanding. This Friday, May 13, 2016 is graduation day at Wallace Community College--Selma. I want to congratulate the entire class of 2016 and especially acknowledge the academic achievement of the 22 dual enrollment students who will receive a special congressional commendation. HHMI Students: Lekeybriana Allen, Connor Blackmon, Ronnie Caver, Brian Crum, Shaqueria Dial, Lauren Ellis, Khamari Gibbs, Kiara Horton, Kalissa Johnson, Kaylin Jordan, Thomas Kendrick, Walter Kendrick, Will Kendrick, Brandon Oliver, LaDaria Shorts, Epiphany Simmons, Khadijah Simmons, Alexis Walker, Marketa Williams, Alanna Young. Dual Enrollment Students: Tyniquea Edwards, and Tori Hatfield. I would also like to acknowledge the tremendous achievements of the Wallace Students who were Alabama Skills USA Winners: Jonniece Collins--First Place in Masonry and was the first woman in the state of Alabama to win this honor. Other winners included Roderick Perkins-- Second Place Masonry, Terrence Campbell--Third Place Masonry and Francis Phillips--Second Place Cosmetology in the Men's Hair Design Competition. I want to recognize the outstanding athletic achievements of Ki'Onna Likely who was the 2015-16 Alabama Community College Conference Player of the Year as well as NJCAA Second Team All- American. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring all the accomplishments of the outstanding students and graduates of Wallace Community College--Selma and to praise the leadership of Dr. James Mitchell and the hardworking staff and faculty of WCCS. Congratulation to the Graduating Class of 2016--I wish you the very best in all your future endeavors. We are counting on you to make difference.

Ms. SEWELL of Alabama

Ms. SEWELL of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, today on this Restoration Tuesday, I rise to acknowledge the continued voter suppression around the country during this election year and the ongoing battle for protection of the constitutional right to vote. Across the country, voting polls have been shut down and voters have been shut out. New voter ID laws have been passed and eligible voters have been passed up. The American people want to vote. With so many new state laws that have made it harder for voters to get to the polls, we must take a hard look around and ask the question--why don't we want people to vote? Why make voting for eligible voters harder and not easier? The leaders in Congress need to have an answer to this question. Suppression of the right to vote is especially un-democratic and ultimately un-American. Not only are voting rights being attacked through its process, but there are Americans in this country that have been targeted as well. A felony charge does not automatically make someone any less American. Why then, should Americans who have served their time be removed from the democratic process? Just last month, Governor McAuliffe of Virginia had a response to this question; and his action made a clear statement--former felons are still Americans and they still have rights. Faced now with not only severe scrutiny but a lawsuit as well, Governor McAuliffe boldly did what he believes to be constitutional, democratic and right when he restored the voting rights of all Virginians with a prior felony conviction who fully served their time and have been released from supervised probation or parole. The state of Virginia is not alone. On March 10 of this year, Maryland also restored the right to vote for an estimated 40,000 individuals with past felony convictions. On that date, Maryland joined 13 other states as well as the District of Columbia in putting a stop to this continued disenfranchisement that plagues the majority of states in the country, including Alabama. We may be faced with great opposition, but fear of a fight is not an excuse to run away from doing what is right. I don't have to remind anyone that this is an election year. But when I look around and see the ongoing suppression of the right to vote, I feel obligated to remind us all of what is at stake in this election. Every vote counts. Everyone who calls the USA their home will have to deal with the consequences of this election. Americans who are convicted felons will have to deal with the consequences. They should not have to deal with these consequences in silence. They too have a voice and they too must be heard. Voting rights need protection and eligible voters need proponents of the Constitution and the democratic process to fight for them--to fight for their rights. The suppression needs to stop, the oppression needs to stop and the excuses need to stop. There is too much at stake this election year and Congress needs to stand up and do something about it now. On this Restoration Tuesday, I give us all the charge to battle against the continued suppression of the American vote and stand strong by our principles of democracy, liberty and justice for all. Mr. Speaker, my Republican colleagues should join the 168 Members of Congress and support H.R. 2867--the Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2015. Let's restore the Voting Rights Act of 1965. It is the right thing to do.

