Supporting the designation of September 2025 as "National Voting Rights Month".
- Bill Number
- H.Res. 756
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Government Operations and Politics
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-09-19: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on House Administration, Science, Space, and Technology, Oversight and Government Reform, Financial Services, Ways and Means, Natural Resources, and Homeland Security, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-08T18:31:59Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This House Resolution (H. Res. 756) expresses support for designating September 2025 as "National Voting Rights Month." It aims to raise awareness about the importance of voting as a fundamental democratic right, highlight historical and ongoing challenges to voter access, and encourage actions to protect and expand voting rights for all U.S. citizens.
Key Provisions
- Support for Designation: Affirms September 2025—coinciding with National Voter Registration Day on September 16—as an ideal time for "National Voting Rights Month" to promote voter registration, election awareness, and inclusive democracy.
- Encouragement of Civic Participation: Urges all Americans to uphold every citizen's right to vote.
- Promotion of Legislation: Calls on Congress to pass key bills, including:
- The Freedom to Vote Act (H.R. 11/S. 1, 118th Congress), which would establish national standards for voter registration, expand access to voting, and strengthen election integrity.
- The Democracy Restoration Act of 2023 (H.R. 4987/S. 1677, 118th Congress), which would restore federal voting rights to individuals after release from prison to support their reintegration and civic engagement.
- Other legislation advancing voting rights and election protections.
- Educational Recommendations: Suggests that public schools and universities create curricula covering:
- The importance of voting, registration processes, polling locations, and voting methods.
- The history of voter suppression in the U.S., including pre- and post-1965 Voting Rights Act eras.
- Modern restrictions on voting rights.
- Recognition of Contributions: Expresses gratitude to the U.S. Postal Service for issuing a stamp honoring Representative John R. Lewis, a civil rights leader who championed voting rights, as a reminder of the sacrifices made for universal suffrage.
- Public Awareness Funding: Invites Congress to provide funding for public service announcements (PSAs) across media platforms (TV, radio, print, social media, billboards, etc.) to inform the public about election dates, registration deadlines, and the importance of voting.
The resolution includes extensive background on historical voter suppression (e.g., Jim Crow laws, literacy tests, poll taxes), the impact of the 1965 Voting Rights Act, the 2013 Supreme Court decision in Shelby County v. Holder (which struck down a key enforcement formula), ongoing issues like gerrymandering (manipulating district boundaries to dilute minority voting power through "cracking" or "packing"), felony disenfranchisement (barring felons from voting), and recent state-level restrictions (e.g., photo ID requirements, reduced early voting).
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This is a non-binding resolution, so it introduces no changes to existing laws. It serves as a symbolic statement from the House of Representatives, referred to multiple committees (e.g., Judiciary, House Administration) for review, but it does not amend statutes or create enforceable requirements.
Potential Impacts
- On Citizens: Could increase voter education and participation, particularly among underrepresented groups (e.g., racial minorities, formerly incarcerated individuals, elderly, low-income, and disabled voters), by promoting awareness and reducing barriers like intimidation or purges. It highlights risks to over 80 million such voters from current restrictions.
- On Government Agencies: Encourages the U.S. Postal Service to continue supporting voting (e.g., via mail-in options) and prompts Congress to fund PSAs, potentially leading to better election administration and protection against interference, especially amid health crises like pandemics.
- On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though it reinforces the U.S. commitment to democratic principles, which could influence global perceptions of American elections.
- Broader Effects: May spur grassroots efforts for voter registration and pressure for legislative reforms, potentially leading to higher turnout in future elections and addressing post-2020 challenges like over 400 restrictive bills introduced in states.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Citizens and Voters: Especially historically disenfranchised groups (Black Americans, Latinos, Asian Americans, Native Americans, formerly incarcerated people, non-English speakers, elderly, poor, and disabled individuals), who face ongoing suppression.
- Congress and Lawmakers: Urged to act on voting rights bills and funding; bipartisan sponsors (e.g., Reps. Veasey, Scott, Sewell) indicate cross-party interest.
