To amend the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to limit certain aspects of its coverage for other than racial groups. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FEBRUARY 5, 1981 Mr. McCLORY introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 1 A BILL To amend the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to limit certain aspects of its coverage for other than racial groups. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa 2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 3 That this Act may be cited as the "Voting Rights Act Re4 pealer Amendments Act of 1981". 5 SEC. 2. Section 4(a) of the Voting Rights Act is 6 amended 7 (1) by striking out "the first two sentences of" 8 where it appears immediately after "determinations x C. 9 have been made under"; 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 2 (2) by striking out the final sentence of the first paragraph; (3) by striking out "an action under the first sentence of this subsection" and inserting in the third paragraph thereof "the action"; and (4) by striking out the fourth paragraph thereof. SEC. 3. Section 4(b) of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 is 8 amended by striking out the final sentence of the first para9 graph thereof. 10 SEC. 4. Section 4 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 is 11 amended by striking out subsection (f). 12 SEC. 5. Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 is 13 amended by striking out "or whenever a State or political 14 subdivision with respect to which the prohibitions set forth in 15 section 4(a) based upon determinations made under the third 16 sentence of section 4(b) are in effect shall enact or seek to 17 administer any voting qualification or prerequisite to voting 18 different from that in force or effect on November 1, 1972," 19 where it appears after "November 1, 1968,”. 20 SEC. 6. Sections 3 and 6 of the Voting Rights Act of 21 1965 are each amended by striking out "fourteenth or fif22 teenth amendment" each place it appears and inserting in 23 lieu thereof the following: "fifteenth amendment”. 24 SEC. 7. Sections 2, 3, the second paragraph of section 25 4(a), and sections 4(d), 5, 6, and 13 of the Voting Rights Act 3 1 of 1965 are each amended by striking out ", or in contraven2 tion of the guarantees set forth in section 4(f)(2)" each place 3 it appears immediately after "on account of race or color". SEC. 8. Section 14(c) of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 4 5 is amended by striking out paragraph (3). 6 SEC. 9. (a) The Voting Rights Act of 1965 is further 7 amended by striking out section 203. 8 (b) Sections 204, 205, and 206 of the Voting Rights Act 10 9 of 1965 are redesignated as 203, 204, and 205, respectively. (c) Section 204 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, as 11 redesignated section 203 by subsection (b) of this section, is 12 amended by striking out “or 203,”. 13 (d) Section 205 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, as 14 redesignated section 204 by subsection (b) of this section, is 15 amended by striking out ", 202, or 203" and inserting in lieu 16 thereof the following: "or 202". EXTENSION OF THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT THURSDAY, MAY 7, 1981 U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SUBCOMMITTEE ON CIVIL AND CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS, The subcommittee met at 9:40 a.m. in room 2141 of the Rayburn House Office Building, Hon. Don Edwards (chairman of the subcommittee) presiding. Present: Representatives Edwards, Kastenmeier, Washington, Hyde, Sensenbrenner, and Lungren. Staff present: Helen Gonzales and Ivy L. Davis, assistant counsel, and Thomas M. Boyd, associate counsel. Mr. EDWARDS. The subcommittee will come to order. We convene this morning to resume our hearings on legislation to extend and amend the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The Voting Rights Act contains both permanent and temporary or special provisions aimed at removing unconstitutional barriers to voting. Since most of the special provisions of the act are due to expire in August 1982, this subcommittee plans to conduct a series of hearings on pending legislation addressing these provisions. Yesterday the subcommittee heard from a distinguished group of witnesses who testified on the continuing need for the protections provided by the act. While all acknowledged the significant gains made under the act, they also noted a steady rate of section 5 objections by the Justice Department over the years which emphasize that the potential for losing ground still exists. This morning we are going to hear from an equally distinguished group of witnesses. Before I introduce our first witness, does any member of the subcommittee desire to be heard? Mr. HYDE. Mr. Chairman. Mr. EDWARDS. Mr. Hyde. Mr. HYDE. I ask unanimous consent that the subcommittee permit coverage of this hearing, in whole or in part, by television broadcasts, radio broadcasts, or still photography, in accordance with committee rule V. Mr. EDWARDS. Is there objection? Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Reserving the right to object. Mr. SENSENBRENNER. And I will not object. I notice that there are no photographers of any kind here at this point, but I would remind the chairman of the committee that one of the provisions of committee rule V is that cameras are to remain in a stationary position and not move around the room. During the course of the hearing yesterday, I noticed that some photographers were crawling around the floor like a bunch of ants, which is distracting to the witnesses, to the committee members, and the audience. And I would hope that any photographers who do take advantage of committee rule V before this subcommittee in the future would stay still, as the rule requires. And I withdraw my reservation and objection. Mr. EDWARDS. I thank the gentleman, and assure the gentleman from Wisconsin that the rules will be complied with. The first witness today is a friend of the committee's for many years. And, Dr. Abernathy, Chairman Rodino asked me to give you his best regards and regrets he has another committee assignment this morning and can't be here to personally great you. Dr. Ralph Abernathy is pastor of the West Hunter Street Baptist Church in Atlanta, Ga. Dr. Abernathy, we welcome you this morning. Will you please introduce your colleagues. And you may proceed. TESTIMONY OF REV. RALPH ABERNATHY, PASTOR, WEST HUNTER STREET BAPTIST CHURCH, ATLANTA, GA.; ACCOMPANIED BY JAMES E. PETERSON, BARBARA PHILLIPS, AND SIMON WALKER Dr. ABERNATHY. Thank you very kindly, Mr. Chairman. Seated to my immediate left is my executive assistant, Mr. James Peterson. And seated to my far right is one of my colleagues and staff persons, Mr. Simon Walker. And seated to my immediate right is one of our very fine staff persons, Barbara Phillips. I would like, Mr. Chairman, to present a copy of a prepared statement for the record. And then I would like to proceed to give some opening statements. Mr. EDWARDS. Dr. Abernathy, without objection, your prepared statement will be made part of the record, and you may proceed. [The complete statement follows:] |