Washington, D.C.— In response to the reintroduction of the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act in the Senate led by Senators Durbin, Rev. Warnock, Booker, Blumenthal, Butler, and Majority Leader Schumer, the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) and Georgia Conservation Voters (GCV) issued the following statements:

“We are thrilled for the reintroduction of this critical bill to protect the freedom to vote for every voter — no matter their race, language, ability, or zip code,” said LCV Democracy Program Director Justin Kwasa. “Extremist MAGA Republicans have led relentless attacks on Black and brown voters’ right to govern themselves, from far-right Supreme Court Justices gutting the bedrock Voting Rights Act of 1965, to voter suppression measures pushed by extremists at the federal, state, and local levels, to a deadly assault on the United States Capitol. 

We cannot have a healthy environment without a democracy that works for every community across our country, especially those who have faced generations of racist voter suppression. We urge Congress to protect our fundamental right to vote from existential threats by passing the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and other crucial voting rights legislation, including the Freedom to Vote Act and D.C. Statehood.”

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“Georgians know our right to vote is precious and must be protected,” said Brionté McCorkle, Executive Director Georgia Conservation Voters. “Representative John Lewis fought all his life to ensure not just some, but all of our voices could be heard. Today, with leaders like Senator Rev. Warnock we can live up to that legacy by passing the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. This bill helps ensure everyone has equal access to the ballot so we can elect leaders who will deliver on the issues we care about most.”

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