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E1360 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks June 26, 2003 CBC SPECIAL ORDER ON Along with Reverend Jackson, and many fifty-year old executive directive to end seg- AFFIRMATIVE ACTION others, I was at the Supreme Court the day regation in the military. when this case was heard. I was very proud Again, these retired military officers, like to speak to the thousands and thousands of their business counterparts, stressed that af- HON. BARBARA LEE young people led by the Michigan students firmative action is essential to the success of OF CALIFORNIA and BAM who had come to Washington from their mission. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES all over the country to protest the effort to Diversity is a critical component of our de- eliminate affirmative action. mocracy as well. That is why I joined my Wednesday, June 25, 2003 Believe me, I see a new sense of energy and congressional colleagues, led by Michigan Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank our involvement by our young people, and as Congressman John Conyers, ranking member adults we must support their organization of the Judiciary Committee and long a war- CBC Chairman, ELIJAH CUMMINGS, for holding efforts. Thank God, they are preparing them- rior in the fight for civil rights, in submit- this special order. I wish to contribute this selves to take over the world. This victory ting our own amicus brief to the Court. evening by inserting into the RECORD the fol- speaks volumes to their efforts. We asked the Court to recognize the edu- lowing speech which I delivered on Monday I was sitting in the audience when Solic- cational and political benefits of diversity; June 23, 2003 at the Rainbow Push Coalition itor General Ted Olson, the Administration’s to uphold the use of race as one factor and the Citizen Education Fund’s Women’s attorney, passionately argued against af- among others that can be considered in gov- Luncheon in Chicago. firmative action, declaring that the Univer- ernment decision-making; and to reaffirm that the role of race in this decision making Thank you very much for that kind intro- sity of Michigan—and by implication all is not limited to remedying specific in- duction and thank you for inviting me here other universities and institutions—should stances of identified discrimination. today. I want to acknowledge and thank use race-neutral means for its admissions. I thought how sad it was to witness our The fact is we don’t have a level playing Reverend Jesse Jackson for staying the own government arguing against the inter- field in this country. course, for continuing to speak truth to ests of so many of its own people. People of color and women earn less power and for your friendship and support I would suggest race-neutral admissions money, own fewer assets, and enjoy less ac- throughout the years. I want to thank you would be fine—just as soon as this becomes a cess to the nation’s elite institutions. Afri- for the act of courage Award presented to me race-neutral country. And not a day sooner. can American unemployment is twice as last year in Los Angeles. Believe me, the in- In upholding the University of Michigan high as that of whites. spiration and encouragement that I have re- law school’s affirmative action program, Affirmative action is still necessary, not ceived from you during very difficult and race will continue to be a critical component just in the interests of minorities but in the challenging times has given me strength. in achieving parity and equal opportunity interests of the country as a whole. Reverend Barrons, your guidance spirit for all. We must be the active watchdogs This decision upholds justice, access, and and commitment has touched my life. To over this decision and how it is implemented. fair play. Let me tell you what has happened Mrs. Jacqueline Jackson, thank you for your I was there when Justice Scalia told the in my home state of California. leadership and for being an exemplary role University of Michigan that it had a choice: In California, we have seen the devastating model for women. You are our first lady and it could either be an elite, first-rate school effects of the assault on affirmative action. we are so proud. or it could lower its standards and pursue ra- When I was in the state legislature, I fought To the entire Rainbow PUSH family, your cial diversity. tooth and nail against efforts to end affirma- commitment to work for justice and peace How sinister—and wrong—can you get? tive action. has shown the world ‘‘a better way.’’ You Justice Scalia was, in fact, offering a false Reverend Jackson and the Rainbow Coali- continue to fight to make the American dichotomy: in reality, you cannot be a top- tion not only stood with us, they actively op- dream a reality, not just for the select few flight university without diversity. posed Prop 209 by marching, engaging in but for ‘‘all God’s children.’’ While that fact eludes the Bush Adminis- peaceful protests, and organizing. I also want to acknowledge the many tration, it does not escape corporate Amer- All the ‘‘street heat’’ that could be brought elected officials, members of the clergy, and ica, the military, or many members of Con- to bear, Reverend Jackson helped bring it. community leaders, and phenomenal women gress, all of whom voiced their support for During those years, I was chair of the Cali- here today and to acknowledge everyone who the University of Michigan and the principle fornia Legislature Black Caucus, and we de- is part of the struggle to compel our nation of affirmative action. feated each and every anti-affirmative ac- to live up to its own promises of liberty and Sixty-five major businesses, all Fortune tion legislative measure that then Governor justice for all. And in the memory of our 500 companies, submitted a brief as a friend Pete Wilson wanted to sign into law. fallen hero Mayor Maynard Jackson, let us to the court on this case. But a member of the University of Cali- rededicate ourselves to our work for polit- These global businesses have annual reve- fornia Board of Regents, and African Amer- ical, social and economic justice. nues of over a trillion dollars. ican, yes, a brother, well, I should say, a Today, the Supreme Court issued a deci- As employers, they are deeply interested in black man, Ward Connely, led the ballot ini- sion on a monumental affirmative action this case because they recognize, and I quote tiative to end Affirmative Action. case. This morning the Supreme Court re- here from their brief, ‘‘the existence of racial These efforts resulted in a state constitu- jected the Bush Administration’s efforts to and ethnic diversity in institutions of higher tional amendment and action by the Board eliminate affirmative action as we know it. education is vital to [our] efforts to hire and of Regents to end affirmative action on all I say monumental because this judgment maintain a diverse workforce, and to employ campuses. will echo far beyond the boundaries of the individuals who have been educated and So, while we won in the legislature, misin- University of Michigan and far beyond the trained in a diverse environment.’’ formation and prejudice helped carry the day realm of higher education. Affirmative action, these corporate giants at the polls when California voters passed We are still studying the Court’s ruling to explained, does not only benefit minorities Proposition 209 in 1996. understand its ramifications; however, the or the economically disadvantaged: affirma- That initiative eliminated affirmative ac- Supreme Court did uphold affirmative action tive action benefits everyone by offering tion programs for women and people of color and that is a clear defeat for the Bush Ad- cross-cultural experience and understanding. run by state or local governments in the ministration. This decision is a testament to Without that interaction, they argued, we areas of public employment, contracting, the broad mobilization to defend civil rights, all suffer, and without such a workforce, and education. it validates the ‘‘power of the people’’ and these companies will be hard-pressed to com- California and some other states have tried the legality of affirmative action and re- pete in the global business environment. to create alternatives to affirmative action, quires us to be vigilant as we move forward. Those same views were echoed by many of but these alternatives depend on and rein- Many of you, including myself, are proud the highest ranking retired military officers force residential segregation and fall short products of affirmative action. We are duty- in this country, including former Chiefs of in other ways. They just don’t work. Now, bound to protect it. Staff, former Secretaries of Defense, General very few minority and women owned busi- This is one of the most important civil Norman Schwarzkopf, and other decorated nesses have state contracts, and very few are rights cases in the last quarter century. Af- veterans representing all four service employed in key positions. firmative action is still necessary, not just branches. Alumni legacies—such as those President in the interests of people of color, but in the They wrote the court, ‘‘Based on decades of Bush undoubtedly benefited from when he interests of women and country as a whole. experience, [we] have concluded that a high- was admitted to Yale with an exceedingly What was at stake here is the University of ly qualified, racially diverse officer corps’’ is mediocre academic record, to say the least— Michigan’s attempts to create a classroom ‘‘essential to the military’s ability to fulfill combined with emphasis on test scores that that reflects the diversity of this country as its principal mission to provide national se- favor both white applicants and the economi- well as its persistent economic inequalities.