Ranking Member Raskin, Rep. Pressley Introduce Bills to Improve Government Services for Underserved Communities
Washington, D.C. (April 5, 2024) — Today, Rep. Jamie Raskin, Ranking Member of the Committee on Oversight and Accountability, and Rep. Ayanna Pressley introduced two bills to codify key ideas from the Biden-Harris Administration’s Executive Orders 13985 and 14091 to advance racial equity and support for underserved communities through the federal government. The Federal Government Equity Improvement Act and the Equity in Agency Planning Act would ensure that federal agencies continue their work to promote equal opportunity for all, including people of color, women, rural communities, individuals with disabilities, and others that have been systemically excluded from participating fully in economic, social, and civic life.
“The federal government must be transparent, accountable, and responsive to everyone it serves—not just those who have had easier access to government services and decision making,” said Ranking Member Raskin. “Since its very first executive order on its very first day, the Biden-Harris Administration has championed a historic, whole-of-government effort to ensure equity in federal operations and services, transforming how the federal government serves the communities it has failed or neglected in the past. Today, I am proud to introduce legislation to codify some of the essential progress of this data-driven, good government work to ensure it continues for generations to come.”
“We must center racial equity and justice in every administrative and policy decision across federal agencies,” said Rep. Pressley. “Our bills would help us do just that by building on the Biden-Harris Administration’s historic executive orders and providing essential tools to advance equity through data collection and critical stakeholder engagement. With diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives under assault by Republicans nationwide, these bills are deeply necessary to ensure government works for all people. I thank Ranking Member Raskin and the White House for their ongoing partnership.”
The Federal Government Equity Improvement Act would establish statutory requirements for federal agency equity advisory teams, an Equitable Data Working Group, and an interagency working group to allow agencies, nongovernmental organizations, and stakeholders to share best practices in the collection and use of data for assessing barriers to equity, among other things.
The Equity in Agency Planning Act would amend various agency performance planning requirements to ensure that agencies continue to prioritize improving the equitable provision of services in their agency goals.
Background
On January 20, 2021, his first day in office, President Biden signed Executive Order 13985, “Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government,” directing the Domestic Policy Council and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to work with federal agencies to identify and remove barriers to equal opportunity and programmatic benefits for people of color and other underserved groups. In February 2023, President Biden signed Executive Order 14091 to take additional significant steps on its equity work.
Committee Democrats have long championed efforts to promote government transparency, improve government services, and address inequity. On October 15, 2021, then-Chairwoman Carolyn B. Maloney and Rep. Pressley sent a letter to Ambassador Susan Rice, Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy, and OMB Director Shalanda Young underscoring the need for robust equitable data practices, assessment tools, and stakeholder engagement to ensure the successful implementation of Executive Order 13985.
On April 14, 2022, Chairwoman Maloney and Rep. Pressley issued statements applauding the Biden-Harris Administration for convening all federal agencies to present their first-ever Equity Action Plans.
On December 16, 2022, Chairwoman Maloney and Rep. Pressley introduced the Federal Government Equity Improvement Act and the Equity in Agency Planning Act to support the Biden-Harris Administration’s efforts to advance racial equity in the federal government and implementation of Executive Order 13985.
On February 16, 2023, Ranking Member Raskin and Rep. Pressley applauded President Biden’s announcement of Executive Order 14091, “Executive Order on Further Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through The Federal Government,” which strengthens equity-advancing requirements for federal agencies and builds upon Executive Order 13985.
Click here to read the text of the Federal Government Equity Improvement Act.
Click here to read the text of the Equity in Agency Planning Act.
Click here to read the one-pager.
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