Although the Voting Rights Act Renewal was signed into law July 27, 2006, the provisions of the 1982 renewal did not expire until July 1, 2007. This was a point brought up by House Representative Rep. Lynn Westmoreland and others opposed to the passage of the bill, with a claim that the timing was rushed and more time was needed to debate the bill. Those supporting the bill countered that the act had been under committee consideration since the fall of 2005, regardless of when it was introduced on the floor, and that that was plenty of time for consideration.