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.
“On Equal Pay Day, we note the unfair disparity that continues to undermine America’s role as a beacon of equality and equal opportunity.
"Yom HaShoah, the day of remembrance for the victims of the Holocaust, compels us to consider not only the nature of evil but the determination of people everywhere to triumph over it.
MESSAGE FROM THE DEMOCRATIC WHIP
This week, Republicans again did not take action to stop the reckless and irresponsible spending cuts known as the sequester. As warnings are issued about the potential harm these across-the-board cuts could cause, Republicans have refused to vote on House Democrats’ alternative to stop the sequester with a balanced approach to deficit reduction.
“I was honored to stand beside President Obama today as he signed into law the fully inclusive and bipartisan reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act. As a cosponsor of the original 1994 legislation, I am encouraged that Congress was able to come together to expand the Act’s protections for LGBT Americans, Native Americans, and immigrants.
“I think the senators that went obviously wanted to talk to the President about whether or not they could reach common ground on a lot of very important issues including most importantly a compromise that we could get this country on a fiscally sustainable path and have what we call a big deal
“Forty-eight years ago today, 600 courageous young men and women marched for civil rights and an end to voter suppression in Selma, Alabama. They were met with batons and hoses as they crossed the Edmund Pettus Bridge on their way to the State Capitol in Montgomery.
Today, House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD) and Rep. Peter King (R-NY) will reintroduce the Eunice Kennedy Shriver Act. The legislation, which passed the House in 2010 with broad bipartisan support and will be reintroduced later today, honors the legacy of Eunice Kennedy Shriver and supports people with intellectual disabilities and their families. The Eunice Kennedy Shriver Act would reauthorize the Special Olympics Sport and Empowerment Act and authorize the Department of Education to make grants to the Best Buddies organization to support the expansion and development of mentoring programs for people with intellectual disabilities.
MESSAGE FROM THE DEMOCRATIC WHIP
Today the irrational spending cuts known as the sequester took effect after House Republicans refused to take action. These extreme and irrational across-the-board spending cuts could have a devastating effect on our economy and national security, harming international and domestic programs that effect our seniors, children, business owners, veterans and military personnel.
Today, House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer joined 212 House and Senate Democrats in filing an amicus brief in the United States Supreme Court in U.S. v. Edith Schlain Windsor, which challenges Section 3 of the discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act.
"I am proud to join in marking Women’s History Month 2013, when we recall the courage and determination of those who have fought for women’s equality and celebrate the many critical contributions women have made to our nation. This year, we observe the centennial of the 1913 National Women’s Suffrage Parade in Washington, which saw 5,000 women raise their voices to demand their equal right to vote.