Scott, Hinojosa Lead Democrats in Filing Fisher II Brief

Statement

Ranking Member Bobby Scott (VA-03) -- along with Rep. Rubén Hinojosa (TX-15) -- led a group of Democratic lawmakers in filing an amicus brief in the Fisher v. University of Texas at Austin, No. 14-981 (Fisher II) U.S. Supreme Court case examining whether state educators can consider race and ethnicity among the many factors in admissions to institutions of higher education, as consistent with the Equal Protection Clause.

"This case could have the devastating effect of invalidating the future of affirmative action in higher education," said Ranking Member Scott. "The Supreme Court majority ruled in Fisher I in 2013 that "diversity' in higher education was a "compelling state interest' that could justify the consideration of race and ethnicity under the strict scrutiny standard. This case underscores the need to ensure that we have a diverse student body in the higher education system. It fulfills the promise of President Johnson who 50 years ago signed the Higher Education Act into law on November 8, 1965, and said "education is the path to achievement and fulfillment; for the nation, it is a path to a society that is not only free but civilized; and for the world, it is the path to peace--for it is education that places reason over force.' We must ensure that the diversity of this country is reflected in the halls of academia, and that is why we are pressing for educational opportunities for students of color in higher educational institutions in a manner that is consistent with Supreme Court precedent."

In the House of Representatives, 85 Members have signed on the amicus brief, including Reps. Scott, Hinojosa, Nancy Pelosi, Steny H. Hoyer, James Clyburn, Xavier Becerra, John Conyers, Joyce B. Beatty, Corrine Brown, G.K Butterfield, Jr., Yvette Clarke, W. Lacy Clay, Jr., Danny K. Davis, Donna F. Edwards, Chaka Fattah, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Sheila Jackson Lee, Eddie Bernice Johnson, Hank Johnson, Barbara J. Lee, Charles B. Rangel, Terri A. Sewell, Bonnie Watson Coleman, Frederica S. Wilson, Mark A. Takano, Lloyd A. Doggett, II, Al Green, Marcy C. Kaptur, José E. Serrano, Grace F. Napolitano, Mark Pocan, Jan Schakowsky, Jim A. McDermott, Sam Farr, Filemon Vela, Joseph P. Kennedy, III, Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan, Debbie Dingell, Rosa DeLauro, Stanford D. Bishop, Jr., Andre Carson, Donald S. Beyer, Jr., Susan A. Davis, Raul Grijalva, Hakeem S. Jeffries, Chris Van Hollen, Jr., Michael M. Honda, Elijah E. Cummings, Jared Polis, Judy Chu, Joaquin Castro, Katherine M. Clark, Joseph Crowley, Gregory W. Meeks, Keith Ellison, Pedro R. Pierluisi, Bobby L. Rush, Jerrold Nadler, Alcee L. Hastings, Marc A. Veasey, Linda T. Sanchez, Loretta Sanchez, Earl Blumenauer, Peter Welch, Henry Cuellar, Maxine Waters, Alma S. Adams, Emanuel Cleaver II, Robin L. Kelly, Lucille Roybal-Allard, David N. Cicilline, Marcia L. Fudge, Luis V. Gutiérrez, Cedric L. Richmond, John Lewis, Gwen Moore, Donald M. Payne, Jr., Mark DeSaulnier, John K. Delaney, Tony Cárdenas, Steve Cohen, Gene Green, Joe Courtney, Suzanne Bonamici, Adam Smith, and Ruben Gallego.

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