As President Bill Clinton was defending the use of affirmative
action in college admissions, members of Congress rolled out a plan to
abolish such preferences in the awarding of government funds.
Two Republicans on June 17 introduced legislation to end all race
and gender preferences used by the federal government for contracting,
employment and other programs. The bill, the Civil Rights Act of 1997,
was proposed by Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Rep. Charles Canady
(R-Fla.).
“It recognizes that the way to mend affirmative action is by
eliminating the divisive system of preferences on race and gender,”
Canady said. Instead, the congressman would rely on “vigorous and
systematic” outreach, recruitment and marketing efforts.
The bill is “based on the belief that we will never overcome
discrimination by practicing discrimination,” he said. “This
legislation is based on the conviction that the system of race and
gender preferences is an insult to the dignity of all Americans.”
The bill also would prohibit the federal government from requiring
or encouraging contractors, subcontractors and other recipients of
federal funds from using race and gender preferences. However, the
legislation exempts historically Black colleges and universities and
Indian tribes.
Democratic leaders criticized the plan and vowed to fight it.
“Unlike the president who has chosen to lead us down a path toward
racial reconciliation, once again Republicans in Congress have chosen
to take the hackneyed and politically expedient path of exploiting
racial division,” said House Minority Leader Richard Gephardt (D-Mo.).
