III. New Community -

Affirmative Action

Opportunity for Americans -- Building a Stronger Nation

• Increasing opportunity for all Americans makes citizens more productive, building stronger communities and a stronger nation. This country has not yet achieved equality of opportunity or stamped out discrimination. We must help people develop their capacities so they can fully participate in our society.

Reviewing Affirmative Action Programs

• The President directed his Administration to review all Federal affirmative action programs and ask: Does it work? Is it fair? Is it necessary? Does it achieve the desired objective or is there an alternative way to achieve the objective without giving a preference by race or gender?

Protecting All Citizens Against Discrimination

• Improperly designed or implemented affirmative action plans weaken our national community. We want to support the programs that are working, but we want to get rid of ones that are not.