US Vice President Kamala Harris chastised Republicans for stalling voting rights legislation, accusing them of “exploiting” filibuster rules to prevent legislation from being passed.

“The Constitution of the United States gives the Congress the power to pass legislation,” Harris said in Atlanta. “And nowhere, nowhere does the Constitution give a minority the right to unilaterally block legislation. The American people have waited long enough.”

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President Biden is scheduled to lay out what modifications he favours to the filibuster rules to allow voting rights legislation, and Harris’ words functioned as a prologue to his speech.

After a Supreme Court ruling that rolled back provisions, Harris urged for speedy passage of two critical voting rights laws.

“That is why we have come to Atlanta today, to the cradle of the civil rights movement to the district that was represented by the great Congressman John Lewis,” Harris said.

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Harris added, in a direct shot at Republicans who dismiss Democratic initiatives on voting rights as partisan games, “My fellow Americans, do not succumb to those who would dismiss this assault on voting rights as an unfounded threat, would wave this off as a partisan game.”

“The assault on our freedom to vote will be felt by every American in every community in every political party,” she added.

Finally, Harris stated that party leaders cannot tell their children that they failed to pass legislation because a Senate rule stands in the way of our most fundamental freedom. Instead, let us tell them that we stood together as people of conscience and courage.”

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She said in conclusion, “Let us tell them, we acted with the urgency that this moment demands and let us tell them we secured the freedom to vote that we ensured free and fair elections, and we safeguarded our democracy because then and their children.”