[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 118 (Thursday, July 20, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H7264]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           AFFIRMATIVE ACTION

  (Mrs. CLAYTON asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mrs. CLAYTON. Mr. Speaker, I want to commend President Clinton for 
his eloquent, thoughtful, and perceptive statement on a very sensitive 
and difficult subject--affirmative action.
  The President outlined an approach to this issue which not only 
conforms to the state of the law, including the Adarand case, but takes 
into account the muddied history of discrimination in this Nation, and 
takes into account the concerns that some have raised about affirmative 
action.
  I agree with the President that fraud and abuse, fronts and pass-
throughs, in affirmative action programs should not and will not be 
tolerated.
  I also agree with the President that reverse discrimination, quotas, 
and promoting unqualified individuals has no place in our society.
  The President's words went a long way to begin the important process 
of healing in America--urging us to ``reach beyond our fears and our 
divisions''.
  The President pointed out that, ``When affirmative action is done 
right, it is flexible, it is fair, and it works.''
  While we begin to debate the issues surrounding affirmative action we 
must not get caught up in the political rhetoric and fervor that plays 
on fears and insecurities. We must focus on the realities and the 
meaningful, productive, work left to be done.

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