Content
| At Work in Congress |
| Civil Rights & Equal Opportunity: |
Every American should have the opportunity to succeed and
to live the American dream. Discrimination has no place in a nation founded
on the principles of freedom from persecution. The United States must continue
to be a beacon of light throughout the world, and we should always fight
to make our great country even freer. It is critically important that the
tragedies of September 11 are not compounded by expressions of religious
or ethnic intolerance. As a United States Senator, I consider it one of
my most important obligations to fight for the civil rights of all Americans.
Early childhood development has been a passion of my wife Teresa and I
for years. The earliest years of life are critical in shaping every child's
future learning and development. You can't achieve reform of the public
school system that Americans deserve and our economy demands without providing
a healthy, safe, and supportive start for all children of pre_school age.
We must take an approach to early childhood development programs and child
care programs that reflects what we know to be true: children who begin
school lacking the ability to recognize letters, numbers, and shapes quickly
fall behind their peers. Students who reach the first grade without having
had the opportunity to develop cognitive or language comprehension skills
begin school at a disadvantage. Children who have not had the chance to
develop social and emotional skills do not begin school ready to learn.
I believe it is the obligation of government to ensure that all children
have the opportunity to succeed.
Senator Kerry is an original cosponsor of legislation to expand hate crimes,
because standing law has proven inadequate in the protection of many victimized
grous. This legislation protects all Americans and ensures equal justice
for all victims of hate violence, regardless of their race, religion,
sexual orientation, national origin, gender, or disability.
Senator Kerry is strongly opposed to the practice of racial profiling and
is an original cosponsor of legislation to prohibit racial profiling, establish
remedies for its victims and provide funds for police training and other
programs to strengthen accountability and community relations. After September
11, it is more important than ever that the nation's laws are enforced
without resort to discrimination.
Senator Kerry has fought hard to ensure that the 2000 Census accounts for
all people living in the United States. He urged Secretary of Commerce,
Donald Evans to use adjusted numbers to calculate federal funding and intrastate
redistricting and convened a hearing within the Commerce Committee to explore
releasing adjusted data. It is estimated that three million individuals,
mostly minorities and low-income individuals, will not be included in the
census count if only the raw, uncorrected data is used. The census count
has an impact on hundreds of federal programs, including Head Start, airport
improvements, and HIV emergency relief programs. The millions of people
who rely on these and many other programs will be shortchanged if the best,
most accurate census figures are not used.
Senator Kerry believes that we need serious, comprehensive election reform.
In the wake of the voting irregularities that surrounded the 2000 Presidential
election, American's have scrutinized the election system and have discovered
that all too often it fails to ensure that every American who chooses to
exercise his or her right to vote is able to do so. Senator Kerry introduced
legislation to make election day a federal holiday. There are examples
from across the country of individuals who tried to vote, but faced with
long lines and extended delays at polling places, had to give up and return
to work before they had the opportunity to cast their ballots. Senator
Kerry is working to include his proposal in comprehensive election reform
legislation.
With a 100% rating from the Human Rights Campaign, Senator Kerry is a powerful
voice in the ongoing fight for civil rights for gays and lesbians.
|
| <<Back to Main Section |
Next Page>> |
| Back to top of Page |
|