ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS Hon. JOHN V. TUNNEY, U.S. SENATE, COMMITTEE ON ARMED SERVICES, Chairman, Subcommittee on Constitutional Rights, Senate Committee on the Judiciary, Washington, D.C. DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: I am enclosing herewith a statement in which I express my opposition to S. 407 and S. 1279, which are currently being considered by your Subcommittee. I will appreciate it very much if you would make this statement a part of today's hearing record. I would have preferred to have presented this statement in person but today is the regular meeting day of the Armed Services Committee and important matters before that Committee require that I attend and preside. With appreciation for your courtesy in this matter, I am Your friend, JOHN C. STENNIS. PREPARED STATEMENT OF HON. JOHN C. STENNIS, U.S. SENATOR FROM THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI Mr. Chairman, and members of the Subcommittee, I appreciate the privilege of presenting this statement to you on one of the more important issues to come before the Congress this session. That is the so-called "extension" of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. As I understand it, the Subcommittee is now considering S. 407 by Senator Griffin (for himself, Senator Mathias and Senator Hugh Scott); S. 903 by Senator Allen (for himself and Senator Harry F. Byrd, Jr.); and S. 1279 by Senator Philip A. Hart (for himself and Senator Hugh Scott). S. 407 and S. 1279 would purportedly "extend" the Voting Rights Act of 1965. As I pointed out in a statement on the floor of the Senate on March 18th with respect to similar bills, the so-called "extension" of the Act is a misnomer or misconception and I hope this will be clearly understood when the bills are considered. S. 903 by Senator Allen proposes the repeal of Sections 4 and 5 of the 1965 Act. I am 100 percent in favor of this bill, but my remarks today are directed primarily to S. 407 and S. 1279, both of which I oppose strongly. The fact is that, except for the nationwide ban on literacy tests, the only thing that is extended by either S. 407 or S. 1279 is the period of punishment for those states put and kept under Federal servitude by the original act and the Voting Rights Act Amendments of 1970. I understand that Senator Griffin's bill (S. 407) is the administration bill. It would extend from 10 to 15 years the time within which political subdivisions covered by the Act would have to wait before being able to apply to the court for exemption from the Act. Senator Hart's bill (S. 1279) goes even farther. It would extend the sentence imposed in 1965 for another 10 years for a total of 20. Both bills would extend the nationwide ban against literacy tests-the Griffin bill for 5 more years; the Hart bill permanently. While there is sound constitutional grounds to objecting to Federal interference with the rights of States to fix voter qualification, this provision of the law, at least, is nationwide, not sectional in character. I will not discuss it further today. I ask that members of the Subcommittee not be misled by the siren song which comes from many cause organizations and pressure groups that we are just "extending" the law. This is just not correct. The law is permanent law and does not need extension. Except for the ban on literacy tests the socalled "extension" is nothing more or less than extension of the punishment of seven sovereign states for alleged crimes committed 10 years and more 52-004 0 - 75 - 59 |