Civil Rights Monitor
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The CIVIL RIGHTS MONITOR is a quarterly publication that reports on civil rights issues pending before the three branches of government. The Monitor also provides a historical context within which to assess current civil rights issues. Back issues of the Monitor are available through this site. Browse or search the archives Summer 2003
IN THIS MONITOR,
we review legislative and administrative activities related to racial profiling and media ownership, discuss the Supreme Court's decision on affirmative action in higher education, and provide updates on the No Child Left Behind Act, the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families program, and the Digital Empowerment Campaign. We also summarize activities at the Leadership Conference, including our new partnership with Americans for a Fair Chance, our new Philanthropic Initiative for Racial Equity, and new fair housing and judicial nominations public education campaigns.
Inside.....
On the Hill
No Child Left Behind: Unfulfilled Promises On January 8, 2002, President Bush signed into law the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLBA), creating landmark change in elementary and secondary education. On that day, President Bush stated, "We owe the children of America a good education. And today begins a new era, a new time in public education in our country."
For more than a year, Congress has been debating the reauthorization of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) - the federal welfare law passed in 1996. Much of the discussion has focused on the law's Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) program, which provides block grant funds to states to administer their welfare programs.
FCC Eases Media Ownership Rules Earlier this spring, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) evoked a storm of protest when it voted to free media companies of ownership limits by removing longstanding consolidation restrictions.
Digital Empowerment Campaign Wins Congress funded two critical federal community technology programs--the Technology Opportunity Program (TOP) and the Community Technology Centers (CTC) program- for FY2003 at levels comparable to last year (approximately $15.5 million and $32.5 million respectively).
As of August 6, 2003, 145 of President Bush's nominees to the appellate and district courts had been confirmed, and there were 52 vacancies (19 appellate and 33 district) in the federal courts.
The practice of racial profiling has been given a new dimension in the aftermath of the events of September 11.
In The Courts
Supreme Court Upholds Use of Race in Admissions Decisions
In a closely watched decision on affirmative action, the U.S. Supreme Court reaffirmed that universities may take race into consideration as one factor among many when selecting incoming students.
Leadership Conference Activities
LCCR Honors Hubert H. Humphrey Civil Rights Awardees
More than one thousand members of the civil rights community gathered at the Washington Hilton in May to salute this year's Hubert H. Humphrey Civil Rights Award honorees.
New fairhousinglaw.org Campaign Fights Housing Discrimination The Leadership Conference on Civil Rights Education Fund (LCCREF), in partnership with the Ad Council and the National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA), has launched a national public service announcement (PSA) campaign, www.fairhousinglaw.org, to raise public awareness of the types of subtle but widespread forms of housing discrimination that occur across the nation.
LCCREF Undertakes New Philanthropic Initiative for Racial Equity The Leadership Conference on Civil Rights Education Fund (LCCREF) has launched a three-year initiative intended to increase the amount and effectiveness of resources aimed at combating institutional and structural racism in communities.
LCCREF Enters into Partnership with Americans for a Fair Chance In the months leading up to the Supreme Court affirmative action decisions, the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights Education Fund (LCCREF) entered into a new partnership with Americans for a Fair Chance (AFC).
LCCR Launches "Save Our Courts" Campaign The Leadership Conference on Civil Rights (LCCR) has launched a national "Save Our Courts" campaign to oppose the Bush administration's extremist nominees to the federal courts.
  
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