Testimony of Representative Barbara Jordan Before the Subcommittee on Civil and Constitutional Rights, House Committee on the Judiciary, February 26, 1975, Extension of the Voting Rights Act Page: 1 of 28
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TESTIMONY OF REPRESENTATIVE BARBARA JORDAN
BEFORE THE
SUBCOMMITTEE ON CIVIL AND CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS,
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY
FEBRUARY 26, 1975
EXTENSION OF THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT
Mr. Chairman, members of the Subcommittee, I appreciate
your granting me this opportunity to appear and testify in
support of extension of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Among
all the civil rights legislation enacted in the 1960's, the
Voting Rights Act epitomizes the black struggle for equality.
In the South the Voting Rights Act has opened registration for
eligible blacks. The Voting Rights Act has increased the
possibility of free and equal participation by blacks as voters
in the political process. But for many the promise is
as yet unfulfilled. A few electoral victories should not
mask reality: the Voting Rights Act may have overcome blatant
discriminatory practices; it has yet to overcome subtle
discriminatory practices. Although the means may be different
the effect is the same. Blacks in the South continue to
be excluded from meaningful participation in democratic
institutions. Allowing the Voting Rights Act to lapse this
year would vitiate the progress made in only the last
four years. As a co-sponsor of H.R. 3343, which extends the
Act for ten years and places a permanent ban on literacy
tests, I would urge this subcommittee to do no less than report
favorably this simple extension bill. That is the minimum which
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Johnson, Lyndon B., (Lyndon Baines), 1908-1973. Testimony of Representative Barbara Jordan Before the Subcommittee on Civil and Constitutional Rights, House Committee on the Judiciary, February 26, 1975, Extension of the Voting Rights Act, text, February 26, 1975; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth611453/m1/1/: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Texas Southern University.