IV 
114TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 123 
Expressing support for designation of August 6 as National Voting Rights 
Day. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 24, 2015 
Mr. HASTINGS (for himself, Mr. TAKAI, Ms. NORTON, Mr. GARAMENDI, Mr. 
MEEKS, Mr. KILMER, Mr. RANGEL, Ms. MCCOLLUM, Mr. WELCH, Mr. 
DEUTCH, Ms. SEWELL of Alabama, Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania, Ms. 
WILSON of Florida, Mr. BISHOP of Georgia, Mr. MURPHY of Florida, Ms. 
MAXINE
WATERS
of California, Ms. WASSERMAN
SCHULTZ, Mrs. 
BUSTOS, Mr. VARGAS, Ms. CHU of California, Ms. KAPTUR, Ms. MOORE, 
Mr. CARSON of Indiana, Mrs. BEATTY, Mr. HONDA, Ms. SLAUGHTER, 
Mr. LEVIN, Mr. SMITH of Washington, Mr. AL GREEN of Texas, Mr. 
SCOTT of Virginia, Ms. BROWN of Florida, Mr. CUMMINGS, Ms. FUDGE, 
Mr. COHEN, Mr. BLUMENAUER, Mr. YARMUTH, and Ms. CASTOR of Flor-
ida) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on the Judiciary 
RESOLUTION 
Expressing support for designation of August 6 as National 
Voting Rights Day. 
Whereas the landmark Voting Rights Act was signed into law 
by President Lyndon B. Johnson on August 6, 1965; 
Whereas the Voting Rights Act is arguably the Nation’s most 
important law for removing race-based restrictions on 
voting and has stood as an essential safeguard against 
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•HRES 123 IH 
racial discrimination in our political system since its in-
ception; 
Whereas prior to its passage, African-Americans were often 
systematically prevented from voting by tactics such as 
literacy tests, poll taxes, the grandfather clause, and in-
timidation and violence; 
Whereas in response a violent backlash sparked by efforts to 
register Black voters in the Deep South in the 1960s, the 
Johnson Administration proposed the enactment of a vot-
ing rights law which provided for direct Federal interven-
tion to uphold the guarantees of the fifteenth amend-
ment; 
Whereas the Voting Rights Act was enacted in 1965 to rec-
tify years of disenfranchisement of African-American vot-
ers by prohibiting States from imposing qualifications or 
practices to deny access to the ballot on account of race, 
permitted direct Federal intervention in the electoral 
process in certain places based on a specific formula, and 
required preclearance of new laws in covered States to 
ensure that they did not have the purpose or effect of 
limiting the ability to vote on account of race; 
Whereas following enactment of this critically important leg-
islation, Black voter registration and participation in-
creased dramatically; 
Whereas the Voting Rights Act has had a significant impact 
on electoral dynamics by vastly expanding the number of 
African-American, Hispanic, and women elected officials 
on both a local and national level; 
Whereas the recent Supreme Court decision in Shelby County 
v. Holder and State laws that place restrictions on voters 
have dealt a heavy blow to voter protections nationwide; 
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•HRES 123 IH 
Whereas although progress has undoubtedly been made in the 
49 years since the Voting Rights Act was passed, sadly, 
discrimination continues to exist; and 
Whereas the Nation must remain committed to the fight to 
create an open and transparent electoral process for all 
United States citizens: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) supports the designation of ‘‘National Vot-
ing Rights Day’’ in commemoration of the upcoming 
50th anniversary of the enactment of the Voting 
Rights Act of 1965; 
(2) acknowledges the significance of the Voting 
Rights Act with regard to enforcing the civil rights 
of all United States citizens; and 
(3) emphasizes the importance of ensuring the 
ability of all United States citizens to fully partici-
pate in the electoral process. 
Æ 
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