STATEMENT FROM CONGRESSMAN HENRY CUELLAR ON JUSTICE DEPARTMENT DECISION ON REDISTRICTING MAPS
Written by admin, Sep 19, 2011, 0 Comments
Courtesy Jose Borjon,
Washington D.C.— Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) released the following statement after the U.S. Department of Justice found insufficient information to grant pre-clearance of the Texas House and Congressional redistricting maps:
“The Department of Justice’s finding is an important step in ensuring that Texas minorities get fair representation in the state legislature and in the United States Congress.
“As the only Hispanic congressman intervenor in the redistricting lawsuit filed against the State of Texas in the U.S. Western District Court of Texas, I am deeply concerned that although the Texas population has grown by 4.3 million people over the last 10 years, 70 percent Hispanic and a total 90 percent minority, the maps drawn by the Texas Legislature are a far cry from correlating to this reality. I have advocated for a Hispanic-opportunity congressional seat in areas that have seen a significant growth in Hispanic population, including Dallas-Ft. Worth, Houston and the Rio Grande Valley. Not doing so is not in the best interest of Hispanics and minorities, and it is also not in the best interest of democracy and equal representation to all—our founding principles in the Constitution.
While I am in agreement with the Justice Department’s findings, I am also aware that we still have a process to go through before we accomplish our goal: fair representation for all Texans.”
