Letter to Senator Bob Dole from constituent and Dole&#039;s response regarding the extension of the Voting Rights Act, July 31, 1975

Letter to Senator Bob Dole from constituent and Dole's response regarding the extension of the Voting Rights Act, July 31, 1975

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Other Media: s-con_235_021_002_tr.txt

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Extent (Dublin Core): 3 Pages
File Name (Dublin Core): s-con_235_021_002
Title (Dublin Core): Letter to Senator Bob Dole from constituent and Dole's response regarding the extension of the Voting Rights Act, July 31, 1975
Date (Dublin Core): 1975-07-31
Date Created (Dublin Core): 1975-07-31
Congress (Dublin Core): 94th (1975-1977)
Policy Area (Curation): Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Creator (Dublin Core): Dole, Robert J., 1923-2021
Record Type (Dublin Core): correspondence
Rights (Dublin Core): http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/CNE/1.0/
Language (Dublin Core): eng
Collection Finding Aid (Dublin Core): https://dolearchivecollections.ku.edu/index.php?p=collections/findingaid&id=31&q=
Physical Location (Dublin Core): Collection 003, Box 225, Folder 21
Institution (Dublin Core): Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS
Archival Collection (Dublin Core): Robert J. Dole Senate Papers-Constituent Relations, 1969-1996
Full Text (Extract Text): (Page 1)
This document is from the collections at the Dole Archives, University of Kansas http://dolearchives.ku.edu
Voting Rights Act
(redacted)
El Dorado, KS 67042
The Hon. Senator Robert Dole Senate Office Building Washington, D.C.
Dear Senator Dole:
I am aware that H.R. 6219,
May 8, reported to house may 14, granted rule
the Federal Voting Rights Act, will soon be reaching the floor of the House, and I have written my Representative to urge its passage, as sent to the floor by the House Committee of the Judiciary. I am not aware if any such legislation is pending in the Senate, but I assume it will be in the near future.
I would encourage you to support such a bill, which would strengthen the voting rights of many minority citizens, grant a ten-year extension of the 1965 Voting Rights Act, permanently ban literacy tests, and grant expansions to cover a number of minority groups other than Black Americans.
This bill would be an important addition to the previously- established trend toward more equal voting rights for all
0, American citizens. The bill includes provisions to strengthen the existing law for Black Americans and a ten-year extension to ensure the Act's protection will continue in force following
(Page 2)
the 1980 census when states are required to adopt reapportionment plans .
As you know, the impetus and protection of the 1965 act assisted more than 1 million Black Americans to vote in the seven states currently covered by the Act. More than 2 million eligible blacks remain unregistered, however, and many other states with serious problems are not currently covered by the Act.
I am concerned, however, about such provisions as the Butler Amendment, which was defeated in committee in the House. This would have put a five-year limit on the bill and might prevent implementation of equal apportionment following the 1980 census.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely, (redacted)
P.S. I realize much of your mail is running against the Vietnamese refuges. Most of us out here, however, are in favor of the refuges and believe we have a moral obligation to allow resettlement here.
(Page 3)
July 31, 1975
(redacted)
El Dorado, Kansas 67042
Dear Mr. (redacted):
Thank you for your letter supporting the extension of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
Last week, the Senate passed a seven year extension of this act. I, of course, voted for this extension, As you may know, I voted for passage of the original bill in 1965 also.
The right to vote is a very fundamental and basic part of our system/ The threat of restrictive and unfair voter registration procedures is especially onerous, of course, when aimed at minority groups. Senate passage of the extension, coupled with House passage, insures that the Voting Rights Act of 1965 will not lapse in August of this year, but will continue in modified form.
I appreciated your comments about the resettlement of Viet Nam refugees. I have been supporting aid to these refugees, and appreciate your words of support in this regard.
Thank you for keeping me apprised of your views. If I can ever by of assistance to you in the future, I hope that you will not hesitate to get in touch.
Sincerely,
BD:dfv
BOB DOLE United States Senator

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