IV
107TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. RES. 139
Expressing the sense of Congress regarding commitment to the Voting Rights
Act of 1965.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MAY 9, 2001
Mr. CUMMINGS submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the
Committee on the Judiciary
RESOLUTION
Expressing the sense of Congress regarding commitment to
the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
Whereas the 15th Amendment of the Constitution guarantees
American citizens the right to vote, regardless of race,
color, or previous condition of servitude;
Whereas even after ratification of the 15th Amendment, var-
ious election procedures (i.e., poll taxes, literacy tests,
and vouching requirements) by certain states diluted the
impact of votes cast by African Americans or prevented
minorities from voting altogether;
Whereas Congress enacted the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to
address minority disfranchisement and to codify and ef-
fectuate the 15th Amendment’s permanent guarantee
that, throughout the nation, no person shall be denied
the right to vote on account of race or color;
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Whereas Congress enacted the Voting Rights Act of 1965 at
the height of the civil rights movement in response to
lawsuits claiming and compelling evidence of continuing
interference with attempts by African American citizens
to exercise their right to vote;
Whereas the Voting Rights Act of 1965 prohibits any person
acting under color of law or otherwise from intimidating
or denying any eligible person from voting;
Whereas the Voting Rights Act of 1965 makes it illegal for
any State or local government to use election procedures
that are not equally open to minority voters, or that give
minority voters less opportunity than other voters to par-
ticipate in the political process and elect representatives
of their choice to public office;
Whereas the Voting Rights Act of 1965 protects minority
language group members by requiring particular jurisdic-
tions to print ballots and other election materials in the
minority language as well as in English, and to have oral
translation assistance available at the polls where nec-
essary;
Whereas the Voting Rights Act of 1965 gives the Department
of Justice the authority to bring suit in Federal court to
challenge those practices that it has determined are ra-
cially discriminatory and to bring Federal criminal
charges for voting fraud or intimidation involving racial
bias in local or State elections;
Whereas enforcement of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 has
been instrumental in increasing voter registration of Afri-
can Americans, Latinos, and other ethnicities and pro-
viding the opportunity for African American and Latino
voters to elect representatives of their choice by providing
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a vehicle for challenging discriminatory election proce-
dures, further resulting in an increase in African Amer-
ican and Hispanic elected officials;
Whereas on November 7, 2000, American citizens went to the
polls to cast their vote for President of the United States;
and
Whereas American citizens have leveled numerous charges of
election irregularities and minority vote dilution involving
African Americans, ethnic groups such as Latinos and
Haitians, and other ethnicities that occurred in jurisdic-
tions in a number of States, effectively disfranchising
thousands of citizens in the 2000 election: Now, therefore
be it
Resolved, That it is the sense of the Congress that—
(1) the Congress—
(A) condemns election procedures that re-
sult 
in 
minority 
vote 
dilution 
and
disfranchisement and any person acting under
color of law or otherwise engaged in intimi-
dating or denying any eligible person from vot-
ing;
(B) recognizes the significance of the 15th
Amendment, which guarantees American citi-
zens the right to vote, regardless of race, color,
or previous condition of servitude; and
(C) reaffirms its commitment to the Voting
Rights Act of 1965, which prohibits any person
acting under color of law or otherwise from in-
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timidating or denying any eligible person from
voting;
(2) the United States Commission on Civil
Rights should—
(A) compile data on reports of voting
irregularities arising out of the November 7,
2000 Presidential election and investigate such
allegations; and
(B) provide a comprehensive report of such
reported voting irregularities and the Commis-
sion’s findings to Congress and the Department
of Justice; and
(3) the President, Attorney General, and De-
partment of Justice should—
(A) make the elimination of minority vote
dilution and disfranchisement a top priority of
the United States Government;
(B) take all necessary steps and resources
to thoroughly investigate all charges of election
irregularities and minority vote dilution and
disfranchisement;
(C) vigorously, promptly, and fully enforce
the Voting Rights Act of 1965, by bringing suit
in Federal court to challenge those practices
that it has determined are racially discrimina-