Ms. SEWELL of Alabama

Ms. SEWELL of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, Historically Black Colleges and Universities created and fostered a generation of African American leaders who would have otherwise been denied an education due to segregation. The legacy and impact of HBCUs are far-reaching and especially worthy of praise and appreciation. Today, with more than 100 institutions across the nation, HBCUs still play a vital role in educating our youth, nurturing leaders and producing great innovators. My district, the 7th Congressional District, is home to some of the most prominent HBCUs in the country, and I am very proud to represent those universities in the United States Congress through my work on the Bipartisan HBCU Caucus. Education is the great equalizer that levels the playing field and can help break the cycle of poverty that affects families across the 7th Congressional District, the state of Alabama, and this nation. Young people from every background and every walk of life deserve the right to reach their full potential. As the daughter of two educators, I know firsthand the difference a strong education can make in achieving the American dream, regardless of race, gender or socioeconomic background. HBCUs play a critically important role in educating our youth to prepare them in the areas of agriculture, science and cutting edge technology. In the State of Alabama alone, we have several HBCU institutions: From Alabama A&M, where students are working with government agencies to develop new technology to make our country safer. To Tuskegee University, where students are working with local communities and farmers to increase crop production and efficiencies. To Alabama State, where students are being trained as world class teachers equipped to educate our youth all across America. Miles College, a science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) institution located in Fairfield, is an outstanding HBCU that also offers quality educational options to traditional students, those going back to college, and law students. These are just a few examples of the critical work that is being done at HBCUs in Alabama. And I must say I am quite proud of all of the work that our HBCUs do on a daily basis. The numbers speak for themselves when it comes to the value of what is produced by HBCUs: 22 percent of Black students who earn a bachelor's degree do so from an HBCU. Among Blacks, 40 percent of Members of Congress graduated from an HBCU, 12.5 percent of CEOs, 40 percent of engineers, 50 percent of professors at non-HBCUs, 50 percent of lawyers, and 80 percent of judges. HBCUs are still needed in this country and should be recognized and respected for their unique contributions to its students and society as a whole. As we move forward in Congress, I remain committed to working with my colleagues in the Congressional Black Caucus and HBCUs from my district and across this country as we fight to promote the value and legacy of HBCUs.

Ms. SEWELL of Alabama

Ms. SEWELL of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of a true trailblazer in the Fairfield, Alabama community and an Alabama heroine--Mrs. Gladys Tarver Coleman. A lifelong resident of Fairfield, Mrs. Gladys Coleman was born there on May 15, 1917. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Miles College and her Master's degree from Alabama A&M University. Mrs. Coleman also received educational training from Tuskegee University and the University of Southern California. She was married to the late Jerry D. Coleman, the first black President of the Fairfield City Council. Mrs. Gladys Coleman is best known for her tireless efforts around voter registration and voter mobilization. She was one of the founding members of the Fairfield Democratic Women, an organization created over 60 years ago to help educate voters, mobilize the Fairfield community, and elect candidates supportive of the community's needs. Mrs. Coleman was passionate about impacting the political dialogue in her community and it showed through her efforts to help elect council members, judges, state representatives and even members of Congress--all of whom Mrs. Coleman knew on a personal level. Mrs. Gladys Coleman's political affiliations were numerous. She served as president of the Fairfield Democratic Women, and a member of the Jefferson County (AL) and State Democratic Executive Committees. In April 2015, she was one of seven honorees inducted into the Alabama Democratic Party Hall of Fame. Mrs. Coleman was a member of the Alabama Democratic Delegation to the 1984 National Democratic Convention in San Francisco, CA, the 1992 convention in New York City, and the 1996 convention in Chicago, IL. She was also present in Washington, DC for the January 2009 inauguration of our Nation's first black president, Barack Obama. Besides politics, Mrs. Coleman's other passion was education. She believed in educating children about life, as well as book knowledge. She was a retired teacher from the Jefferson County (AL) and Birmingham City School Systems. Mrs. Coleman was the first black member appointed to the Fairfield Board of Education during the crucial years of desegregation in the city's school system. In 1975, she was appointed by the Alabama State Superintendent of Education to serve on the Accreditation Committee for Elementary Schools. Mrs. Coleman was a member of the Alabama and National Education Associations, and the American Federation of Teachers. Mrs. Gladys Coleman was a lifelong member of her beloved Miles Chapel CME Church and served in many capacities over the years, including as choir member, Christian Board of Education, Ladies Guild, Missionary Society, and Steward Board. Mrs. Coleman believed her ``life's work'' was educating her community about the importance of voting. She also enjoyed music--big bands, jazz and The Temptations, as well as shopping, and spending time taking care of her family. She was preceded in death by her late husband of 44 years, Jerry D. Coleman, and her brothers, Lawrence (Alberta), William, and John Tarver. She leaves to cherish her memory numerous nieces, nephews and a host of other relatives and friends. On a personal note, I was blessed to call Mrs. Gladys Coleman a political mentor, distant relative and an important ally. When I decided to run for Congress in 2009, everyone told me there was only one person whose support in Fairfield would determine my success. When I went to her house to ask for her vote, she drilled me for hours on every issue affecting the Fairfield and Birmingham communities. She was dedicated to her beloved Fairfield Democratic Women and I will always be grateful for her support and the support of this influential group, including her honoring me with her presence at my swearing-in ceremony on Capitol Hill in January 2011. Mrs. Gladys Coleman was the real matriarch of the Fairfield community and the rock of her family. She instilled a sense of pride in all who knew her and had a sincere passion to better her community through public service and political activism. She was a committed servant leader and demanded the same excellence from others. I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring an icon of Fairfield and an Alabama treasure--Mrs. Gladys Tarver Coleman. Her legacy will continue to live on in the countless lives that she touched. May the Blessing of God be with her family and provide solace in their loss.