- Educational Institutions: Public schools and universities, tasked with developing voting-related curricula.
- U.S. Postal Service: Recognized for its role in mail voting and honored for the John Lewis stamp.
- Election Officials and Advocacy Groups: Indirectly affected through calls to combat suppression tactics like gerrymandering and voter roll purges.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: References the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (a federal law protecting minority voting rights) and Shelby County v. Holder (a Supreme Court ruling that weakened federal oversight of state voting changes by invalidating the "preclearance" requirement, where states with suppression histories needed federal approval for election law changes). It calls for updating this formula, emphasizing Congress's role under the Constitution's Elections Clause (Article I, Section 4) to regulate federal elections.
- Constitutional: Underscores voting as a "sacred and fundamental right" tied to the 14th, 15th, 19th, 24th, and 26th Amendments (prohibiting discrimination in voting based on race, sex, poll taxes, and age). It highlights felony disenfranchisement as a racial justice issue intersecting with the 8th and 14th Amendments.
- Political: Signals partisan divides, noting Republican-led state efforts to gerrymander or impose restrictions (e.g., in Texas, North Carolina), while advocating Democratic-priority bills. As a resolution, it builds political momentum for reforms without binding force, potentially influencing the 2026 midterms by framing voting access as a democratic imperative amid post-2020 election disputes.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Veasey, Marc A. [D-TX-33]
Cosponsors (22)
Rep. Scott, Robert C. "Bobby" [D-VA-3], Rep. Sewell, Terri A. [D-AL-7], Rep. Williams, Nikema [D-GA-5], Rep. Green, Al [D-TX-9], Rep. Meng, Grace [D-NY-6], Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4], Rep. Fields, Cleo [D-LA-6], Rep. Deluzio, Christopher R. [D-PA-17], Rep. Barragán, Nanette Diaz [D-CA-44], Rep. Johnson, Julie [D-TX-32], Rep. Mullin, Kevin [D-CA-15], Rep. Davids, Sharice [D-KS-3], Rep. Kamlager-Dove, Sydney [D-CA-37], Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12], Rep. McClellan, Jennifer L. [D-VA-4], Rep. Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5], Rep. Carter, Troy A. [D-LA-2], Del. Plaskett, Stacey E. [D-VI-At Large], Rep. McCollum, Betty [D-MN-4], Rep. Olszewski, Johnny [D-MD-2], Rep. Ansari, Yassamin [D-AZ-3], Rep. Crockett, Jasmine [D-TX-30]
Recent Actions
- 2025-09-19: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on House Administration, Science, Space, and Technology, Oversight and Government Reform, Financial Services, Ways and Means, Natural Resources, and Homeland Security, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-09-19: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on House Administration, Science, Space, and Technology, Oversight and Government Reform, Financial Services, Ways and Means, Natural Resources, and Homeland Security, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-09-19: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on House Administration, Science, Space, and Technology, Oversight and Government Reform, Financial Services, Ways and Means, Natural Resources, and Homeland Security, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-09-19: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on House Administration, Science, Space, and Technology, Oversight and Government Reform, Financial Services, Ways and Means, Natural Resources, and Homeland Security, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-09-19: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on House Administration, Science, Space, and Technology, Oversight and Government Reform, Financial Services, Ways and Means, Natural Resources, and Homeland Security, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-09-19: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on House Administration, Science, Space, and Technology, Oversight and Government Reform, Financial Services, Ways and Means, Natural Resources, and Homeland Security, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-09-19: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on House Administration, Science, Space, and Technology, Oversight and Government Reform, Financial Services, Ways and Means, Natural Resources, and Homeland Security, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-09-19: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on House Administration, Science, Space, and Technology, Oversight and Government Reform, Financial Services, Ways and Means, Natural Resources, and Homeland Security, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-09-19: Submitted in House
- 2025-09-19: Submitted in House
Bill Versions
- Supporting the designation of September 2025 as "National Voting Rights Month". — issued 2025-09-19 — PDF (7 pages)