Democratic lawmakers in both federal and state legislatures are actively combatting voter suppression efforts made by Republicans at a state level following the bitter 2020 presidential elections. Following the passage by the House of another voting rights bill, Democratic Rep. Hakeem Jeffries blasted the GOP over the issue.
The House passed HR4, also known as the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2021, in a 219-212 vote on party lines. Jeffries, who chairs the House Democratic caucus, took the moment to blast their Republican counterparts on the concept of “liberty,” especially as GOP lawmakers have railed against the COVID-19 protocols put in place in the chambers. GOP lawmakers, including House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, have blasted the COVID-19 protocols put in place, especially mask-wearing.
“How dare Republicans come to this floor and lecture America about masks and Liberty over and over and over again while at the same time undermining the precious right to vote?” said the New York Congressman.
“Free and fair elections are central to our liberty. And we’re not going to let anyone take that away from us. Those who worship at the altar of voter suppression will fail. Those who worship at the altar of Jim Crow-like oppression will fail. Those who worship at the altar of turning back the clock to make America hate again will fail. We’re not going backward,” added Jeffries.
The voting rights bill will then be passed onto the Senate, where it faces an uphill battle in an evenly divided chamber.
Meanwhile, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi joined other US officials in reprimanding Democratic Rep. Seth Moulton and Republican Rep. Peter Meijer for making an unannounced visit to Kabul in the midst of evacuation efforts that are ongoing. During the press conference, Pelosi said that she has not spoken to both congressmen since the return and is not sure whether the visit would lead to the two representatives getting stripped of their committee assignments.
Moulton and Meijer’s visit angered the State and Defense Departments, who have warned that lawmakers should not visit Afghanistan at this time. This led Pelosi to send a letter warning her colleagues against visiting Kabul.