Ms. SEWELL of Alabama

Ms. SEWELL of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, on Wednesday afternoon, April 27, 2016, I was required to be in my congressional district in Fairfield, Alabama in order to attend a memorial service for Mrs. Gladys Coleman. Mrs. Gladys Coleman was one of the founding members of the Fairfield Democratic Women. She served as president of the Fairfield Democratic Women, and a member of the Jefferson County (AL) and State Democratic Executive Committees. In April 2015, she was one of seven honorees inducted into the Alabama Democratic Party Hall of Fame. Mrs. Coleman was the first black member appointed to the Fairfield Board of Education during the crucial years of desegregation in the city's school system. In 1975, she was appointed by the Alabama State Superintendent of Education to serve on the Accreditation Committee for Elementary. As a Member of the Alabama congressional delegation, attending the memorial service was directly related to my representational, legislative, and committee responsibilities. Because of this absence I was not present for Roll Call Votes 166 through 169. Had I been present I would have voted as follows: YES on H.R. 4923--American Manufacturing Competitiveness Act of 2016 YES on H.R. 699--Email Privacy Act NO on Motion on Ordering the Previous Question on the Rule providing for consideration of H.R. 4498--Helping Angels Lead our Startups Act, and NO on H. Res. 701--Rule providing for consideration of H.R. 4498-- Helping Angels Lead our Startups Act.

Ms. SEWELL of Alabama

Ms. SEWELL of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, during the votes held on April 26th, 2016, I was inescapably detained and away handling important matters related to my District and the State of Alabama. If I had been present, I would have voted: Yes on H.R. 4096--Investor Clarity and Bank Parity Act, and Yes on H.R. 4820--Combating Terrorist Recruitment Act of 2016.

Ms. SEWELL of Alabama

Ms. SEWELL of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted No on Recorded Vote No. 162.

Ms. SEWELL of Alabama

Ms. SEWELL of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, during the votes held on April 20th, 2016, I was inescapably detained and away handling important matters related to my District and the State of Alabama. If I had been present, I would have voted YES on the Motion to Recommit to H.R. 1206, the No Hires for the Delinquent IRS Act, NO on Final Passage of H.R. 1206, and NO on Final Passage of H.R. 4885, the IRS Oversight While Eliminating Spending Act of 2016.

Ms. SEWELL of Alabama

Ms. SEWELL of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, today on this Restoration Tuesday, I rise to shed light on the continued voter suppression around the country during this election year and the ongoing battle to protect every American's constitutional right to vote. Alabama--Arizona--Texas--Wisconsin--the list goes on. We continue to hear tale after tale of modern day barriers to the voting polls this election year. After the Supreme Court struck down Section 4 pre- clearance requirements in 2013, several states took that ruling as a license to trample on the Constitution and violate the voting rights of vulnerable communities across the nation. These continued attacks on the rights of eligible voters in this country are unconscionable and unconstitutional. Congress needs to act now to stop this plague of voter suppression and fight for justice. Today, as you know, the state of New York is holding its primary elections. Unsurprisingly, complaints have already been made by eligible voters who registered a minor party or with no party, and who will not be able to participate in the primary elections. New state rules allow only registered Democrats to vote in Tuesday's Democratic primary and only registered Republicans to vote in the GOP contest. This new law will leave out 3.2 million New Yorkers who are registered to vote. Likewise, my home state of Alabama implemented new strict voter ID laws and then closed over 30 DMV offices; the most popular location to obtain a driver's license. Arizona implemented a similar voter suppression strategy by reducing their voting sites from 200 in 2012 to 60 in 2016, citing a so-called need for budget savings. In all, 17 states across the country have implemented new restrictive laws aimed at blocking the American people from the ballot box. New laws with strict photo identification requirements, early voting cutbacks, new requirements of proof of citizenship, and practices creating grueling waiting lines are all burdensome barriers which would have likely been blocked through the Voting Rights Act process of pre-clearance. And not surprisingly, these new restrictions have disproportionately affected minority populations such as African Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans as well as university students. The fear of voter fraud is an excuse. The need for budget cutbacks is an excuse. The American people are fed up with the excuses. Fundamental to our democracy is the right to vote, and creating barriers to block the vote is truly un-American. It holds little value to give someone a car and then take away the keys. Our right to vote is the vehicle to democracy but we need the keys to easily access the polls. The suppression needs to stop, the oppression needs to stop, and the excuses need to stop. Congress needs to stand up and do something about it now. On this Restoration Tuesday, I give us all the charge to battle against the continued suppression of the American vote and stand strong by our principles of democracy, liberty, and justice for all.

