Congress to review affirmative action

HR Magazine, April, 1995

President Clinton has ordered an "intense, urgent review" of all aspects of the federal government's affirmative action programs. Clinton's order comes as a response to a call from the Republicans in Congress to examine the impact of affirmative action on the workforce and whether government-sanctioned affirmative action programs need to be reformed.

Senate Majority Leader Robert Dole, R-Kan., commissioned the Congressional Research Service to conduct a study on affirmative action. Sen. Dole has concerns that affirmative action may prevent the best qualified person from getting a job in today's work environment. Sen. Jesse Helms, R-N.C., recently introduced the Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1995. The legislation would amend the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to make preferential treatment an unlawful employment practice.

Sen. Bill Bradley, D-N.J., said that the Democrats need to alter the debate and that Republicans are confusing the term "affirmative action" and using it as a synonym for reverse discrimination and preferential treatment. Affirmative action, Bradley says, is a policy that all employers should follow to find and encourage the best qualified minority and female job applicants.