The former U.S. Ambassador to Denmark has called on the Keystone State to follow the Texas House of Representatives in voting to ban diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs from public colleges.
Carla Sands wants Pennsylvania lawmakers to do something similar and encouraged them to take action in a May 24 tweet.
"Now Do It In The Great State Of Pennsylvania!" she said in the tweet. "It’s time. The Texas House of Representatives voted to pass legislation that would ban DEI programs and offices in state colleges and universities."
The tweet also shared a link to an article from The Daily Signal that highlighted Texas representatives’ recent vote of 83-60 to pass legislation that would ban DEI programs from public universities and colleges. The move was likely sparked by the bold stance of Florida, led by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis. Back in early May, DeSantis signed a law prohibiting the use of federal or state funding for DEI initiatives at Florida's colleges and universities, a move that paved the way for other Republican states to follow suit.
The House-approved legislation now goes back to Texas state Sen. Brandon Creighton (R-Conroe), who wrote the legislation, a Dallas Morning News report said this week. If the Senate approves the House version, it will then go to Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, for his signature to make the legislation a law. If the Senate does not approve, a conference committee consisting of members from both the House and Senate will be appointed to try to establish a mutually acceptable version of the bill.
Creighton initially presented the bill in March, the Morning News said. In the Senate discussions that followed, he made the case that DEI programs were not functioning as intended. He stated that the programs were exhibiting bias by preferring some groups over others. Creighton further contended that universities infringe upon the First Amendment rights of job applicants when they demand diversity statements as part of the application process.
Sands, who is vice chair of the Center for Energy & Environment at America First Policy Institute, has a long history of political and diplomatic involvement, according to her website. She was a GOP candidate for the U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania in 2021-2022 and was appointed by President Donald Trump as Ambassador to Denmark, Greenland and the Faroe Islands from 2017 to 2021. In her ambassadorship, Sands successfully improved USA-Greenland cooperation, increased U.S. exports to Denmark by 43% and strengthened security in the high north. She was awarded the Medal for Distinguished Public Service by the Department of Defense.