Ms. SEWELL of Alabama

Ms. SEWELL of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, on Roll Call 145, I would have voted No.

Ms. SEWELL of Alabama

Ms. SEWELL of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, the statements found below were given during an event titled--Restore the Vote: A Congressional Forum on the Current State of Voting Rights in America. The forum was held on Saturday, March 5, 2016 in the Birmingham City Council Chambers located at Birmingham City Hall. The forum provided elected officials, community leaders, scholars, and the general public the opportunity to examine modern-day voting rights as well as discuss the current challenges and barriers facing equal access to the ballot box. Discussions also focused on how community leaders and average American citizens can galvanize support around ensuring every American is able to exercise their constitutionally protected right to vote. The forum was hosted by Congresswoman Terri A. Sewell, and included special guests Rep. John Lewis, Rep. Jim Clyburn, Rep. G.K. Butterfield, Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, Rep. Barbara Lee, Rep. Hank Johnson, Rep. Karen Bass, Rep. Marc Veasey, and Rep. Stacey Plaskett, Birmingham Mayor William Bell, and Birmingham City Council President Johnathan Austin. The panelists included Jefferson County Clerk of Court Anne Marie Adams, President of Southern Poverty Law Center Richard Cohen, Metro Birmingham Branch NAACP President Hezekiah Jackson the IV, Calera, Alabama City Councilman Ernest Montgomery, and President of the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies Spencer Overton. statement of Councilman Ernest Montgomery, The City of Calera's 2008 Municipal Election My name is Ernest Montgomery and I am a City Councilman, representing District 2 in the City of Calera Alabama. Our City is a beautiful small city, strategically located in the south-central part of Shelby County. We had a population of 11,800 residents according to the 2010 census, but I believe thousands more today. Between the 2000 to 2010 census, our city was title as being the fastest growing city (percentage wise), in the State of Alabama. This rapid growth is what led our City Leaders to have our district lines redrawn. The results of these new lines eliminated the sole minority-majority district in the city. Changing it's minority voting percentages from about 69 percent down to about 28 percent. After submitting these changes to the Department Of Justice for pre-clearance, they were rejected because the DOJ said it clearly disadvantage the African American Community. The City was in an election year and was order not to hold it election with these new changes by the DOJ. Yet the City Mayor chose to continue on with the municipal election. In this election I lost my seat in my district, but learned two days later that the Department of Justice had filed a lawsuit against the city. Outrage was mounting because the African American Community said they had no chance of electing a candidate of their choice. Changes were made to the city's plans after meeting in Washington, DC with the DOJ and pre-clearance were granted. A new municipal election was held in 2009, resulting in me winning my seat again. I know without a doubt this would not have happened if the VRA, (especially the pre-clearance section), didn't protect the most vulnerable. Statement of J. Richard Cohen, President, Southern Poverty Law Center Good afternoon. The fact that we must be here talking about voting rights 51 years after Congress passed the Voting Rights Act is a national disgrace, one that dishonors the many who fought for the precious right to vote and the millions who were disenfranchised for decades in our country because of their race. It particularly dishonors the brave Americans who sacrificed their lives so that everyone, regardless of race, creed or color, could have a voice in our democracy--people like Jimmie Lee Jackson, Viola Liuzzo, James Chaney, Andrew Goodman and Michael Schwerner. A year ago at this time, we were celebrating the 50th anniversary of Bloody Sunday. And, of course, we will observe the 51 anniversary in two days. We all know that the events of that fateful day and the subsequent completion of the march to Montgomery led to passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, perhaps the crowning achievement of the civil rights movement--one that drove the final nail into the coffin of Jim Crow. Forty-one years later, in 2006, when it reauthorized Section 4, Congress remarked on the tremendous progress that had been made under the Act to address first-generation barriers to voting--like literacy tests and poll taxes--that kept many minority voters from casting ballots. At the same time, Congress noted that vestiges of discrimination continued in the states covered by the original Act in the form of second-generation barriers that diluted the voting strength of African Americans and other minorities. These included such practices as gerrymandering, at-large voting and the use of multimember legislative districts. Today, 10 years later, we still have those second- generation barriers. For example, the Alabama legislature in 2012 passed a redistricting plan that packed black voters into legislative districts, thereby reducing their influence in other districts. In 2015, the United States Supreme Court ruled that there was strong evidence the lawmakers had engaged in racial gerrymandering and that the state had used the wrong legal standard to draw the districts. The case is pending before the district court. But second-generation barriers are not the only problem today. Tragically, we're once again fighting the battle to remove first-generation barriers that suppress the votes of minorities--a battle that was fought 50 years ago. Many have been implemented since