congressional_record: CREC-2019-11-05-pt1-PgE1398-2
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| granule_id | date | congress | session | volume | issue | title | chamber | granule_class | sub_granule_class | page_start | page_end | speakers | bills | citation | full_text |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CREC-2019-11-05-pt1-PgE1398-2 | 2019-11-05 | 116 | 1 | RECOGNIZING THE CITY OF RICHMOND FOR REDUCING BARRIERS TO VOTING IN VIRGINIA'S 2019 ELECTIONS | HOUSE | EXTENSIONS | RECOGNIZING | E1398 | E1398 | [{"name": "A. Donald McEachin", "role": "speaking"}] | 165 Cong. Rec. E1398 | Congressional Record, Volume 165 Issue 176 (Tuesday, November 5, 2019) [Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 176 (Tuesday, November 5, 2019)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page E1398] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] RECOGNIZING THE CITY OF RICHMOND FOR REDUCING BARRIERS TO VOTING IN VIRGINIA'S 2019 ELECTIONS ______ HON. A. DONALD McEACHIN of virginia in the house of representatives Tuesday, November 5, 2019 Mr. McEACHIN. Madam Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to recognize the City of Richmond for its efforts to remove barriers to voter participation in Virginia's 2019 elections. Mayor Levar Stoney and his administration are partnering with the Greater Richmond Transit Corporation (GRTC) for the second year in a row to provide free rides to the polls for Richmond residents on Election Day. Additionally, the City of Richmond is giving its employees the day off on Tuesday, November 5, 2019. Both measures will address potential impediments to voting and will help encourage participation in both state and local elections. Access to transportation has historically been an obstacle for underserved and marginalized communities to exercise their rights on Election Day. To address these concerns, GRTC will provide free transportation to nearly every polling location in the City of Richmond. In doing so, more individuals will be able to access polling stations, enabling many more Richmonders to vote. The ability to take time off from work has also been a barrier to the ballot box. To help tackle this issue, the City of Richmond will close its offices on Tuesday, November 5, 2019 to make it easier for city employees to vote. Since my time in the Virginia General Assembly, I have fought for voters' rights; the right to vote is sacred and should be protected. That is why I introduced the Election Day Holiday Act, which would make Election Day a federal holiday. At a time when our elections are under attack from outside and within our country, it is more important than ever that we remove barriers to the ballot box. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Mayor Stoney, the Stoney administration, and GRTC for improving access and removing barriers to voting for Richmond residents. ____________________ |