DC Vote Celebrates Work Leading to Mark-Up of New Voting Rights Bill

For more information contact: James Jones, Communications Director
202.462.6000 x12 office / 202.557.4864 mobile / jjones@dcvote.org

May 11, 2006

Washington, DC - After three years of relentless work by DC Vote, a mark-up is scheduled in the House Government Reform Committee for a piece of legislation that would give DC residents a voting representative in the House for the first time ever.

The new legislation is the DC Fair and Equal House Voting Rights Act of 2006, which was announced by Representative Tom Davis (R-VA) and Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC). DC Vote has worked closely with Davis, Norton, and other members of Congress to address concerns about the original DC voting rights legislation (H.R. 2043) and build a consensus for the new bill.

"We are on the brink of a major voting rights victory," said DC Vote Executive Director Ilir Zherka. "DC Vote has dedicated long hours and tireless efforts to see movement on a voting rights bill, and today we celebrate with our coalition partners as we take one step closer to bringing democracy to America's capital."

DC Vote urges a swift mark-up in committee and action by Congress. Americans must raise their voices to help encourage Congress to bring this important issue to the forefront.

"We call on Washingtonians to rise up," said Zherka. "We are the closest we have ever been to voting representation in Congress, and DC residents should be shouting from the rooftops and engaging friends across the country to make this critical bill a law."

DC Vote has organized coalition meetings, met with congressional staffers, educated the public on the importance of DC voting rights legislation, and proposed changes to improve the bill.

For more information, visit www.dcvote.org.

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