Harmful GOP Bill Would Ban Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Initiatives Across Federal Government, Fire Civil Servants, and Ban Funding for Equity Focused Organizations

Video (YouTube)

WASHINGTON – In a House Oversight Committee markup, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) sharply criticized Republicans for advancing the “Dismantling DEI Act,” a misleading, harmful, and poorly-drafted bill that would terminate diversity, equity, and inclusion programming across the federal government, fire civil servants at federal agencies, prohibit them from future federal employment, and ban funding for any institutions or organizations who engage in diversity and equity work.

During debate about the bill, Congresswoman Pressley delivered an impassioned defense of diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives and outlined America’s long history of systemic racism that makes these initiatives so necessary.

During the markup, Rep. Pressley introduced an amendment to the bill to exempt Historically Black Colleges and Universities from the legislation’s federal funding ban. The amendment was adopted unanimously.

A full transcript of her remarks is available below, and the full video is available here.

Transcript: Pressley Spars With Republicans Over Harmful “Anti-DEI” Legislation
House Oversight Committee
November 20, 2024

Thank you. This bill, titled The Dismantling DEI Act, is an utter disgrace.

Having sat and read the text in preparation for today’s markup, I have yet another example to tell my constituents about the unserious work of the Republican Party.

Now, I’ll work with anyone serious about progress who wants to center the people who call this country home. This isn’t it.

The Committee on Oversight has the broadest jurisdiction in the entire House of Representatives to investigate any topic it chooses.

But we are debating legislation that denies the sky is blue, water is wet, and racism is real.

The major provision of the bill says to ban anything that acknowledges racism.

And a few pages later, in the exact same bill, there are multiple provisions discussing the presence of racism.

This Republican approach is as predictable as it is nonsensical.

On one hand, they’re saying that racism does not exist.

On the other hand, they are saying there is rampant reverse racism.

Well, how do you reverse something that never existed in the first place? Riddle me that.

While this Republican policy may have a new name, it’s the same old tired game.

Look, y’all are entitled to your opinions, but not a denial of the facts.

Do you all know your history? Do you know American history?

The original Constitution counted enslaved individuals as 3/5 of a person.

During World War II, the federal government forcibly relocated and incarcerated 110,000 Japanese Americans.

The FHA practiced redlining in the 1930’s and 60’s to deny mortgages to Black Americans, which is why we have a racial wealth gap today.

I could go on, the GI Bill, which is supposed to be race neutral denied access to Black Americans, denying them equal access to education and housing benefits, which is why we do not have generational wealth.

Don’t talk to me about merit when those Black servicemen fought for our freedoms.

And I’d also just like to take a personal note of privilege to say, please keep Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s name out of your mouths.

Your perversion of his words and his mission when his children have asked you to stop invoking his name and perverting his work when he was a proud and unapologetic Black man fighting for equality for Black Americans and all marginalized people.

So you all are entitled to your opinions, but not a denial of the facts.

But I’m not surprised that you would deny American history.

What I am, though, is committed.

Committed to speaking truth to power.

Committed to standing up for marginalized communities and vulnerable people.

Committed to ensuring that everyone has equal opportunity to buy a house, to work a job, to pursue higher education and to live in a society that is fair and just.

A colleague across the aisle invoked the phrase of we must do everything to stop government sponsored oppression.

Well, I just enumerated numerous examples, which is exactly why we have legislation and an executive order to reverse this harm, and that is why I’m committed to opposing this bill and urge my colleagues to do the same.

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