Speech #890085315

I call upon my distinguished colleagues to seriously consider the void which the act presently contains if no provisions are made for present elections. Finally. I would ask that our Government take steps now through this act to enfranchise our hundreds of thousands of Spanishspeaking Americans who cannot read or write English and are denied the right to register as voters because they cannot pass an English literacy test. In California. there is no literacy test for MexicanAmericans. In all States throughout the Union where large numbers of Puerto Ricans live. the requirements that they pass English literacy tests should be abolished. In my own State there are over 750.000 Puerto Ricans. of whom more than 480.000 are of voting age. Yet. there are only an estimated 150.000 Puerto Ricans registered to vote. or less than onethird of those eligible. This does not stem from any lack of civic interest on the part of these fine citizens. but rather the barrier of English literacy test. They participate fully in our economic and social life. It is time to enable them to enjoy the full blessings of participation in our political life.