CHC & CBC Urge Senate to Proceed to a Vote on D.C. "Utah Bills (9/17/07)

Congressional Hispanic Caucus and Congressional Black Caucus
Urge Senate to Proceed to a Vote on D.C. - Utah Bills
September 17, 2007

Washington--The Office of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today released two letters to Senators from the Congressional Black Caucus and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, motivated by news that a motion to proceed to a vote on the D.C.-Utah voting rights bill could be filibustered and make an up-and-down vote on the bill impossible. Chairwoman Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick wrote, "The 43 members of the CBC particularly oppose any effort to resurrect some of the worst days in the history of our country by mounting a filibuster of this important voting rights bill." In their letter, Hispanic Caucus Chair, Joe Baca, and the Chair of the CHC Civil Rights Task Force, Charles Gonzalez, wrote, "Particularly for immigrants, the wonderful experience of becoming an American citizen and having a voice in the voting process must not continue to be diminished because they have chosen to live in the capital of the United States."

The text of both letters follow.

September 14, 2007

Dear Senator,

We write on behalf of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) to ask that you pass the District of Columbia House Voting Rights Act of 2007, a bill that would give American citizens living in our nation's capital their first-ever vote in Congress. The 43 members of the CBC particularly oppose any effort to resurrect some of the worst days in the history of our country by mounting a filibuster of this important voting rights bill. The majority Black population of the District of Columbia and the long denial of their voting rights renders the D.C. Voting Rights Act the principled equivalent of last year's renewal of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The District of Columbia House Voting Rights Act of 2007 would give a vote in the House of Representatives to the citizens of the District of Columbia, who outrank almost all the states in income taxes paid to the federal government, and who have always served in our nation's military. This bill is of particularly great importance to the Congressional Black Caucus because the issue of granting voting representation to the citizens of our nation's capital has long been a major priority for us and our constituents.

The continuing two century-long disenfranchisement of the citizens of the nation's capital is an unacceptable violation of the most basic principles of equal rights.

It is very important to note that the District of Columbia achieved a congressional delegate and partial self government only after its citizens were aided by the civil rights movement. Without the work of the civil rights movement, it would not have been possible for the District to achieve such limited rights. Now is the time to help achieve one of the most important goals of the national civil rights movement by enfranchising District residents with a full vote in the House of Representatives.

The unique vote-neutral, balanced bipartisan arrangement in the bill is one of its strongest virtues. The pairing of two jurisdictions of different parties, each ripe for a vote at the same time, fits the pattern used to increase representation throughout our history. This bill advocates the advent of a seat for the traditionally Democratic District of Columbia with an additional seat for Republican-leaning Utah. This balance presents a rare opportunity that is not likely to be repeated. We are pleased that Utah and District of Columbia officials have been willing to work closely together on a bipartisan basis on this bill sponsored by Senators Orrin Hatch, Robert Bennett of Utah and Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut.

We support the citizens and elected officials of the District of Columbia in their quest to obtain voting representation in the House of Representatives. We believe that the District of Columbia House Voting Rights Act is the bill to do it. With your support, we can end 206 years of taxation without representation in our nation's capital. Thank you for your consideration and your support.

Sincerely,

Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick

Congressional Black Caucus

Chairwoman

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September 17, 2007

Dear Senator:

The Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) respectfully expresses strong support for S. 1257 to give House votes to the District of Columbia and Utah. The purpose of this voting rights bill is critically important: to give underrepresented Americans, including those from minority groups, the same representation afforded to other American citizens.

All the Members of the CHC were proud to vote for the bill when it passed in the House of Representatives in April. The CHC stands for enfranchising, not disenfranchising people.

The District of Columbia is home to thousands of Hispanic Americans, many born in the city. Others are longstanding residents or recent immigrants. Particularly for immigrants, the wonderful experience of becoming an American citizen and having a voice in the voting process must not continue to be diminished because they have chosen to live in the capital of the United States. Therefore national, regional, and local Hispanic organizations have joined the CHC to offer their strong support for S. 1257 to bring voting rights to Hispanic Americans and other citizens of the District of Columbia. This strong Hispanic support reflects the importance that the CHC and our Hispanic community attach to voting rights for all Americans.

Distinguished scholars and experts have offered compelling testimony that S. 1257 is constitutional. The arguments of opponents--based on their own interpretation of the Constitution, the authority that the Constitution gives to Congress, and the District's technical status as a federal district rather than a state--remain debatable. What is beyond
debate in our country today is the right of every taxpaying citizen, every veteran, and every soldier now serving our country to have representation in the House of Representatives. If we are wrong on this point, the courts will have the last word. Today voting rights for the 600,000 residents in our nation's capital, including thousands of Hispanic citizens, are in your hands. Please do not fail them. Please support S. 1257.

Sincerely,

Joe Baca Charles A. Gonzalez

Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair CHC Civil Rights Task Force Chair