LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION memorializing Congress to enact legislation to
support the Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2014 in order to preserve
integrity, equality and fairness in elections in 2014 and beyond

WHEREAS, The right to vote is a fundamental right of United States citi-
zens and is the most important of civic rights and obligations; and
WHEREAS, The election of representatives who voice the concerns of the
public ensures a responsive and accountable government; and
WHEREAS, The failure of eligible Americans to vote jeopardizes the
strength and vitality of our country's democracy; and
WHEREAS, The Fifteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution
ensures that the right of citizens of the United States to vote is not
denied on account of race or color, and grants Congress the authority to
protect the right to vote; and
WHEREAS, Congress has exercised this authority by passing the Voting
Rights Act of 1965, landmark legislation that seeks to abolish discrimi-
natory procedures and barriers that disenfranchise minority voters; and
WHEREAS, Congress has, time and again, reaffirmed the need for
protection against abuses that might curtail the right to vote by renew-
ing the Voting Rights Act of 1965; and
WHEREAS, The Voting Rights Act's highly effective preclearance proce-
dures have been suspended as a result of the Supreme Court's decision in
Shelby County v. Holder; and
WHEREAS, The Shelby County decision has greatly diminished the ability
of the federal government to protect equal access to the ballot box; and
WHEREAS, Voter discrimination based on race, ethnicity, and language
minority status is not a thing of the past but a current reality and has
been an effective procedure to ensure the voting rights of New Yorkers
in New York, Kings and The Bronx counties where all changes to election
laws were sent to the U.S. Department of Justice for review and
approval; and
WHEREAS, A bipartisan group of Members of Congress has proposed legis-
lation - the Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2014, H.R. 3899 and S. 1945
- that would respond to the Shelby County decision by modernizing voting
rights protections; and
WHEREAS, The Voting Rights Amendment Act would protect voters through-
out the nation, and extend appropriate oversight to any jurisdiction
with a significant recent history of discriminatorily restricting access
to elections, consistent with the Constitution; and
WHEREAS, The Voting Rights Amendment Act would increase transparency
in election administration and policymaking in the interest of ensuring
that discriminatory voting laws do not escape the notice of advocates
who have the knowledge and resources necessary to vindicate voters'
rights; and
WHEREAS, The Voting Rights Amendment Act is a positive first step
toward adapting the Voting Rights Act to meet 21st century needs and
apply adequate scrutiny to suspect voting laws consistent with the
Supreme Court's decisions; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Congress of the United States be and hereby is
respectfully memorialized by this Legislative Body to enact legislation
supporting the Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2014 in order to preserve
integrity, equality and fairness in elections in 2014 and beyond; and be
it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the President of the Senate of the United States, the Speaker
of the House of Representatives, and to each member of the Congress of
the United States from the State of New York.