PRINTER'S NO. 2038
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE RESOLUTION
No.
415
Session of
2015
INTRODUCED BY HUGHES, TEPLITZ, SCHWANK, FONTANA, COSTA AND
BREWSTER, AUGUST 18, 2016
REFERRED TO STATE GOVERNMENT, AUGUST 18, 2016
A RESOLUTION
Urging the Congress of the United States to reenact former
section 4(b) of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
WHEREAS, On March 7, 1965, civil rights activists began their
march from Selma, Alabama, to Montgomery, Alabama, to protest
barriers to voter registration in the state and were met with
state troopers and local police who utilized excessive force to
subdue the peaceful protestors; and
WHEREAS, The outrage stemming from the events of that day,
known as "Bloody Sunday," led to the passage of the Voting
Rights Act of 1965; and
WHEREAS, The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was signed into law by
President Lyndon B. Johnson; and
WHEREAS, The act outlawed discriminatory practices designed
to prevent people of color from voting; and
WHEREAS, For nearly 50 years those jurisdictions which had a
history of discrimination were subject to sign-off or
"preclearance" from the United States Attorney General or the
United States District Court before any changes were made to the
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jurisdiction's election practices or procedures; and
WHEREAS, Alabama, Alaska, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi,
South Carolina and Virginia were required to obtain preclearance
as a result of the formula in former section 4(b); and
WHEREAS, Political subdivisions in Arizona, Hawaii, Idaho and
North Carolina were also required to obtain preclearance; and
WHEREAS, Between 1999 and 2005, more than 250 discriminatory
laws and regulations were either withdrawn or altered as a
result of preclearance; and
WHEREAS, In 2012, the United States Department of Justice
blocked 17 changes to election laws due to their discriminatory
nature; and
WHEREAS, The Congress of the United States reauthorized the
Voting Rights Act of 1965 several times since its first
enactment, with the most recent reauthorization in 2006; and
WHEREAS, In June 2013, by a vote of 5-4, the United States
Supreme Court in Shelby County, Alabama v. Holder ruled that the
formula used in section 4 was out of date and removed the 11
states from the required preclearance; and
WHEREAS, Shortly after the Supreme Court ruling several
states subject to preclearance moved forward with restrictive
voting laws which put in place barriers to voting access; and
WHEREAS, Discrimination still exists in this nation and it is
necessary to restore section 4(b) of the Voting Rights Act of
1965 to protect citizens and encourage voter participation;
therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
urge the Congress of the United States to reenact section 4(b)
of the Voting Rights Act of 1965; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to
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the President Pro Tempore of the United States Senate, the
Speaker of the United States House of Representatives and each
member of Congress from Pennsylvania.
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