This is Not a Game, It is the Law

Dear Friends,

On Wednesday my fellow Congressman Hakeem Jeffries of New York and I sent a letter to the Department of Labor asking for technology companies that hold sizable government contracts to develop written affirmative-action programs. The letter, which can be found here, is cosigned by several of my fellow members of the Congressional Black Caucus Diversity Task Force.

While there has been growth in other industries regarding African-American employment, there is considerable underrepresentation of African-Americans in the technology industry. We have heard the excuse from some tech companies that there aren’t enough African American applicants, but that is just not the case. African-Americans are majoring and graduating in computer science, they just aren’t being hired in reasonable numbers.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) in the 2012-2013 school year, about 6,000 African-American students earned computer and information science degrees. However, minorities hired by some of the largest tech companies in Silicon Valley are virtually non-existent. As of 2014, only 4.3% of those who work within technology companies which hold sizable government contracts were African-American.

We urge the DOL to encourage government contracted tech companies to abide by federal regulations, requiring contractors with 50 or more employees to develop written affirmative action programs for each of its establishments.

It is alarming how many companies are able to secure government contracts without any checks and balances on their company’s diversity efforts, plans, and supporting data…this is not a game, it is the law.

As we approach this Memorial Day Weekend, let us pause to remember the ultimate sacrifice that so many of our men and women have made. This weekend we remember them and their families. We can never say thank you enough.

Warmest Regards,

Emanuel Cleaver, II
Member of Congress