Senate Democrats voted this week to block a proposed amendment from Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) that would have blocked federal taxpayer money from going to institutions of higher learning that discriminate against Asian Americans.
The amendment stated:
To prohibit Federal funding for any institution of higher education that discriminates against Asian Americans in recruitment, applicant review, or admissions.
Every Republican Senator voted for the amendment while every Democrat Senator voted against it. Only three Senators did not vote — Sens. Mike Lee (R-UT), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Tina Smith (D-MN).
As an Asian American, I will just leave this here. pic.twitter.com/s7cM9dIofV
— Aaron Ginn (@aginnt) April 22, 2021
“In an unbelievably cynical move, Senate Democrats blocked efforts to stop discrimination against Asian Americans in higher education, where racial bias has become all too common,” Cruz and Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) said in a statement. “This amendment would bar funds from institutions that discriminate against Asian American students.”
“Despite their calls to end racism, it is clear Democrats are only paying lip service to fighting discrimination against Asian Americans and will allow targeted discrimination against them to continue at America’s universities and colleges,” the statement said.
The amendment was proposed as an amendment to Sen. Mazie Hirono’s (D-HI) bill that seeks to “designate [an] officer or employee of the Department of Justice (DOJ) to facilitate the expedited review of COVID-19 hate crimes and reports of COVID-19 hate crimes.”
Hirono’s bill passed 94-1 on Thursday with Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) being the only Senator to vote against it. “My big problem with Sen Hirono’s bill that Senate voted on today is that it turns the federal government into the speech police – gives government sweeping authority to decide what counts as offensive speech and then monitor it,” Hawley said. “Raises big free speech questions.”
My big problem with Sen Hirono’s bill that Senate voted on today is that it turns the federal government into the speech police – gives government sweeping authority to decide what counts as offensive speech and then monitor it. Raises big free speech questions
— Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) April 23, 2021
Cruz said on the Senate floor that Democrat President Joe Biden’s Department of Justice “was suing Yale for its discrimination against Asian Americans until the Biden administration dismissed that lawsuit.”
Cruz continued, “My amendment, simply put, would prohibit institutions of higher education from receiving any federal funding if they have a policy or if they engage in discrimination against Asian-Americans during recruitment, review of applications or admissions.”
Fox News added:
Biden came under fire recently when his DOJ dropped the lawsuit against Yale University, started under the previous administration, that alleged the Ivy League school had discriminated against Asian applicants.
Several Asian American advocates and lawmakers spoke out against Biden’s DOJ dropping the lawsuit, saying the president’s actions did not meet his words.
“The Biden administration’s decision to drop the Yale lawsuit is totally wrong and sets a dangerous precedent,” Rep. Michelle Steel (R-CA) said. “If the administration is serious about combating anti-Asian hate, that includes protecting the AAPI community from discrimination in the halls of our schools and universities.”
“Students of all backgrounds should have the opportunity to compete on an equal playing field,” Steel added. “This type of behavior is only hurting future generations from being able to achieve their American dream.”