HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 30 Offered January 11, 2006 Prefiled January 3, 2006 Memorializing the Congress of the United States to reauthorize Section 5 and other special provisions of the Voting Rights Act. ---------- Patron-- Jones, D.C. ---------- Referred to Committee on Rules ----------

WHEREAS, the Voting Rights Act has proven to be the country's most important civil rights legislation and has significantly increased the ability of minority citizens to register and participate freely in the electoral process; and

WHEREAS, certain remedial provisions in the Act will expire in 2007 unless reauthorized by Congress and these include the Section 5 review process, federal monitor and observer provisions, and bilingual voting materials requirements; and

WHEREAS, these provisions have ensured progress toward the goal of a truly equal and accessible voting process; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the Congress of the United States be urged to reauthorize Section 5 and other special provisions of the Voting Rights Act. The General Assembly supports legislation to continue in effect the remedial provisions in the Act that will expire in 2007 absent reauthorization by Congress, including the Section 5 review process, federal monitor and observer provisions, and bilingual voting materials requirements; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates transmit copies of this resolution to the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the President of the United States Senate, and the members of the Virginia Congressional Delegation so that they may be apprised of the sense of the General Assembly of Virginia in this matter.