[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 26 (Thursday, March 12, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E363]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              GOVERNOR WILSON ABOLISHES AFFIRMATIVE ACTION

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                            HON. RON PACKARD

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 12, 1998

  Mr. PACKARD. Mr. Speaker, yesterday California Governor Pete Wilson 
issued an executive order that institutes a provision of State 
Proposition 209 which abolishes affirmative action. I commend Governor 
Wilson for his commitment to abolishing policies that favor any group 
for reasons other than merit.
  This has been an uphill battle for Governor Wilson. California voters 
passed Proposition 209 in 1996, yet officials were unable to enforce 
the measure because of a clause in the State Constitution that requires 
agencies to continue to enforce affirmative action programs until they 
are negated by an appellate court decision.
  Last fall, a federal court ruled that any law mandating that state 
contractors favor companies owned by minorities or women is 
unconstitutional. After contemplating a request to reconsider this 
decision, the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the federal 
court ruling earlier this week, giving Governor Wilson the go-ahead to 
issue his executive order.
  Mr. Speaker, Governor Wilson's order paves the road for other states 
looking to abolish affirmative action programs and allows us to turn 
our attention to the federal level. Congressman Charles Canady (R-FL) 
has introduced H.R. 1909, the Civil Rights Act of 1997. This bill 
provides equal protection of the law and prohibits discrimination and 
preferential treatment on the basis of race, color, national origin, or 
sex in federal actions.
  I urge my colleagues to take a close look at this legislation. Mr. 
Speaker, it is time for us to follow California's lead and reward 
individual's based on their merit, not quotas.




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