"The National Urban League has made renewing and strengthening the Voting Rights Act a top priority," said Marc H. Morial, President and CEO. "Our efforts bear fruit this week with the introduction of this important and historic legislation."

"The Voting Rights Act (VRA) is our nation's most successful civil rights law and has enjoyed strong bipartisan support since its enactment in 1965 in direct response to persistent and purposeful discrimination through literacy tests, poll taxes, intimidation, threats, and violence," Morial said. "The voting rights act has enfranchised millions of racial, ethnic and language minority citizens by eliminating discriminatory practices and removing other barriers to their political participation. In the process, the Voting Rights Act has made the promise of democracy a reality for all Americans."

During the past year, a series of important hearings demonstrated that, while progress has been made under the Voting Rights Act, much work remains to be done. The hearings, which included the testimony of Marc Morial, showed that significant discrimination in voting is still pervasive in jurisdictions covered by the expiring provisions of the Act, Morial said.

Three key provisions of the Voting Rights Act will expire next year, unless they are renewed. Section 5 prevents voting practices with a discriminatory purpose or effect from being implemented. Section 203 requires certain jurisdictions to provide language assistance to voters in areas with high concentrations of citizens who are limited-English proficient and illiterate. Sections 6-9 authorize the federal government to use observers in elections to monitor voting rights act compliance.

The Voting Rights Act Reauthorization and Amendments Act of 2006 addresses this compelling record by renewing the voting rights act temporary provisions for 25 years. Among other things, the bill reauthorizes and restores Section 5 to the original congressional intent that has been undermined by the Supreme Court in Reno v. Bossier Parish II and Georgia v. Ashcroft. The bill also keeps the federal observer provisions in place and authorizes recovery of expert witness fees in lawsuits brought to enforce the voting rights act.

For these reasons, the National Urban League strongly urges Congress to immediately and overwhelmingly enact the Voting Rights Act Reauthorization and Amendments Act of 2006 and its renewal and restoration of provisions to ensure the continued vitality of the Voting Rights Act for all Americans.

"This measure is the product of outstanding leadership of and bipartisan cooperation between the Congressional Black Caucus, House and Senate leadership, and others" Morial said. "I urge them to continue this spirit of cooperation and commitment to full voting rights by quickly and overwhelmingly enacting the Voting Rights Act Reauthorization and Amendments Act of 2006," said Morial.