Josh Brecheen: “Diversity, equity, and inclusion is antimerit. It is designed to exclude people from opportunities they might otherwise…”

“Diversity, equity, and inclusion is antimerit. It is designed to exclude people from opportunities they might otherwise receive through merit, but it is replaced by, through DEI, melanin percentage or sexual preference. America promises equality of opportunity and fair treatment, but we have to ask ourselves: Are we betraying our values by encouraging discrimination against people who have a fairer complexion at the same time? This amendment adds a commonsense DEI prohibition like others that we have seen in appropriation bills that we have advanced. Each of the departments and agencies we are funding, we see the DEI initiative and the involvement. For instance, the Department of the Interior has a DEI office and DEI officers who train their staff on how to be racist toward White people. The National Endowment for the Arts has an equity officer, Nicole Phillips, whose job is dedicated to advancing racism. This shouldn't be. Congress has the power of the purse under Article I, Section 9, Clause 7. We need to exercise it and stop blatant racism. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.”