House Passes Walberg Amendment Prohibiting "Affirmative Action For Roads"

Press Release

HOUSE PASSES WALBERG AMENDMENT PROHIBITING "AFFIRMATIVE ACTION FOR ROADS"

U.S. Congressman Tim Walberg (R-MI) offered an amendment last night during debate on the Departments of Transportation and Housing and Urban Development appropriations bill that would prohibit funding in the bill from being used to discriminate based on race, ethnicity or sex.

Walberg's amendment passed the House.

Walberg delivered the following speech on his amendment during debate on the House floor:

"I come to the floor today to pose an important question to this House: Do we really need affirmative action for roads?

"Today, I am offering an amendment to the transportation bill we are currently debating that would stipulate no funding in this bill may be used by the Department of Transportation to discriminate based on race, ethnicity or sex.

"Though this policy may be motivated by good intention, I agree with Justice Clarence Thomas about the DOT's Affirmative Action programs, ‘The paternalism that appears to lie at the heart of this program is at war with the principle of inherent equality that underlies and infuses our Constitution.'

"Last fall, in my home state, Michiganders voted overwhelmingly, 58 percent to 42 percent, in favor of amending our state constitution to outlaw racial preferences in public education, employment and contracting.

"Like my constituents in south-central Michigan, I oppose any and all forms of discrimination, but I also support nondiscrimination -- the practice or policy of refraining from discrimination.

"My support of nondiscrimination compels me to state on this floor that every American deserves equal treatment when competing for business contracts, and our federal government should treat all applicants for such contracts on an equal basis.

"The federal government should never view any American as part of a group, rather than as an individual.

"By granting the Department of Transportation the ability to discriminate based on race or sex, this House would essentially create Affirmative Action for our nation's highways.

"I urge my colleagues to support my amendment and ensure that all American businesses competing for public works projects are given a fair, nondiscriminatory opportunity."

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