Durbin Statement on Republican Filibuster of John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement after Senate Republicans filibustered a procedural vote to move to consideration of the bipartisan John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act:

“Four times this year, Republican Senators have used the filibuster to prevent this Senate from even debating voting rights. What has become of the Party of Lincoln? The John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act is fair and bipartisan. It is needed urgently to stop the nationwide assault on voting rights that is being justified by the Big Lie.

“For all of those who have risked their lives to defend the most precious of American rights – whether on a foreign battlefield or on a bridge in Selma, Alabama, I urge my Republican colleagues:  Let this Senate debate voting rights.”

Yesterday, Durbin and U.S. Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and Joe Manchin (D-WV) announced a bipartisan compromise on the bill.  This proposal – which builds on the version introduced earlier in October – reflects months of bipartisan negotiations. The full text of the compromise bill can be found here.  A summary explaining changes made to the John Lewis VRAA as introduced earlier in October can be found here.

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