Pelosi Statement on President Biden’s Urgent Call to Enact Voting Rights Legislation

Washington, D.C. - Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued the following statement after President Biden's speech in Georgia calling on the Senate to pass urgently needed voting rights legislation:

"Today in Georgia, President Biden made it crystal clear: the Senate must find a path forward to enshrine critical voting rights legislation into law. The President is to be commended for his clarion voice and strong leadership in this fight as we strive to protect the sacred right to vote, which is the bedrock of our democracy.

"The need to protect our democracy could not be more urgent, as America faces the most dangerous assault on the vote since Jim Crow. Last year alone, Republican lawmakers introduced over 440 draconian voter suppression bills across 49 states, with at least 19 states enacting 34 measures into law. Meanwhile, Republican-appointed judges have erased hard-won voter protections, including on the Supreme Court. Shamefully, Republicans in the Congress have repeatedly voted to aid and abet this anti-democratic campaign. In doing so, they are not only diminishing our democracy here at home, but tarnishing our example of freedom around the world.

"Our beloved colleague, the late Congressman John Lewis, once said: 'Democracy is not a state. It is an act, and each generation must do its part.' In his memory, House Democrats have proudly passed the For The People Act to defend and expand voting rights, fight big money in politics, end extreme partisan gerrymandering and more. In his name, House Democrats have passed the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act to block future voting restrictions imposed by states with disgraceful histories of discrimination. Yet, Senate Republicans cynically refuse to even begin debate on voting rights legislation - because they know the only way they can win elections is by barring voters from the ballot box.

"The President forcefully declared that the time has come for the Senate to heed the call of John Lewis and do its part to protect the vote and end the Republican nullification of elections. Nothing less than our democracy is at stake."

# # #