[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 153 (Wednesday, November 5, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H9997]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1015
      CONGRATULATIONS, HOUSTON, FOR SUPPORTING AFFIRMATIVE ACTION

  (Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I am very proud this morning 
to announce that the citizens of Houston, TX, are decent people. 
Resoundingly, yesterday they defeated a clone of proposition 209 out of 
California, and they proclaimed their commitment to affirmative action 
and equal opportunity for all. They rejected a referendum to deny the 
city of Houston the opportunity to implement affirmative action.
  With congratulations to local elected officials and all of us who 
worked very hard, but most of all congratulations to the citizens of 
Houston, who understood what affirmative action is. It does not take 
away from someone else and give to another unfairly, it simply opens 
the door of opportunity for someone equally qualified.
  To the Canady legislation to be marked up in the Committee on the 
Judiciary, be forewarned, the people of America are saying that equal 
opportunity is what we believe in and what this country stands for. We 
will fight all the way to maintain the opportunity for all citizens. 
Thank you, Houston, for standing for what America truly believes in, 
and that is equal opportunity and access for all of us, through an 
effort to defeat discriminatory practices by the use of affirmative 
action.

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