House Democrats have introduced a bill that would, if passed, declare an “unconditional war on racism” while establishing the “Department of Reconciliation” as a new federal agency.
“Declaring unconditional war on racism and invidious discrimination and providing for the establishment of a Cabinet-level Department of Reconciliation charged with eliminating racism and invidious discrimination,” reads a summary of the bill, which was introduced on February 9th.
Over 30 House Democrats have signed onto the bill, with key co-sponsors including Congressman Ilhan Omar, Maxine Waters, Rashida Tlaib, and January 6th Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson. The bill has now been referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
The document makes several claims that the U.S. continues to uphold institutionalized racism before outlining potential remedies:
“Whereas racism and invidious discrimination—like poverty in 1964—remain pervasive in our country; Whereas history is replete with examples of victims of racism and invidious discrimination being denied life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; Whereas systemic and institutionalized racism and invidious discrimination exist in virtually all areas of American life, including policing, criminal justice, housing, banking, voting, employment, education, the environment, and health care…”
The bill also invokes the death of George Floyd, claiming the event was a clear indication that it has become necessary for Congress to take decisive, immediate and long-term legislative action to address the elimination of racism and invidious discrimination.”
In response, the bill outlines three actions to be taken by the House of Representatives, including condemning “racism and invidious discrimination as evil and antithetical to the United States Constitution.”
If passed, the House of Representatives would also “declare unconditional war on racism and invidious discrimination in America and will provide the resources and funding for their defeat.”
The bill calls for the establishment of a Cabinet-level Department of Reconciliation “charged with ending racism and invidious discrimination, developing and coordinating the implementation of a comprehensive national strategy to eliminate racism and invidious discrimination.”
The agency’s budget would be at least 10 percent of the Defense Department’s budget, which stands at roughly $715 billion.
The proposal appears to heed “anti-racist” activist Ibram X. Kendi’s demands for the creation of a Department of Anti-Racism (DOA).
“The DOA would be responsible for preclearing all local, state and federal public policies to ensure they won’t yield racial inequity, monitor those policies, investigate private racist policies when racial inequity surfaces, and monitor public officials for expressions of racist ideas. The DOA would be empowered with disciplinary tools to wield over and against policymakers and public officials who do not voluntarily change their racist policy and ideas,” explains the far-left activist.
