CONTACT: Will Potter   (202) 822-7823

July 20, 2006

Senate Approves Renewal of Historic Voting Rights Act

Vote protects nation's most successful civil rights legislation 

WASHINGTON -- Senators voted Thursday to keep the Voting Rights Act intact and renew critical provisions of the landmark civil rights law that were set to expire. The legislation passed by a vote of 98-0. Because it is identical to the bill approved by the House last week, it will now go to the White House for President Bush's signature.

The following can be attributed to Reg Weaver, NEA president:

“The right to vote and the basic right to a quality public education go hand in hand. We applaud senators for protecting access to the ballot box so all Americans can continue to have a voice in creating quality public schools for every child. Lawmakers must also adequately fund public schools to lay the foundation for all Americans to cast educated, informed votes.”

For more information on the Voting Rights Act, go to:
www.nea.org/webresources/votingrights.html

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The National Education Association is the nation's largest professional employee organization, representing 2.8 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, education support professionals, school administrators, retired educators and students preparing to become teachers.