On the recordSeptember 7, 2017
I thank the gentlewoman for yielding another minute. Mr. Speaker, we should not be trying to limit students of color access to education, which the Justice Department is trying to do. Affirmative action is critical to mitigating discriminatory practices that prevent students of color from being admitted into the schools of their choice. Attorney General Sessions needs to back off of this. I tried to do this through an amendment to send that message. Of course, that amendment was not made in order. Congress can help, though, renew their faith in minority communities, and the minority communities can renew their faith in Congress by not accepting this Trump agenda and support clear policies that demonstrate to people of color that our lives also matter in America. Unfortunately, this spending bill does just the opposite. So I hope the Members will understand the message that we are sending to communities of color. I just mentioned a few of the cuts that have been put into this bill. I hope that we work to rectify the problems with it. It is past time to get back to regular order. It is past time to move each bill individually, also. It is past time to make strong investments in the American people, which include people of color. It is past time to help grow the economy and to create good-paying jobs for everyone. So, Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on the rule and ``no'' on the underlying bill. There is simply too much at stake.
