Lee Statement on Status of DC House Voting Rights Act
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: J. Jioni Palmer
WashingtonD.C. – Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA), Chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus, released the following statement today after a meeting with members of the CBC, Speaker Nancy Pelosi and others in leadership to discuss the DC House Voting Rights Act:
“Today we reaffirmed our commitment to secure full voting rights in the House of Representatives for the citizens of the District of Columbia. It was a productive meeting.
“This is an important civil rights issue that is broadly supported by the Democratic Caucus, the House leadership and the civil rights community.
“We all know that to deny the citizens of the District voting rights in the House when they pay taxes and serve in the military is fundamentally unjust.
“Likewise it is morally wrong to hold a civil rights bill hostage to the narrow interests of the gun lobby to score a political point.
“The Congressional Black Caucus is committed to working with Speaker Pelosi, and Majority Leader Hoyer to protect the civil rights of D.C. residents without compromising our principles.”