At the expense of the American people, President Trump got exactly what he asked for – another government shutdown. Shutting down our government jeopardizes our economy as well as denies Americans their income and services. Unfortunately, House Republicans decided that funding for the divisive border wall was more important than governing in the best interest of the people when we had the opportunity to avoid this shutdown.
Rescinding the Obama-era discipline guidance is extremely disappointing – but not surprising. Over the last two years, the Trump Administration has actively worked since day one to weaken or eliminate critical civil rights protections for students. Rescinding the guidelines that have helped make schools fairer and safer while reducing unfair discipline disparities will harm students of color and students with disabilities. With this move, the administration sends a clear mess...age that it is not committed to ensuring fair and equitable treatment of all children in our nation’s schools.
These disparities exist in my congressional district, and I have worked extensively to address them in several ways, including my call last year for a district-wide investigation of our school systems. Instead of removing these protections, Secretary DeVos should maintain and expand them. With or without the discipline guidance, the administration is still legally responsible for ensuring students are free from discrimination. I look forward to working with my colleagues next Congress to ensure the administration does its job and protects our children.
Today marks 62 years since the end of the historic Montgomery Bus Boycotts. This series of civil rights protests, successful because of the repeated sacrifices of the African-American community in Montgomery, helped pave the way for a standard of equality in our country. The diverse leadership that we see today is possible because we stand on the shoulders of the brave leaders and everyday citizens who sacrificed, protested, and marched so progress could be made.
We continue to fight against segregation, racial discrimination, and various forms of inequality that we see in communities across the country. Let us take a minute to reflect on the work and efforts of those who came before us and be inspired to stand up for a just and equitable society for all.
The constituents of the 4th Congressional District deserve the best quality of service from the programs their tax dollars support. To ensure quick results for my constituents, I informed Postmaster Thekkekara directly about the outstanding number of issues we see in the Richmond area. I am pleased that our offices were able to agree on open, regular communication to achieve our shared goal for those experiencing delivery issues. I am hopeful that our meeting was helpful for Postmaster Thekkekara, most importantly, to help my constituents receive their mail expeditiously.
I sent a letter to the President along with my colleagues urging him to acknowledge the critical findings outlined in the Fourth National Climate Assessment. This comprehensive science-based evaluation of the consequences of climate change, the risks of inaction, and potential adaptation strategies for the United States is ultimately our roadmap for protecting the environment and public health. The Trump Administration must heed the warnings as their unwillingness to act based on scientific facts will threaten life as we know it now and for generations to come.
