Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Rep. Melvin L. Watt (D-N.C.), Chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), issued the following statement about passage of the Voting Rights Act today on the House floor by a vote of 390 to 33:

"I applaud members of the United States House for voting to reauthorize the landmark Voting Rights Act, which extends for 25 years expiring provisions of the bill. The VRA is the most important civil rights statute ever enacted and strengthens the very foundation of our democracy.

"The bicameral, bipartisan bill, also known as the Fannie Lou Hamer, Rosa Parks and Coretta Scott King Voting Rights Act Reauthorization and Amendments Act of 2006, restores the Voting Rights Act to its original intent to secure and protect the rights of minority citizens to participate fully at the ballot box.

"Passage of the bill with such a resounding margin is especially gratifying, because it now creates momentum for passage in the Senate. We will now turn our efforts to getting the bill passed in the Senate and feel confident that it will be signed by the President."