Racial Equity & Equal Justice for All
Americans were horrified in the summer of 2020 at the unjust killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and other Black Americans during encounters with police. These tragedies highlighted the deep-seated injustices that have long affected Black Americans and the denial of equal justice for all. Not only is our criminal justice system inequitable, but racial disparities continue to exist in many aspects of American life and our economy, including income, wealth distribution, housing, health care, and access to higher education. For too long this country has ignored the need to engage in real, serious policymaking focused on eliminating these disparities and ensuring that every American has an equal shot at “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” Democrats are continuing to make equity and reducing disparities a focus of our legislative and economic agenda. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law makes equitable investments to address long-ignored disparities that prevent underserved communities from reaching their full economic potential. These include expanding access to broadband for 42 million Americans who currently lack reliable Internet access, funding upgrades to our water infrastructure to ensure Americans have clean drinking water, addressing legacy pollution, and expanding reliable public transit to underserved communities. During the 117th Congress, history was made when the Emmett Till Antilynching Act was passed and signed into law. This long-overdue law designates lynching as a hate crime under federal law, ensuring the full force of the government is brought to prosecute these monstrous crimes that have terrorized the Black community for over a century. House Democrats also passed the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act in 2020 to root out racial biases in police departments and ban practices such as chokeholds and no-knock warrants. In the 118th Congress, Democrats will continue to we work with the Biden Administration to make equal justice, racial equity, and opportunity a reality for all Americans.
This week, I join in marking two important anniversaries that are milestones on our nation’s continuing march toward full equality for all.
Today, I was honored to join the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus at their forum to hear from stakeholders on how we can bring an end to violence against the transgender community.
Twenty years ago, the Million Man March raised the consciousness of our nation and made it clear that challenges affecting African Americans could not be ignored by policymakers in Washington.
I find Alabama’s decision to close thirty-one satellite offices where residents can obtain a driver’s license deeply disturbing in light of that state’s 2011 law requiring every voter to present a state-issued photo identification to prove eligibility to cast a ballot.
Twenty-five years ago, President George H. W. Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) into law.
I was proud to join in introducing the Equality Act today.
The Secretary of Defense's announcement that a working group will be established to study the implications of permitting transgender Americans to serve openly in our military is welcome news.
Mr. Speaker, there are days in this House when morality and the values of our country as articulated in the Declaration of Independence and in the Constitution of our country summons us to vote as Americans – as moral representatives and as representatives of the values of our country. Today is such a day, my colleagues.
Today, the Supreme Court recognized the fundamental right of every loving couple to marry and have those marriages recognized equally across our country.
Throughout the month of June, I join in celebrating LGBT Pride Month, an opportunity to honor the contributions gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender Americans have made to our communities, our country, and our world.