The 97th annual NAACP convention opens in Washington, D.C. this weekend, celebrating perhaps the most critical struggle in years to maintain a longstanding civil rights bill: The 1965 Voting Rights Act.

As delegates from across the country convene for a week of discussion and speeches, the theme of the conference -- "Voting Our Values, Valuing Our Votes" -- underscores Thursday’s congressional decision to reauthorize the Voting Rights Act as black Americans prepare for the upcoming November congressional elections.

"The re-authorization of the Voting Rights Act is critical," Roslyn Brock, vice chair of the NAACP National Board of Directors and chairman of the NAACP’s Convention Planning Committee, told BlackAmericaWeb.com Thursday. "We could not be in D.C. at a better time when this issue is going before Congress."

The renewal of the Voting Rights Act -- the legislative centerpiece of the civil rights movement -- was widely supported by House leaders in both parties. The NAACP and other civil rights groups have rallied and lobbied congressional leaders for weeks in hopes of urging Congress to take action.

It had been expected to sail through the House last month, but a rebellion in a closed GOP caucus meeting forced supporters to cancel the vote. Conservatives, mostly from the South, contended that the bill singled out their states for Justice Department scrutiny without giving them credit for strides on civil rights.

On Thursday, the House -- after weeks of consternation and debate -- voted to renew the Voting Rights Act and sent the bill to the U.S. Senate for it approval.

"I applaud members of the United States House for voting to reauthorize the landmark Voting Rights Act, which extends for 25 years expiring provisions of the bill," Rep. Mel Watt (D-N.C.), chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, said in a statement Thursday.

"The VRA is the most important civil rights statute ever enacted and strengthens the very foundation of our democracy," he said.

"Passage of the bill with such a resounding margin is especially gratifying, because it now creates momentum for passage in the Senate," Watt said. "We will now turn our efforts to getting the bill passed in the Senate and feel confident that it will be signed by the president."

Some black leaders have said the Voting Rights Act re-authorization is perhaps the most important civil rights issue facing black Americans today. It is also critical, they argue, that black congressional leaders are re-elected and that civil rights groups must fight against those who are trying to prevent black Americans from voting.

Brock said the NAACP has invited President George W. Bush to be a keynote speaker during this year's conference, adding that NAACP delegates have not seen Bush since he was a presidential candidate and addressed the convention years ago when he was asking for votes.

"This would be a joyous occasion for President Bush to return to the NAACP conference and address us with a signed bill in his hand that re-authorizes the Voting Rights Act," Brock said in an interview.

(A White House spokesperson told BlackAmericaWeb.com Thursday that Bush’s schedule for next week had not yet been finalized.)

The landmark civil rights legislation had bi-partisan support, although some Democrats were skeptical of the GOP’s motives.

Ken Mehlman, chairman of the Republican National Committee, said he urged Congress to stop stalling and renew the Voting Rights Act.

"Congratulations to the House of Representatives for re-authorizing the Voting Rights Act," Mehlman said in a statement Thursday. "This most important law protects the most fundamental right of every American. Along with the Civil Rights Act and Open Housing law, the Voting Rights Act stands as one of the great moral achievements of the 20th century."

Brock said NAACP delegates will celebrate the vote by Congress during next week’s conference and said folks are also anxious to hear from NAACP President Bruce Gordon, who was hired as president last year and will be speaking at his first annual NAACP convention as president.

"We‘re hoping to celebrate the re-authorization of the Voting Right Act during our conference," Brock said. "But we’re also excited to hear from our president, Bruce Gordon."

About 14,000 delegates and visitors from around the nation are expected to attend the week-long convention, scheduled for July 15 - 20 at the Washington, D.C. Convention Center. This marks the seventh time the NAACP has held its convention in the nation's capital.

This year, speakers scheduled for the convention include senators Harry Reid, Ted Kennedy, Barack
Obama, Hillary Clinton and Sam Brownback; representatives Mel Watt, Chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, Representatives Charles B. Rangel and "Grey's Anatomy" star Isaiah Washington.

The convention opens with a health symposium that will explore ways to mobilize black America around the HIV/AIDS crisis. A Health Advocacy Lunch will feature a screening of "Faces," a documentary by Bill Duke that explores the staggering rate of HIV/AIDS in the black community and features interviews with HIV/AIDS victims.

The luncheon will also feature Sheryl Lee Ralph's dramatic interpretation of "Sometimes I Cry" and Rae Lewis Thornton as the keynote speaker. On Tuesday, July 18, Dick Gregory will be the keynote speaker at the National Membership Luncheon.

As the NAACP continues its efforts to recruit younger members, the 70th anniversary of the NAACP Youth and College Division will be observed on Wednesday, July 19. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. will be the Roy Wilkins Youth Leadership Luncheon speaker.

The Youth Freedom Fund Awards Dinner is Wednesday night with Rep. Barbara Lee as guest speaker. Singers Leela James and Mario will be the featured entertainment at the Youth Freedom Fund Awards Dinner.

Brock also said an annual feature of recent conventions, the two-day NAACP Diversity Job Fair, will be held in the Program Information Exchange Center and is open to the public. Attendees can meet potential employers in the areas of sales, healthcare, finance, computer engineering, retail, restaurant and government.

"We expect about 8,000 people to attend our job fair," Brock said.

In addition, Brock added, there are a range of other convention highlights:

• ACT-SO (Academic Cultural Technical Science Olympics) competitions begin July 14 at the Hyatt Regency, Crystal City and culminate with an awards ceremony on July 16th at the Convention Center.
• Habitat for Humanity International will construct a new home inside the Convention Center and present the keys to a family left homeless by Hurricane Katrina. The home will be moved to Houston after the convention.
• New data on corporate America's financial relationship with the black community will be released through the unveiling of the Economic Reciprocity Initiative report cards. The NAACP and the National Association of Homebuilders will also release the groundbreaking housing report, "Building on a Dream."
• A "Knowledge is Power" workshop will provide NAACP members with information and tools to help reach the goal of increasing African American voter turnout in 2006 by 5 percent above the 2002 levels. The "411 on the 5-0" workshop will focus on ways to address police brutality.
• The "NCLB/Elementary and Secondary Education Act and School Accountability" workshop will examine accountability aspects of NCLB from the perspective of college preparedness, teacher quality and resource equity. The criminal justice workshop "Roadblocks to Re-Entry" will look at the social, financial and educational barriers to re-entry and the role of the community in assisting former felons re-entering the mainstream and reducing recidivism.

NAACP leaders say despite the busy agenda for next week’s convention, they will still focus heavily on the conference theme.

"Our annual conventions bring together committed civil rights activists from across the nation to re-charge their batteries and to learn new techniques in fighting old evils," NAACP National Board of Directors Chairman Julian Bond said in a statement.

"We'll stress the importance," he said, "of valuing our votes and will leave Washington determined to vote our values."

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Associated Press contributed to this story.