“...With liberty and justice for all” is the vision the nation states in the Pledge of Allegiance. However, it is a vision that has yet to be fully realized. Congress has taken several actions to address injustices against minority communities. The following pieces of legislation will help this nation move closer to achieving “justice for all:”
George Floyd Law Enforcement Trust and Integrity Act of 2021. This bill would require the Department of Justice to take specific steps on addressing accreditation standards and misconduct in law enforcement. This approach to end racial profiling and systemic racism aims to change the culture of law enforcement, empower our communities, and build trust between law enforcement and citizens.
Equality Act. This legislation strengthens civil rights protections for the LGBTQ+ community while also strengthening laws for people of color, women, people with disabilities, and people of faith by Amending the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to provide explicit nondiscrimination protections on the basis of sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity and expands where non-discrimination protections apply to public accommodations.
American Dream and Promise Act of 2021. On March 3, 2021, the American Dream and Promise Act of 2021 was introduced to Congress. The bill would provide Dreamers, Temporary Protected Status holders, and individuals with Deferred Enforced Departure with protection from deportation and an opportunity to obtain permanent legal status in the United States, if they meet certain requirements.
GI Bill Restoration Act of 2021. In 1944 when President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the original GI Bill into law, it was a reward from the country to those who served in WWII to attend college and build generational wealth. However, generations of Black World War II veterans and their descendants were excluded from receiving this reward. This bill would provide the families of Black veterans of World War II a transferable benefit that their descendants can use to attend college, secure housing, start businesses and build generational wealth.