WASHINGTON – Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Joe Lieberman, ID-Conn., Thursday issued the following statement after the House of Representatives passed the District of Columbia House Voting Rights Act of 2007:
“Congresswoman Norton and Rep. Davis deserve high praise for crafting the bipartisan bill that passed the House today. We have a unique and historic opportunity to finally bestow upon the citizens of the District of Columbia the civic entitlement every other American enjoys no matter where he or she resides and that is voting representation in the nation’s legislative body.
“American history has shown that if justice is not being done, we change the law. The deprivation of equal voting rights for residents of our nation’s capitol is unjust and it is inconsistent with the founding principles of our nation. Therefore, we must change the law.
“We, in the House and Senate, are going to make that happen. Now that the House has acted, it is time for the Senate to do the same. I will proudly bring the legislation before my colleagues in the Senate as quickly as possible.
“We are closer than we have ever been before to do at home what we have done throughout our history for our democratic allies abroad. By giving the citizens of the District of Columbia a vote in the House, we will ensure not only that their voices will finally be heard; we will be following the imperative of our history.”
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