IV 
108TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 32
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding the ongoing 
need to provide every qualified American with equal access to opportunity 
in education, business, and employment and the indispensability of Af-
firmative action programs in securing such equal access. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 27, 2003
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois (for himself, Mr. REYES, Mr. TOWNS, Mr. FILNER, Mr. 
RUSH, Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida, Mr. JACKSON of Illinois, Ms. 
NORTON, Mr. HASTINGS of Florida, Mr. RODRIGUEZ, Mr. JEFFERSON, 
Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas, Mr. MEEKS of New York, Ms. LEE, Mr. 
GRIJALVA, Mr. FROST, Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas, Mr. 
SERRANO, Mr. MCDERMOTT, Mr. WEXLER, Mr. PAYNE, Mr. BRADY of 
Pennsylvania, Ms. CARSON of Indiana, Mr. FATTAH, Ms. WATSON, Mr. 
PRICE of North Carolina, Ms. MILLENDER-MCDONALD, Mr. MEEK of 
Florida, Mr. WYNN, Mr. GEPHARDT, Ms. WOOLSEY, Mr. DAVIS of Ala-
bama, Mr. RANGEL, Mrs. CHRISTENSEN, Mr. CUMMINGS, Mr. ABER-
CROMBIE, Mr. BROWN of Ohio, Mr. BISHOP of New York, Mr. MCGOV-
ERN, Mr. CAPUANO, Mr. LAMPSON, Mrs. LOWEY, Mr. THOMPSON of Mis-
sissippi, and Mr. OWENS) submitted the following resolution; which was 
referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, and in addi-
tion to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently 
determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provi-
sions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
RESOLUTION 
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regard-
ing the ongoing need to provide every qualified American 
with equal access to opportunity in education, business, 
and employment and the indispensability of Affirmative 
action programs in securing such equal access.
•HRES 32 IH 
Whereas despite the progress which has been made in the 
past forty years ensuring equal opportunity for African 
Americans, Latinos, Asian Pacific Americans, Native 
Americans, persons with disabilities, and women, equal 
opportunity in education, business, and employment re-
mains elusive for the great mass of members of these 
groups; 
Whereas as a result of the lack of equal opportunity many, 
perhaps a majority of, Americans are denied their fair 
share of business opportunity, receive unequal pay, find 
their career paths capped, and are excluded or underrep-
resented in certain fields of training or education; 
Whereas when women, minorities, and persons with disabil-
ities are denied full access to educational and economic 
opportunity, all America suffers from the loss of these 
discarded and suppressed talents, contributions, leader-
ship, and insights; 
Whereas the notion of equal opportunity flows directly from 
the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution 
and is part of our most deeply embedded American val-
ues, and Affirmative action programs arise from, and are 
consistent with, the need to proactively extend equal op-
portunity through our public and private institutions; 
Whereas the American experience has taught us that no 
group will, or should, accept anything less than full and 
equal access to educational, business, and employment 
opportunity and that the denial of such opportunity on 
the basis of race, ethnicity, gender, or disability under-
mines our national unity, rends the political and social 
fabric of our Nation, and distorts and mutates democracy 
and government;
•HRES 32 IH 
Whereas Affirmative action is a tool, or set of tools, for over-
coming the remnants of prejudice and bias and for 
achieving fairness and equal opportunity, which provide 
qualified minorities, disabled persons, and women that 
equal opportunity, without quotas, without denying fair-
ness and equal opportunity to any other groups or indi-
viduals; and 
Whereas Affirmative action rejects simplistic notions of rank-
ing on merit, recognizes that there is no single test or 
measure of merit, and seeks to capitalize on the strengths 
of our diversity of being, and our diversity of experience: 
Now, therefore, be it
Resolved,
SECTION 1. EQUALITY OF OPPORTUNITY IS, AND OUGHT 
TO BE, THE LAW OF THE LAND. 
It is the sense of the House of Representatives that 
the Attorney General of the United States should under-
take to protect and expand equality of opportunity for 
qualified minorities, disabled persons, and women at every 
opportunity. 
SEC. 2. AFFIRMATIVE ACTION IS CONSISTENT WITH, AND 
NECESSARY FOR, ACHIEVING EQUALITY OF 
OPPORTUNITY. 
It is the sense of the House of Representatives that—
(1) America still faces significant challenges 
with achieving equal opportunity for qualified mi-
norities, disabled persons, and women;
•HRES 32 IH 
(2) Affirmative action is a powerful, effective, 
and at this stage of our development as a nation, 
necessary, tool for achieving such equal opportunity 
without quotas and should be utilized in the public 
and private sectors to increase diversity and correct 
patterns of past and current discrimination; and 
(3) the laws of the United States shall be con-
strued to recognize Congress’s intent to incorporate 
Affirmative action so as to maximize equal oppor-
tunity for qualified minorities, disabled persons, and 
women. 
SEC. 3. THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES SHALL 
PROMOTE AFFIRMATIVE ACTION IN ALL EX-
ECUTIVE ACTIONS AND PROGRAMS. 
It is the sense of the House of Representatives that 
the President of the United States shall incorporate Af-
firmative action into the employment, contracting, grant-
ing, educational, and program activities of the United 
States and all its subcontractors and grantees.
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