Fw: final [Shopping Mall PC in DC Business Newsletters!] update of 2 release that in 2004 was sent out in the sentors web contact page...

 

Dear Mr. Quiett:

Thank you for contacting me regarding the District of Columbia House Voting Rights Act of 2007 (H.R. 1905). I support federal voting rights for District of Columbia residents.

On April 19, 2007, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the bill by a vote of 241-177. H.R. 1905 provides the District of Columbia with a C ongressional D istrict for purposes of representation in the House of Representatives. Under H.R. 1905, the House of Representatives would be expanded by two voting Members, one for the District and one for Utah , for a total of 437.

           On May 23, 2007, the Senate Judiciary Committee, on which I serve, held a hearing on the constitutionality of the Senate companion bill, S. 1257. The hearing featured the testimony of several Members of Congress, law professors, a Justice Department official, and a former federal judge. The witnesses discussed various clauses of the Constitution that relate to statehood and voting representation for the District of Columbia . S. 1257 was referred to the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee, which voted to report the measure by a 9-1 vote .

            Unfortunately, on September 18, 2007, despite having an obligation to ensure that all Americans have representation in Congress, the United States Senate was unable to successfully proceed to a vote on the voting bill by a vote of 57-42. I voted in favor of proceeding to consider the legislation, which required 60 votes to pass. Senator Majority Leader Harry Reid has indicated that he may try to bring the legislation up again for a vote later in this Congress. Thank you again for contacting me regarding this important issue. Please feel free to contact me again if I can be of any further assistance.