Mr. Chair, once again, it appears my colleagues fail to understand what critical race theory is. Critical race theory helps us understand the past, while DEI, as they have often been against, helps us chart the path forward to acknowledge and rectify the systemic racism that still shapes the present. Let's not conflate or confuse the two. Let me reiterate: Critical race theory is simply an academic and legal framework to recognize that systemic racism is part of our Nation's history. Yes, that is hard to hear, but sadly that is absolutely the fact and the case. Systemic racism continues, quite frankly, to affect our society and individuals in it to this very day. These are hard truths for my colleagues that cannot bear to hear it. However, there is no other way to explain the compromise enshrined for almost 80 years in our Constitution that count slaves as three- fifths of a person to determine matters like the number of seats allotted to States for this very body, the House of Representatives. There is no other way to explain the Chinese Exclusion Act or the Asian Exclusion Act, which banned immigration of Asian people to this country for decades.…
Share & report
More from Jill Tokuda
Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote. The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from Colorado will be postponed. Amendment No. 49 Offered by Mr. Mills The Acting…
Mr. Chair, I yield myself the balance of my time to close. First of all, let's be clear here. As we previously heard, we are not talking about DEI, which, once again, this is an obsession of the far right in this particular body. I will…
Thank you, Chair, members of the Federal Lands Subcommittee, thank you for including H.R. 8219, my Lahaina National Heritage Area Act, in today's hearing, and mahalo for the opportunity to speak in support of this important bill.
I also would like to thank my colleagues who co-sponsored this bill, especially members of this Natural Resources Committee, including Ranking Member Neguse.





