Photo by Kyle Gustafson / www.photokyle.com.

It was a happy Friday indeed for District voting rights activists, as President Barack Obama finally offered his public support for the D.C. House Voting Rights Act, urging the House of Representatives to pass the bill, days before it is scheduled to be brought back to the floor.

Mayor Adrian Fenty released a statement this morning thanking Obama for his support. Just like the President, the Mayor avoided mentioning anything about the controversial gun amendment which stalled the legislation last summer, and continues to threaten its passage this go around. Despite all of the optimism associated with getting the President’s verbal support, the rider tacked on to the bill by Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.) — which would repeal several of the District’s regulations on semiautomatic guns, registration issues, handgun ammunition and carrying outside the home — will be a very high mountain to climb in the House. Not to mention the filibuster from Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Ut.) that likely awaits the bill if it does make its way to the Senate.

Fenty’s complete statement below:

It is with great pride and gratitude that I thank President Obama for his outstanding leadership and support of voting rights for the 600,000 citizens of the District. For over a century residents have gone without congressional representation, but in the coming days we look forward to working with our congressional partners to ensure a swift passage of the DC Voting Rights Bill.