Democrats know there’s little chance the GOP-controlled Congress will pass bills to combat disparities, but pledge to keep pushing.
New hair laws protect people from race-based hair discrimination
Multiple states and cities across the US have proposed laws banning race-based hair discrimination policies in the workplace and schools.
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- Several Democratic lawmakers have introduced bills addressing disparities in healthcare, discrimination, and wage gaps.
- These bills face an uphill battle in the Republican-controlled Congress and are unlikely to be signed into law by President Trump.
- Despite the challenges, Democrats view these bills as a way to highlight their priorities and demonstrate commitment to their constituents.
WASHINGTON ‒ One bill aims to close the wage gap between men and women. Another wants to better protect voting rights. And one measure expands opportunities for more people of color to become doctors.
Some Democratic lawmakers, hoping to restore rights and protect people of diverse backgrounds, are supporting bills this Congress to address disparities in health care, combat discrimination and level the playing field for women and people of color.
None of them stands a chance of passing in the Republican-controlled Congress or getting signed into law by President Donald Trump, these lawmakers acknowledge, especially they say with the GOP push to eliminate diversity initiatives and roll back civil rights gains.
Still, some Democratic lawmakers of color and others continue to introduce bills, hoping the measures garner some attention or that history books will show they at least tried.
“Even though this is not the best administration or the best Congress to bring these things up, we can’t not bring them up,’’ said Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, a Democrat from New Jersey, who recently introduced a federal bill banning discrimination against hair textures and styles. “We will continue to raise those issues. If it’s this, if it’s the Voting Rights Act, if it’s maternal health care, whatever it is that impacts our community uniquely or disproportionately, we’re going to keep bringing them up until we get these things passed.’’
Bills are unlikely to pass, but are still worth pushing, Dems say
It’s the third time Watson Coleman has introduced the Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair or the CROWN Act, which prohibits discrimination in the workplace and schools based on hairstyles, such as cornrows and locs, often associated with racial groups. There are no House GOP sponsors. Cory Booker, a fellow Democrat from New Jersey, is a co-sponsor in the Senate. Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine is the lone GOP supporter.
Watson Coleman said it would be dishonest to say she expects this Congress to pass the bill.
“We’ve seen the Trump administration and the Trump Congress do all they can do through EOs (executive orders) proposals, policies and legislation to diminish the rights of individuals, particularly those of color and those most vulnerable,’’ she said.
Trump signed an executive order in January to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives across federal agencies. The administration has pushed businesses to do the same. Supporters said race or ethnicity should not be factors in hiring or promoting workers.
Critics of the anti-diversity campaign said the goal is to provide fair opportunities for everyone.
Here’s what some recent Democratic bills would do to restore protections and expand opportunities for women and people of color:
- The Expanding Medical Education Act, proposed by Sen. Alex Padilla of California and Tim Kaine of Virginia, would increase the number of students of color and those from rural communities in the pipeline to become physicians. It would provide grants for colleges to set up or expand medical schools in underserved communities.
- The John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, reintroduced by Rep. Terri Sewell of Alabama, would shore up federal voting rights protections. It would among other things restore a key provision of the 1965 Voting Rights Act that requires states with a history of discrimination to get federal approval before making election changes. It has repeatedly stalled in Congress.
- The Paycheck Fairness Act, introduced by Rep. Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut and Sen. Patty Murray of Washington, would address disparities in pay between men and women. Supporters said the bill would strengthen the Equal Pay Act of 1963. Among other things it calls for studies to eliminate pay disparities between men and women and provide more oversight and enforcement.
“We are in a cost of living crisis,” DeLauro said in a text, adding that she plans to continue pushing measures that help middle class, working class and vulnerable Americans.
DeLauro noted that one Republican has signed on, but she’s working to get more GOP support to pass the bill.
Watson Coleman said it matters that communities see that Democrats “keep fighting even in the midst of very daunting and disappointing and disruptive times, that we’re not going to fade into the woodwork.”
Democrat messaging for campaigns
For some Democratic lawmakers, introducing measures, even if only symbolic, is a chance to show constituents they’re working on issues important to them, said Jason Williams, professor of Justice Studies at Montclair State University in New Jersey.
“They get to show their base that they’re still fighting,” Williams said. “The base feels as if the Democrats have been really just sitting there and just allowing Trump and this administration to do whatever it wants to do and at the same time not even holding their own congressional colleagues accountable.”
It’s also important for Democrats to get Republicans on the record voting against priorities, such as Social Security, so they can use it against them, he said. “It gives them more ammo,” Williams said.
Introducing legislation is also a chance for Democrats to highlight their priorities, said Adolphus Belk Jr., a professor of political science and African American studies at Winthrop University in South Carolina.
Some measures, Belk said, may be a part their campaign strategy for midterm elections.
“It gives you something that you can run on and something you can work on if elected,” he said. “You do stuff now because you’re in session and you make your play.”
Earlier this month, Democratic leaders stood with Sewell at a press conference in the U.S. Capitol as she again touted the importance of a federal bill protecting voting rights.
“We know that we’re fighting an uphill battle, but what we know is that we can’t give up,” she said. “We can be mad, we can be upset, but we have to stay determined. If there’s anything that John Lewis and those foot soldiers taught us, taking a page from their playbook, is we have to be resolute.”
Contributing Sarah Wire