House Democrats have introduced two pieces of legislation to establish diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives at a federal level. Representative Jamie Raskin from Maryland, a senior House Oversight Committee member, and Representative Ayanna Pressley from Massachusetts have proposed the Federal Government Equity Improvement Act and the Equity in Agency Planning Act respectively.
The Federal Government Equity Improvement Act, spearheaded by Raskin, seeks to establish an Equity Subcommittee within the Performance Improvement Council. This new subcommittee would gather data and foster interagency collaboration to ensure the unbiased provision of government services. It would also engage with beneficiaries of federal programs to gather insights and feedback.
Raskin emphasized the importance of governmental transparency and accountability, stating that government should serve all its constituents equitably, not just those who have historically found it easier to access services and influence decision-making.
Concurrently, Pressley’s Equity in Agency Planning Act mandates a concentrated effort by federal agencies to enhance the equitable delivery of their services. Agencies would be expected to collaborate with NGOs and other stakeholders to review and improve their service delivery strategies, emphasizing equity.
Pressley highlighted the imperative to prioritize racial equity and justice across federal agencies, stating that her bill aims to complement the Biden-Harris Administration’s executive actions to foster equity, focusing on data collection and stakeholder engagement to improve service delivery to underserved communities.
These legislative efforts align with President Joe Biden’s early executive order, which mandates federal agencies to assess and address service delivery barriers to underserved communities, aiming to reform and enhance the inclusivity and equity of federal government operations and services.
The success of these bills is uncertain, particularly given the Republican emphasis on critiquing and dismantling DEI initiatives, which they argue can be discriminatory and divisive. In contrast, advocates for DEI argue that such initiatives are crucial for ensuring equal access to opportunities and services for all citizens, especially those from historically marginalized groups.
