This HR 4 bill should not be confused with HR 4, the “Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2019”. We have previously written about the 2019 HR 4. See our July 6, 2021 Blog post: FEDERAL: GOOD GOLLY MISS MOLLY, AND, A WORD ABOUT H.R. 4! There apparently has been a lot of discussion in the media about the 2021 HR 4 previous to its introduction, but its text has only recently been made available to the public.
In presenting this, it is difficult not to remember a line from the Diana Ross movie “The Wiz.” Michael Jackson played the scarecrow. One of the wicked witches says to one of her minions, “[d]on’t bring me no bad news”! Um! Sorry, but I have to, and on a Sunday no less!
On August 17, 2021, Representative Terri Sewell (D-ALA) introduced House Bill 4, referred to as the “John D. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2021”. The numbering appears out of order given the date of its introduction.
This HR 4 bill should not be confused with HR 4, the “Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2019”. We have previously written about the 2019 HR 4. See our July 6, 2021 Blog post: FEDERAL: GOOD GOLLY MISS MOLLY, AND, A WORD ABOUT H.R. 4! There apparently has been a lot of discussion in the media about the 2021 HR 4 previous to its introduction, but its text has only recently been made available to the public.
HR 1 and S. 1, “For the People Act”, seeking to federalize the election process, are pretty bad. And, it appears that S.1 may be headed for a vote by the full Senate based on a procedural maneuver by which S. 1 was “discharged” from the Committee based on a tie vote. (See Senate Resolution 27 for the details, and the GGRWC Blog post on August 18, 2021, FEDERAL: I AM SORRY! SENATE (S) BILL 1, FOR THE PEOPLE ACT, IS STILL ALIVE AND WELL, AND WILL BE VOTED ON SOON!) Republicans will be severely crippled with passage of S.1 in the Senate and HR 1 in the House. I wonder if there will be a point to a Republican Party if, in addition, this new HR 4 bill is passed as well.
The purpose of the new HR4 is to –
“…amend the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to revise the criteria for determining which States and political subdivisions are subject to section 4 of the Act, and for other purposes.”
The Voting Rights Act of 1965 has nineteen (19) sections. HR 4 seeks to amend the language and requirements not only of Section 4 of the Act, but of Sections 2, 3, 4, 6, 10, and 12, as well as add new sections to the Act. A new plaintiff class is added—an aggrieved person--redistricting and changes to voter rolls are also addressed.
The attached table here shows clearly the extent to which the Democrats are determined to completely rewrite the Civil Rights Act of 1965 in their own image to ensure that Republicans never hold any political office ever again! It appears to me that every amendment within HR 4 is written through the lens of race!
Because it would be difficult to summarize all of the changes and amendments, I have fully quoted text, when necessary, to provide a clearer understanding of what HR 4 offers.
Be aware of the new Democrat election phrase: “dilution of minority voting strength.” I think we are going to hear a lot of this phrase going forward!
Notwithstanding the doom and gloom presented above and in the attached table, I still say: Resistance is never futile! Never give up!”
I hope this is of value!
Thanks,
Demetria Carter