NCC Commends SCOTUS Ruling on Allen v. Milligan, Reissues Call for Passage of Voting Rights Legislation
On Wednesday, the U.S. Supreme Court handed down its decision on Allen v. Milligan, upholding a lower court’s ruling striking down Alabama’s new congressional map. The controversial redistricting plan includes only one majority-Black congressional district, even though Black Alabamians comprise 27 percent of the state’s population. In a 5-4 vote, the court ruled that the congressional map violated Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which prohibits the denial or disenfranchisement of the right to vote based on race or color.
In 1963, the General Assembly of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA adopted a Human Rights Policy Statement recognizing the right to vote as a basic human right. Last year, NCC issued a statement, Voting Rights Are Human Rights, calling for the passage of historic voting rights legislation.
The NCC remains a staunch advocate for protecting the right to vote for all Americans, especially Black Americans, who have been systematically disenfranchised for more than 200 years. We commend the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Allen v. Milligan. Yet, we are acutely aware that without legislation that builds on the legacy of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and strengthens voting rights protections, our democracy will continue to be at risk.
NCC reissues a clarion call to Congress to pass the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act, which expands voter registration and voting access, strengthens election integrity and security, outlines criteria for congressional redistricting, improves campaign finance, and safeguards voting rights.
For news stories and perspectives on the ruling, click here.
Representative David Scott Makes a Moral Case for SNAP
This week, the House Agriculture Committee held a full committee hearing titled, “Innovation, Employment, Integrity, and Health: Opportunities for Modernization in Title IV.” Ranking Member, Representative David Scott (D-GA), offered a moving opening statement in support of protecting food security in the upcoming farm reauthorization bill. During his remarks, Rep. Scott provided recommendations on how Congress could support the 42 million Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants through improved access to the program, employment readiness and retention through education, transportation, and childcare, and EBT theft protection.
After highlighting the many economic benefits of SNAP to participants, businesses, and U.S. agriculture, Rep. Scott presented a moral argument saying, “As a Christian, feeding the hungry is mentioned many times in the Bible. Mathew 25:35; Isaiah 58:10; James 2:14-18; Proverbs 28:27…I can go on! First John 3:17-18; Luke 3:11; Proverbs 31:20; Proverbs 22:9; Proverbs 19:17; Matthew 14:15-21. I’ll stop there, not because that is all of them, but because I couldn’t even list each instance in the five minutes I have for an opening statement.” He closed by saying, “I will stand firm against taking food away from families and children. I will fight against efforts to take away the right and dignity to choose what foods a family can purchase with SNAP benefits. I hope that we can come together to craft a bipartisan nutrition title that keeps food on the tables of Americans in need and supports our nation’s farmers.”
NCC applauds Rep. Scott for publicly sharing how his faith informs the work he does in Congress on behalf of millions of food insecure Americans.
NCC is a strong supporter of the SNAP program. We will continue to monitor the farm bill reauthorization and advocate for food and nutrition programs.