[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 103 (Thursday, June 22, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H6210]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                AMERICA IS NOT YET A COLOR-BLIND SOCIETY

  (Mr. FLAKE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. FLAKE. Mr. Speaker, let me be the first today to welcome all of 
our colleagues to the new colorblind society. Mr. Speaker, the Speaker 
himself has said just as late as last week that we were not there yet, 
but we are. Let us just put down all the weapons we used to get here to 
the promised land of equality and cooperation.
  Mr. Speaker, what are the signs that we are here in this land of milk 
and honey? The Supreme Court last week in the Adarand decision told us, 
and today in the Committee on Banking and Financial Services, we will 
put yet another nail in the coffin of inequality in fair housing and 
lending.
  News flash, we are not there yet. By taking one of the best weapons 
we have away from the Attorney General to use testers, qualified 
minority and nonminority applicants who root out bigotry and 
discrimination in housing, we have taken a bad detour back to the past.
  Shame on those who falsely welcome us to this color-blind America. We 
are not there yet, Mr. Speaker. Only last week U.S.A. Today reported 
that there is still discrimination in housing in this land. There is 
still discrimination in fair lending practices. Mr. Speaker, let us 
move toward a color-blind society, but we are not there yet.


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