EXCERPT:
PRESSLEY: “Mr. Speaker, 16- and 17-year-olds, constituents of mine, are supporting their families. They are working not for enrichment or to build a resume, but because they have no choice. They are attending school full-time and taking care of loved ones in the midst of the COVID crisis. Young people are contributing both to the labor force and their local economies by paying taxes, and yet they are deprived of the opportunity to exercise their right to vote. Some have questioned the maturity of our youth. I don't. 16- and 17-year-olds today possess a wisdom and maturity defined by today's challenges, hardships and opportunities. They deserve and demand a government that is accountable to them, a government that values their voices and understands the depth and breadth of their lived experience. They are not a monolith, but they are nation builders, living through a global pandemic, confronting racial injustice and rebuilding our democracy. Now is the time for us to meet the moment and enfranchise 16- and 17-year-olds."