Strength in Diversity Act of 2019

Floor Speech

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Mr. GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman, Ms. Fudge, for allowing me the time. I acknowledge Mr. Scott for the outstanding work that he has done on this legislation, among many other pieces of legislation.

This amendment deals with the entry exams that fail the diversity test at many elite schools-- elite schools, by the way, that are funded with tax dollars that come from poor communities, elite schools that can accept tax dollars but cannot accept the students who are from communities that are affording the schools the tax dollars.

The amendment reads: If applicable--meaning if you haven't done it already--develop an implementation plan to replace entrance exams or other competitive application procedures with methods of student assignments to promote racial and socioeconomic diversity.

This amendment does deal with minorities, but it also deals with other persons who happen to be disadvantaged. Mr. Speaker, that is another way of saying poor White people. They, too, suffer from disadvantages associated with the elite tests that can fail even some of the best that come from schools that have little resources.

I believe that if this amendment is passed, this amendment is going to encourage schools to do what John Lewis would call the right thing, the just thing, the fair thing.

Mr. Speaker, I support the amendment and beg that my colleagues would support it as well.

Ms. FOXX of North Carolina.

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