CHC Chair Statement Denouncing Supreme Court’s Decision on Affirmative Action

IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 

CHC Communications | Brian Garcia | brian.garcia3@mail.house.gov

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Nanette Barragán issued a statement on the Supreme Court’s decision on Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard and Students for Fair Admissions v. University of North Carolina, which overturns the Court’s long-standing support for affirmative action in higher education.

“Today’s ruling by the Supreme Court dismantles more than 40 years of precedent to increase representation for marginalized groups in university and college campuses, erasing decades of progress,” said Chair Barragán. “Race-conscious admission policies that allow universities to consider race as one of several factors in the admissions process are a critical and much-needed component to address systemic inequalities and foster diversity. It benefits the entire student body by enriching college experiences and better preparing students to enter their professions. Today’s decision will only benefit the wealthy and well-connected at the expense of marginalized communities and exacerbate barriers students of color face on their path to attaining an education. In California, we saw Latino student admissions drop by half at some of the top-state universities when race-conscious admissions were barred – leading to severely disproportionate representation of the largest minority group in the state at our top schools. Now vulnerable students across the country will be subjected to similar additional hurdles. Affirmative action assures that all of our students are exposed to multi-ethnic, multi-cultural, diverse learning environments that reflect the realities of the global workforce and society that our universities are preparing them to enter. The CHC will remain committed to leveling the playing field for marginalized groups and promoting the principals of equality.” 

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