Blumenthal Statement on Supreme Court's Affirmative Action Decision

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) released the following statement today in response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s 4-3 decision today in Fisher v. University of Texas, rejecting a challenge to a race-conscious admissions program.

“I am pleased that today the Supreme Court upheld a thoughtful effort by the University of Texas at Austin to achieve meaningful diversity in its student body. By sanctioning the university’s admissions program, the Court reaffirms the immense value that diversity brings to our education system, our workforce, and our communities. At the same time, a ruling that speaks to only one institution’s practices cannot end our discussion on this issue. Equal Protection encompasses the idea that we value the contributions and experiences of all of our citizens, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, or sexual orientation. That should be a priority in every aspect of our national life, especially in the universities that shape the next generation to whom we will entrust our democracy.”

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