08.29.17

Scott Statement on Roll Back of Workplace Civil Rights Protections

WASHINGTON – Rep. Bobby Scott (VA-03), ranking member of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, released the following statement after the Administrator at the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs has halted the collection of pay data under the expanded EEO1 survey.

“Today, the Trump Administration has taken another step to roll back workplace civil rights protections. Since the enactment of the Civil Rights Act in 1964, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has been empowered to collect employment data to identify discriminatory employment patterns, including those based on race, gender, and national origin.  Today’s action blocks the EEOC from collecting pay data information that could help to identify significant and pervasive wage discrimination.  As a result, it will be more difficult for the government to root out unlawful employment discrimination.

Regrettably, the previous statements by this Administration to condemn racism and white nationalism ring hollow when it repeatedly takes action to limit the enforcement of our nation's civil rights laws. Whether it is the establishment of a so-called election integrity commission that has been widely panned; this Department of Justice’s absence in critical voting rights and education segregation cases; the solicitation of attacks to legal affirmative action programs in higher education; the repeal of consent decrees with localities and police departments; the institution of a Muslim travel ban; or proposed cuts to key programs that expand opportunity for all – the fundamental point remains, this Administration's actions speak a lot louder than its words.” 

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