Final answer:
The question involves U.S. history and the ongoing legislative efforts to enforce and protect voting rights, including the historical Voting Rights Act of 1965 and recent attempts to pass the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.
Step-by-step explanation:
Voting Rights Legislation: Historical Context and Modern Developments
The subject of restrictive voting laws and congressional responses, such as the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, is deeply rooted in U.S. history. Beginning with the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which aimed to overcome legal barriers at the state and local levels that prevented African Americans from exercising their right to vote, Congress has been involved in ensuring the enforcement of voting rights. This act was hailed as the most effective piece of civil rights legislation, with immediate effects including a significant increase in African American voter registration and participation.
In further support of voting rights, Congress passed additional laws after the Civil War, such as the Civil Rights Acts of 1957 and 1964. The ratification of the Twenty-Fourth Amendment in 1964 eliminated poll taxes, solidifying the legal foundation for voting rights. However, despite the progress made, many states resumed restrictive voting practices after the Supreme Court's decision in Shelby County v. Holder (2013), which removed the requirement for federal approval to change voting laws in certain states.
Recent legislative attempts, such as the proposed Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, seek to establish national standards for voting rights to counteract these restrictive state laws. These efforts underscore the ongoing struggle for equitable voting rights and the importance of federal oversight to safeguard this fundamental democratic process.