William Helms: “the last of these bills is entitled the Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1999. Specifically, this legislation prevents…”

“the last of these bills is entitled the Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1999. Specifically, this legislation prevents Federal agencies, and the Federal courts, from interpreting Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to allow an employer to grant preferential treatment in employment to any group or individual on account of race. This proposal prohibits the use of racial quotas once and for all. During the past several years, almost every member of the Senate--and the President of the United States--have proclaimed that they are opposed to quotas. This bill will give Senators an opportunity to reinforce their statements by voting in a roll call vote against quotas. Mr. President, this legislation emphasizes that from here on out, employers must hire on a race neutral basis. They can reach out into the community to the disadvantaged and they can even have businesses with 80 percent or 90 percent minority workforces as long as the motivating factor in employment is not race. This bill clarifies section 703(j) of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to make it consistent with the intent of its authors, Hubert Humphrey and Everett Dirksen.”