Equity and Racial Justice Through the Federal Government

Disability Matters with Joyce Bender

Tuesday, April 19, 2022

#AdvocacyMatters Segment

Equity and Racial Justice Through the Federal Government

On April 14, 2022, more than 90 federal agencies released their equity and racial justice plans. The plans were in response to President Biden’s Executive Order on Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government. President Biden signed the Executive Order on his first day in office in January 2021.

The focus of the Executive Order is to enhance equity work within the Federal Government for “people of color and others who have been historically underserved, marginalized, and adversely affected by persistent poverty and equity.” The President called for the Domestic Policy Council to coordinate these policy objectives and to remove system barriers. The Office of Management and Budget must assess and help federal agencies overcome any barriers that impact equality participation on the basis of protected classes, including disability. The Order also directs agencies to increase coordination and community with civil rights and community-based organizations and review and remove all barriers to equality in the Federal Government, including barriers that block equity for persons with disabilities.

President Biden has said that advancing equity is not a one-year project but a generational commitment requiring sustained leadership and partnership with all communities. The plans reflect the Administration’s commitment to BIPOC, LGBTQ, and people with disabilities.

For example, the U.S. Department of Labor has a 5-point plan to deliver equity through the DOL for underserved workers, including people with disabilities. The plan includes:

Implementing wage and hour protections.

Removing systemic barriers to accessing Unemployment Insurance.

Ensuring workers with limited English proficiency are aware of their rights and can access workplace protections.

Workforce training for underserved workers and job seekers.

Develop Registered Apprenticeships to create an equitable pipeline into federal employment.

#AdvocacyMatters

If you are interested in learning more about the Equity Plan, visit disabilityrightspa.org and click on today’s #AdvocacyMatters segment. You will find a link to the Executive Order, video on the release of the Equity Plans, and more.

Links

Executive Order 13985, January 20, 2021

Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government

https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2021-01-25/pdf/2021-01753.pdf

Video of the White House release of the Equity Plans

White House Convening on Equity

Federal agency Equity Plans

https://www.whitehouse.gov/equity/

U.S. Department of Labor Equity Action Plan

https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/DOL-EO13985-equity-summary.pdf