We are a few short years removed from the harmful Supreme Court decision that struck down a key provision of the Voting Rights Act (VRA). Since then, many states have pounced on the decision, passing legislation that put more barriers to those who already have fragile access to the ballot box. This is America. It shouldn’t be harder to vote, it should be easier to vote. In Congress, I am a cosponsor of legislation that updates the VRA and gives everyone equal opportunity to have their voice heard on Election Day.

Beyond voting rights, we have made great strides in long overdue equality for the LGBTQ community. I am proud that New York State was among the first to legalize marriage for all in 2011, and I was exhilarated in 2015 as the Supreme Court struck down state bans on same-sex marriage. We must continue to fight those who believe incorrectly that County Clerk offices or State Supreme Courts can overrule the Supreme Court and use that errant line of thinking to refuse equal rights to those who simply want to marry the one they love.