the U.S. Supreme Court gutted the preclearance requirement of the Voting Rights Act in its Shelby decision. The passage of the laws restricting voting rights has, in fact, accelerated since Shelby. Here in Alabama, the legislature passed a law in 2011 that requires voters to produce one of seven kinds of photo IDs. But, even though preclearance by the Justice Department was still required under the Voting Rights Act at the time, the state did not submit it for review. Instead, it waited two years. Then, on June 26, 2013, the very next day after the Supreme Court relieved Alabama and other states of their preclearance obligations, the state announced it would begin to enforce the law. The Alabama Secretary of State's office has estimated that at least 280,000 registered voters-- disproportionately minority voters--lack the type of photo IDs required to vote. It's questionable whether Alabama's photo ID law would have been precleared by the Justice Department under the Voting Rights Act. It can, of course, still be challenged in federal court--and, indeed, it is being challenged. But blocking the law is much more difficult in a lawsuit, because the burden of proof is on the plaintiffs to show discriminatory intent or effect. Prior to Shelby, the burden of proof was on states like Alabama--which have long histories of discrimination against African Americans--to show that any new law would not have a retrogressive or racially discriminatory impact. To add insult to injury, Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley last year reduced the operating hours of the state offices in 27 largely poor, rural counties where residents can obtain the IDs they need to meet the requirements of the photo ID law. African Americans make up a larger share of the population in those counties than in other parts of the state, where the office hours were not curtailed. Rather than move toward same-day registration, the Alabama Legislature has moved further from it since Shelby. Despite the fact that for many years voters were allowed to register 10 days in advance of an election--and despite technological advances--in 2014 the legislature extended the period to 14 days. Since then, there have been legislative attempts to extend it even further--to 30 days. Alabama, of course, is not alone in enacting racially discriminatory voting laws. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, 33 states now have some form of voter ID law in effect. And, according to the Brennan Center for Justice, 21 states have enacted new restrictions since the 2010 mid-term elections. Sixteen have new voting restrictions in place for the first time in a presidential election. In addition, 27 states have attempted to purge their voting rolls since Shelby, leading to numerous lawsuits claiming these purges targeted minority voters. Also, some states are now pushing to make voters prove their citizenship when registering. A recent decision by the federal Election Assistance Commission has allowed Alabama, Georgia and Kansas to require documentation of citizenship for anyone registering to vote. This creates an undue burden for many--particularly minorities, young people, the elderly and the poor--who may lack easy access to their birth certificate, passport, naturalization certificate or other proof. At the center of these efforts is Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach, who doubles as counsel for a nativist extremist organization called the Federation for American Immigration Reform. Kobach was the architect of the notorious anti- immigrant law in Arizona known as SB 1070--a discriminatory law that was struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court. Kobach was also behind an even more draconian, anti-immigrant law in Alabama, HB 57, which was also dismantled by the courts. The cumulative impact of all of these efforts to suppress the vote is that millions of Americans--minorities, the elderly, the disabled and others--will be disenfranchised, their voices silenced. And that is, of course, the goal of these laws. The movement to restrict the vote, as we all know, has nothing to do with combating ``voter fraud,'' which is, essentially, nonexistent in our country. Here in Alabama, our secretary of state, John Merrill, has characterized voting as a ``privilege.'' And I think that statement, in some ways, reveals a certain mindset that we are facing. We would never call our First Amendment freedoms of speech and religion privileges. We would never call our right to bear arms a privilege. We would certainly never call it a privilege to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures. Privileges are something to be earned or granted. They can be taken away. The rights guaranteed under our Constitution cannot. We firmly support Congressional efforts to restore the federal preclearance requirement that was stripped from the Voting Rights Act in Shelby. But we know that restoring the Voting Rights Act will not resolve all of the problems. Our country's needs broader reform. We need a new vision for voting to bring the system into the 21st century. The election process in the United States is a relic of the 18th and 19th centuries--an era when only white male property owners were allowed to vote and when Congress was more concerned about the time it took to travel to polling stations on horse than two-hour lines at the polls. The current system makes sense in the context of the 1850s, but it ignores the technology and the complexities of life and work in today's world. The reason we vote on Tuesday illustrates the point. In 1845, Congress determined that Tuesday was the best day to hold elections because Saturday was a workday for farmers, Sunday the Sabbath, and Wednesday was a market day. Tuesday gave voters a full day to travel by horse to the county polling station. Not