American Association for Affirmative Action
Mourns the Passing of Senator Edward M. Kennedy
“Champion of Civil Rights and Equal Opportunity through Affirmative Action”
Mourns the Passing of Senator Edward M. Kennedy
“Champion of Civil Rights and Equal Opportunity through Affirmative Action”
Washington, DC. August 26, 2009 - The American Association for Affirmative Action (AAAA), a national membership organization of equal employment opportunity (EEO), affirmative action and diversity specialists, mourns the passing of Senator Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts. AAAA President ReNee Dunman stated that “Senator Kennedy was truly a champion of those who were disenfranchised and discriminated against.” While Kennedy was born to privilege, he spent a lifetime bringing hope and opportunity to those who were less fortunate in American society. “Kennedy’s was a life of service to humanity; it was a life well-lived.” Senator Kennedy passed away on August 26, 2009 at the age of 77.
In his years in the U.S. Senate, Kennedy sponsored approximately 2500 pieces of legislation. Of special note are the many bills and enacted laws promoting civil rights and equal opportunity. Senator Kennedy believed that civil rights remained America’s great unfinished business, and he had a major role in every civil rights battle in Congress for the past half century.
In 1964, after his brother’s tragic assassination, Senator Kennedy supported the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which outlawed discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations. Kennedy also worked to outlaw the poll tax. Later, Senator Kennedy sponsored the Voting Rights Act Amendments of 1982 and other legislation, which had the effect of increasing the representation of minorities in Congress and enabling language minorities to participate in the voting process. In the 1980s, Kennedy worked with a bipartisan group of Senators and Coretta Scott King to establish a federal holiday in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr.
As a champion of equal education opportunity, Senator Kennedy led the effort to overturn the Supreme Court’s Grove City case, which found that Title IX of the 1972 Higher Education Act only applied to a private college’s financial aid department, not the school as a whole. Senator Kennedy also passed amendments to extend the Fair Housing Act of 1968 to include individuals with disabilities and families with children. He also cosponsored the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Among other civil rights bills that Kennedy sponsored were the Civil Rights Act of 1991, which strengthened existing protections and remedies available under federal civil rights laws, including remedies for intentional discrimination and harassment in the workplace; and the Employment Non Discrimination Act which prohibits employers from discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation.
Since the 1960s, Senator Kennedy was a leader in Congressional efforts to preserve federal affirmative action programs. In the 1980s, Kennedy joined other members of Congress in resisting Reagan Administration efforts to weaken Executive Order 11246, which requires equal opportunity and affirmative action for employees of federal contractors. In 1998, he helped defeat a legislative proposal to end federal affirmative action. In 2003, he joined Senate colleagues in filing a brief urging the Supreme Court to uphold affirmative action at the University of Michigan. In 2005, he strongly supported reauthorization of programs administered by the Department of Transportation and the Department of Defense to ensure equal opportunities for minority and women contractors.
Ms. Dunman added that “Senator Kennedy was the legislative champion of the civil rights community. Kennedy was also proactive, seeking to complete the “unfinished business” that was civil rights. We thank Senator Kennedy for his lifetime of service. He will be sorely missed in the months and years to come, when challenges to civil rights and affirmative action laws will undoubtedly intensify, both in the Congress and in the states.”
Founded in 1974, the American Association for Affirmative Action (AAAA) is a national not-for-profit association of professionals working in the areas of affirmative action, equal opportunity, and diversity. AAAA helps its members to be more successful and productive in their careers. It also promotes understanding and advocacy of affirmative action to enhance access and equality in employment, economic and educational opportunities.
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888 16th Street, NW, Suite 800
Washington, D.C. 20006
202-349-9855
202-355-1399
In his years in the U.S. Senate, Kennedy sponsored approximately 2500 pieces of legislation. Of special note are the many bills and enacted laws promoting civil rights and equal opportunity. Senator Kennedy believed that civil rights remained America’s great unfinished business, and he had a major role in every civil rights battle in Congress for the past half century.
In 1964, after his brother’s tragic assassination, Senator Kennedy supported the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which outlawed discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations. Kennedy also worked to outlaw the poll tax. Later, Senator Kennedy sponsored the Voting Rights Act Amendments of 1982 and other legislation, which had the effect of increasing the representation of minorities in Congress and enabling language minorities to participate in the voting process. In the 1980s, Kennedy worked with a bipartisan group of Senators and Coretta Scott King to establish a federal holiday in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr.
As a champion of equal education opportunity, Senator Kennedy led the effort to overturn the Supreme Court’s Grove City case, which found that Title IX of the 1972 Higher Education Act only applied to a private college’s financial aid department, not the school as a whole. Senator Kennedy also passed amendments to extend the Fair Housing Act of 1968 to include individuals with disabilities and families with children. He also cosponsored the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Among other civil rights bills that Kennedy sponsored were the Civil Rights Act of 1991, which strengthened existing protections and remedies available under federal civil rights laws, including remedies for intentional discrimination and harassment in the workplace; and the Employment Non Discrimination Act which prohibits employers from discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation.
Since the 1960s, Senator Kennedy was a leader in Congressional efforts to preserve federal affirmative action programs. In the 1980s, Kennedy joined other members of Congress in resisting Reagan Administration efforts to weaken Executive Order 11246, which requires equal opportunity and affirmative action for employees of federal contractors. In 1998, he helped defeat a legislative proposal to end federal affirmative action. In 2003, he joined Senate colleagues in filing a brief urging the Supreme Court to uphold affirmative action at the University of Michigan. In 2005, he strongly supported reauthorization of programs administered by the Department of Transportation and the Department of Defense to ensure equal opportunities for minority and women contractors.
Ms. Dunman added that “Senator Kennedy was the legislative champion of the civil rights community. Kennedy was also proactive, seeking to complete the “unfinished business” that was civil rights. We thank Senator Kennedy for his lifetime of service. He will be sorely missed in the months and years to come, when challenges to civil rights and affirmative action laws will undoubtedly intensify, both in the Congress and in the states.”
Founded in 1974, the American Association for Affirmative Action (AAAA) is a national not-for-profit association of professionals working in the areas of affirmative action, equal opportunity, and diversity. AAAA helps its members to be more successful and productive in their careers. It also promotes understanding and advocacy of affirmative action to enhance access and equality in employment, economic and educational opportunities.
####
888 16th Street, NW, Suite 800
Washington, D.C. 20006
202-349-9855
202-355-1399
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