[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 285 Introduced in House (IH)]






109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 285

  Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding the 
 ongoing need to provide every qualified American with equal access to 
      opportunity in education, business, and employment and the 
indispensability of Affirmative action programs in securing such equal 
                                access.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 17, 2005

  Mr. Davis of Illinois submitted the following resolution; which was 
   referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, and in 
    addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be 
subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration 
  of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee 
                               concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding the 
 ongoing need to provide every qualified American with equal access to 
      opportunity in education, business, and employment and the 
indispensability of Affirmative action programs in securing such equal 
                                access.

Whereas despite the progress which has been made in the past forty years 
        ensuring equal opportunity for African Americans, Latinos, Asian Pacific 
        Americans, Native Americans, persons with disabilities, and women, equal 
        opportunity in education, business, and employment remains elusive for 
        the great mass of members of these groups;
Whereas as a result of the lack of equal opportunity many, perhaps a majority 
        of, Americans are denied their fair share of business opportunity, 
        receive unequal pay, find their career paths capped, and are excluded or 
        underrepresented in certain fields of training or education;
Whereas when women, minorities, and persons with disabilities are denied full 
        access to educational and economic opportunity, all America suffers from 
        the loss of these discarded and suppressed talents, contributions, 
        leadership, and insights;
Whereas the notion of equal opportunity flows directly from the Declaration of 
        Independence and the Constitution and is part of our most deeply 
        embedded American values, and Affirmative action programs arise from, 
        and are consistent with, the need to proactively extend equal 
        opportunity through our public and private institutions;
Whereas the American experience has taught us that no group will, or should, 
        accept anything less than full and equal access to educational, 
        business, and employment opportunity and that the denial of such 
        opportunity on the basis of race, ethnicity, gender, or disability 
        undermines our national unity, rends the political and social fabric of 
        our Nation, and distorts and mutates democracy and government;
Whereas Affirmative action is a tool, or set of tools, for overcoming the 
        remnants of prejudice and bias and for achieving fairness and equal 
        opportunity, which provide qualified minorities, disabled persons, and 
        women that equal opportunity, without quotas, without denying fairness 
        and equal opportunity to any other groups or individuals; and
Whereas Affirmative action rejects simplistic notions of ranking on merit, 
        recognizes that there is no single test or measure of merit, and seeks 
        to capitalize on the strengths of our diversity of being, and our 
        diversity of experience: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, 

SECTION 1. EQUALITY OF OPPORTUNITY IS, AND OUGHT TO BE, THE LAW OF THE 
              LAND.

    It is the sense of the House of Representatives that the Attorney 
General of the United States should undertake to protect and expand 
equality of opportunity for qualified minorities, disabled persons, and 
women at every opportunity.

SEC. 2. AFFIRMATIVE ACTION IS CONSISTENT WITH, AND NECESSARY FOR, 
              ACHIEVING EQUALITY OF OPPORTUNITY.

    It is the sense of the House of Representatives that--
            (1) America still faces significant challenges with 
        achieving equal opportunity for qualified minorities, disabled 
        persons, and women;
            (2) Affirmative action is a powerful, effective, and at 
        this stage of our development as a nation, necessary, tool for 
        achieving such equal opportunity without quotas and should be 
        utilized in the public and private sectors to increase 
        diversity and correct patterns of past and current 
        discrimination; and
            (3) the laws of the United States shall be construed to 
        recognize Congress's intent to incorporate Affirmative action 
        so as to maximize equal opportunity for qualified minorities, 
        disabled persons, and women.

SEC. 3. THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES SHALL PROMOTE AFFIRMATIVE 
              ACTION IN ALL EXECUTIVE ACTIONS AND PROGRAMS.

    It is the sense of the House of Representatives that the President 
of the United States shall incorporate Affirmative action into the 
employment, contracting, granting, educational, and program activities 
of the United States and all its subcontractors and grantees.
                                 <all>