only are Tuesdays now a workday for most Americans, but having only a 12-hour window to vote completely ignores today's work schedules, childcare needs, and other features of modern life. This system particularly disadvantages lower- income people who are more likely to work for hourly wages, who often cannot afford to miss work, or who may not be allowed to leave their job. For a country that prides itself on our democracy--a country that has sacrificed thousands of our brave young men and women in the fields of war in defense of our democratic values--this is simply not acceptable. We can and must do better. For starters, we must restore the preclearance requirement that was shredded in Shelby. The political machinations of the last few years have laid bare the unfortunate reality that certain powerful forces will use whatever means are at their disposal--however anti-democratic--to retain power. We also must roll back the many new state laws that silence the voices of millions of eligible voters. And, we must modernize our antiquated elections system in ways that make sense for the world we live in today--in ways that will bring many more people, not fewer, to the ballot box and result in government that is truly of the people, by the people and for the people. As the Declaration of Independence says, governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed. It does not say ``some'' of the governed. We must ensure that everyone has a voice. The future of our great democracy depends on it. Statement of Spencer Overton, President, Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, Professor of Law, The George Washington University Law School I am President of the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, an organization that was created due to the events of Bloody Sunday and the Voting Rights Act that followed. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 enfranchised hundreds of thousands of black voters, these black voters elected hundreds of new black elected officials, and in 1970 the Joint Center was founded to support these black elected officials. Today, the Joint Center focuses on providing innovative research, ideas, and support to leading elected officials of color nationwide. I am also a tenured Professor of Law at The George Washington University Law School. I regularly teach a voting law course, and in previous years I have taught courses on civil rights and the law of democracy generally. I. Background: Shelby County and Congressional Efforts To Update the Act A. Shelby County v. Holder In Shelby County, the Court held unconstitutional the Section 4(b) coverage formula that determined which jurisdictions must comply with the preclearance requirements of Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act. Section 5 requires federal preclearance of changes affecting voting in ``covered'' jurisdictions before the changes are implemented. Section 4(b) as originally adopted and updated provided formulas that identified as ``covered'' jurisdictions with a voting test or device and less than 50 percent voter registration or turnout in the 1964, 1968, or 1972 general Presidential elections. In Shelby County, the Court stated ``a departure from the fundamental principle of equal sovereignty requires a showing that a statute's disparate geographic coverage is sufficiently related to the problem that it targets,'' and that ``current burdens . . . must be justified by current needs.'' The Court believed that in the past the 4(b) coverage formula based on tests and low turnout from 1964, 1968, and 1972 elections was ``sufficiently related to the problem,''--that it was ``rational in both practice and theory,'' ``reflected those jurisdictions uniquely characterized by voting discrimination,'' and ``link[ed] coverage to the devices used to effectuate discrimination.'' The Court observed that ``[t]he formula looked to cause (discriminatory tests) and effect (low voter registration and turnout), and tailored the remedy (preclearance) to those jurisdictions exhibiting both.'' In contrast, the Court believed that the coverage formula based on 1964, 1968, and 1972 turnout and tests was not tailored to address discrimination today. The Court noted that Congress altered the coverage formula in 1970 (adding counties in California, New Hampshire, and New York), and 1975 (adding the States of Alaska, Arizona, and Texas, and several counties in six other states), but not in 1982 or 2006. Specifically, the Court stated: ``Coverage today is based on decades-old data and eradicated practices. The formula captures States by reference to literacy tests and low voter registration and turnout in the 1960s and early 1970s. But such tests have been banned nationwide for over 40 years. And voter registration and turnout numbers in the covered States have risen dramatically in the years since.'' The Court did not believe that the record Congress amassed in 2006 establishing vote dilution and other discriminatory practices was tied to text of a coverage formula based on turnout, registration rates, and tests from the 1960s and 1970s. The Court explicitly limited its holding to the 4(b) coverage formula based on election data from the 1960s and 70s, and stated that ``Congress may draft another formula based on current conditions.'' While the Court observed that states generally regulate state and local elections and that federal preclearance is ``extraordinary,'' the Court did not find the Section 5 preclearance process unconstitutional. Instead, it explicitly recognized that ``voting discrimination still exists,'' that ``any racial discrimination in voting is too much,'' and that Congress has the power to enforce the Fifteenth Amendment to prevent voting discrimination. B. 2014 and 2015 Congressional Efforts To Update the Voting Rights Act Since Shelby