President George W. Bush has demonstrated his strong commitment to civil rights during his time in office. He has made the enforcement of civil rights protections for all Americans a top priority of the Department of Justice.

President Bush’s focus and dedication has resulted in substantial increases in enforcement of civil rights guarantees over the record of the previous administration. National security advisor Condoleezza Rice has said that President Bush’s record is “impeccable on civil rights and impeccable on the interests of African Americans.”

Shortly after taking office in 2001, President Bush directed the U.S. Attorney General to develop a specific plan of action to end racial profiling at the federal level, stating that “it’s wrong and we will end it in America.” The Justice Department issued final policy guidance barring federal law enforcement officials from engaging in racial profiling in June 2003.

On Feb. 1, 2001, President Bush announced the New Freedom Initiative — a comprehensive program to promote the full participation of people with disabilities in all areas of society by increasing access to assistive and universally designed technologies, expanding educational and employment opportunities and promoting increased access into daily community life.

Bias-motivated crimes cut deeply against our national ideal of one nation and one people. Under President Bush, the Civil Rights Division has aggressively pursued the perpetrators of bias-motivated crimes.

Fighting discrimination in employment is a core function of the Civil Rights Division. Under President Bush, the Civil Rights Division has increased the Division’s commitment to fighting discrimination in employment on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability and religion.

A recent report from the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights stated that President Bush is committed to helping people with disabilities and praised him for “a commendably diverse cabinet and moderately diverse judiciary.”

President Bush is fully committed to making a real difference in the lives of all Americans, and his record reflects that goal. For more information, go to www.GeorgeWBush.com or attend our meetings at 8 p.m. Thursdays in the UC.