Democrats Block Cruz Amendment That Would Ban Funding Colleges That Discriminate Against Asians

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

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