County, legislation has been submitted to update the Voting Rights Act--the Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2014 and the Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2015. Both bills: 1) tie preclearance to recent instances of discrimination; 2) allow judges to order ``bail in'' preclearance coverage as a remedy for a voting rights violation even in the absence of intentional discrimination; 3) attempt to deter bad activity by requiring that jurisdictions nationwide provide notice of certain election changes; and 4) make it easier for plaintiffs to obtain a preliminary injunction to block potentially discriminatory election rules before they are used in an election and harm voters. There are, however, significant differences. Generally, the 2014 Amendment Act basis preclearance coverage on jurisdictions with significant voting rights violations over the prior 15 years, while the 2015 Amendment Act focuses on violations over the prior 25 years. Thus, while the 2014 Amendment Act subjected only Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas to preclearance when introduced, the 2015 Advancement Act applied preclearance to those states plus Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Florida, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. The 2014 Amendment Act exempts voter identification from violations that justify the expansion of preclearance, whereas the 2015 Advancement Act provides no such voter identification exemptions. The 2015 Advancement Act also contains provisions that do not appear in the 2014 Amendment Act. For example, the 2015 Advancement Act requires preclearance nationwide for ``known practices'' historically used to discriminate against voters of color, such as: 1) voter qualifications that make it more difficult to register or vote (e.g., ID or proof of citizenship documentation); 2) redistricting, annexations, polling place changes, and other changes to methods of elections (e.g., moving to at-large elections) in areas that are racially, ethnically, or linguistically diverse; and 3) reductions in language assistance. The 2015 Advancement Act also includes Native American and Alaska Native voting protections that ensure ballot translation, registration opportunities on and off Indian reservations, and annual consultation with the Department of Justice. II. The Need To Update the Voting Rights Act A. Litigation Inadequate Substitute for Loss of Preclearance While the holding in Shelby County was limited to invalidating the coverage formula, the decision has a significant impact. It effectively suspends Section 5 preclearance in all jurisdictions other than the handful currently subject to a Section 3(c) ``bail in'' court order, Litigation Not Comprehensive: Preclearance was comprehensive--it deterred jurisdictions from adopting many unfair election rules because officials knew every decision would be reviewed. In contrast, litigation requires that plaintiffs have the information and resources to bring a claim, and therefore litigation misses a lot of under-the- radar manipulation. Litigation More Expensive: Preclearance also put the burden to show a change was fair on jurisdictions--which enhanced efficiencies because jurisdictions generally have better access to information about the purpose and effect of their proposed election law changes. Litigation shifts the burden to affected citizens--who must employ experts and lawyers who fish for information during drawn-out discovery processes. Significant Voting Discrimination Persists: Too many political operatives in previously covered jurisdictions continue to maintain power by unfairly manipulating voting rules based on how voters look or speak. Congress determined as much during the last reauthorization, and such discrimination has occurred since that time in various jurisdictions like Nueces County, Texas, While the Court in Shelby County invalidated the coverage formula because it was based on data from the 1960s and 1970s, the Court acknowledged that ``voting discrimination still exists'' and that ``any racial discrimination in voting is too much.'' B. Joint Center Report: 50 Years of the Voting Rights Act In 2015, the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies published 50 Years of the Voting Rights Act: The State of Race in Politics. The 46-page report established that while the Voting Rights Act increased turnout by voters of color, citizen voting age population turnout rates among Latinos and Asian Americans trail African-American turnout by 10-15 percentage points and white turnout by 15-20 points. The report also found that racially polarized voting persists, and in some contexts is growing. Race is the most significant factor in urban local elections, and more decisive than income, education, religion, sexual orientation, age, gender, and political ideology. The 38 point racial gap exceeds even the 33 point gap between Democratic and Republican voters. III. Conclusion In the last 51 years the United States has made significant progress on voting rights. Unfortunately, after Shelby County v. Holder political operatives have more opportunity to unfairly manipulate election rules based on race. The Court in Shelby County stated that the purpose of the Fifteenth Amendment is ``to ensure a better future,'' but the future will be worse if Congress fails to act. Fortunately, Congress has the power to prevent discrimination and update the Voting Rights Act. An updated Voting Rights Act will help not just voters of color, but our nation as a whole. Protecting voting rights provides legitimacy to our nation's efforts to promote democracy and prevent corruption around the world. We all agree that racial discrimination in voting is wrong, and Congress should update the Voting Rights Act to ensure voting is free, fair, and accessible for all Americans.

