(WASHINGTON, D.C.)—On Wednesday, February 26, 2020, Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney, the Chairwoman of the Committee on Oversight and Reform, will hold a hearing to commemorate Black History Month by examining lessons from the civil rights movement on combating efforts to suppress the right to vote and how many of these lessons are particularly urgent in the face of similar voter suppression efforts today. 

Despite hard-fought victories to protect and expand voting rights, today many Americans—especially in minority communities—face increasing barriers to registering to vote and casting their ballots.  Many states are attacking the right to vote using tactics similar to those that civil rights pioneers battled more than 50 years ago.

Unfortunately, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is refusing to allow votes on two critical bills passed by the House of Representatives that would protect Americans’ right to vote.

On Thursday, February 27, 2020, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Chairwoman Maloney, and others will hold a ceremony to rename the Committee hearing room in the late Chairman Elijah E. Cummings’ honor.

Protecting the right to vote is an issue that Chairman Cummings cared about deeply.  In 2019, Chairman Cummings launched an investigation with Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Chairman Jamie Raskin into allegations of voter suppression in Georgia, Texas, and Kansas.  The Committee will release an update on its investigation this week.

 

HEARING DETAILS

WHERE:  2154 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, D.C.

WHEN:  Wednesday, February 26, 2020

TIME:  11:00 a.m. EST

A livestream of the hearing will be available here.

WITNESSES:  

Diane Nash

Civil Rights Activist

Founding Member, Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC)

Timothy L. Jenkins

Board Member, Teaching for Change;

Board Member, Civil Rights Movement Archive

Founding Member, Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC)

Reverend Doctor William J. Barber II

President, Repairers of the Breach

Co-Chair, Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival

Marcia Johnson-Blanco

Co-Director, Voting Rights Project, Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law

 

COMMITTEE ROOM DEDICATION DETAILS

WHERE:  2154 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, D.C.

WHEN:  Thursday, February 27, 2020

TIME:  4:00 p.m. EST

A livestream of the dedication will be available here.

This event is by invitation only, but open to the media.  Camera crews must RSVP to the Radio-TV Gallery at 202-225-5214.

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