Ms. SEWELL of Alabama

Ms. SEWELL of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, today on this Restoration Tuesday, I rise to acknowledge the continued voter suppression around the country during this election year and the ongoing battle to protect the constitutional right to vote. While the House was in recess, the state of Wisconsin seemed to digress in a decline of democracy through its restrictive voting laws hindering the most essential right on which this great democracy was founded; the right to vote. The newly implemented voter ID laws of Wisconsin have been compared to the poll taxing of the Jim Crow era and created a significant hardship disproportionately affecting some of the state's most vulnerable groups seeking identification to vote. After the Supreme Court struck down Section 4 pre-clearance requirements in 2013, several states, including Alabama, took that ruling as a license to trample on the Constitution and violate the voting rights of vulnerable communities and constituents across the nation. This election year has been especially revealing of the great danger involved in silencing the American voice and hindering their Constitutional right to vote. Enough is enough, and this continued voter suppression must stop now. As devastating as it has been to see this ongoing suppression of the American vote, we can find strength and hope in our country's strong stance for democracy and equality when we look to the recent Supreme Court Ruling on the Texas ``one person, one vote'' case. The Supreme Court's refusal to change the way state and municipal districts are drawn and upholding representation based on total population truly affirmed our nation's brand as a democratic society. The Justices of the Supreme Court delivered a strong singular statement that being ineligible to vote doesn't make one invisible. Fundamental to our democracy is that all men and women are vested with certain inalienable rights and voting is essential to those founding principles. Permanent residents have rights, the disabled should be protected, immigrants and the incarcerated should be included. The Supreme Court decision makes it clear that all people matter and all people should be counted. We must remember that we are always more powerful united than divided and we all must continue to support equal representation and full protection of voting rights for all Americans. On this Restoration Tuesday, I give us all the charge to battle against the continued suppression of the American vote and stand strong by our principles of democracy, liberty and justice for all.

Ms. SEWELL of Alabama

Ms. SEWELL of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize the Alabama State University Lady Hornets for their outstanding basketball record over the past two seasons. On March 12, the Alabama State University Lady Hornets won their second straight Southwestern Athletic Conference tournament with a 55 to 51 victory over the Southern University Jaguars. This victory made Head Coach Freda Freeman-Jackson the first SWAC coach to lead a team to consecutive tournament titles. The Alabama State University Lady Hornets advanced to the NCAA tournament where they competed against the Texas Lady Longhorns this past Saturday. This was their third all-time NCAA appearance. During the 2015-2016 season, the Alabama State University Lady Hornets won 19 games and for a second straight year, the team was a 15 seed. I would like to particularly congratulate the two Lady Hornets who are from the 7th Congressional District of Alabama, Miss Jasmine Peeples from Selma and Miss Tatyana Calhoun from Montgomery. Tatyana is a junior and was named second team All-State and an MVP in 2013. Jasmine is an all SWAC second-team performer and is a senior. She, along with her teammates, Britney Wright and Daniele Ewert, was voted to the all-SWAC Tournament team this year. As we celebrate Women's History Month, it is important to recognize the female athletes who have made significant contributions to athletic programs across our country. Although it has been almost forty-five years since Title IX was passed here in Congress, female athletes are still not afforded the same respect, resources and attention afforded to male athletes. The success achieved by the Alabama State University Lady Hornets over the past two seasons will be a tremendous recruiting tool for Alabama State University Coach Freeman-Jackson and have undeniably made Alabama State University a stronger institution. I am incredibly proud of the successes the Alabama State University Lady Hornets and their coaches have made over the past two seasons. I look forward to watching this team grow and continue to win titles under the leadership of Coach Freeman-Jackson and Assistant coaches Clayton Harris, Yvette McDaniel, and Michael Floyd. Go Hornets.