00:00 Today, the court once again walked away from decades of precedent and make, as the dissent
00:05 has made clear. The dissent states in today's decision, quote, "rolls back decades of precedent
00:12 and momentous progress," end of quote. I agree with that statement from the dissent.
00:19 The court has effectively ended affirmative action in college admissions,
00:23 and I strongly, strongly disagree with the court's decision. Many people wrongly believe
00:29 that affirmative action allows unqualified students, unqualified students to be admitted
00:35 ahead of qualified students. This is not, this is not how college admissions work.
00:40 Rather, colleges set out standards for admission, and every student, every student has to meet those
00:47 standards. Then and only then, after first meeting the qualifications required by the school,
00:53 do colleges look at other factors in addition to their grades, such as race.
00:58 I've always believed that one of the greatest strengths of America, you're tired of hearing me
01:02 say it, is our diversity. But I believe that. If you have any doubt about this, just look at the
01:07 United States military, the finest fighting force in the history of the world. It's been a model of
01:14 diversity, and it's not only been our -- made our nation better, stronger, but safer. I believe the
01:20 same is true for our schools. I've always believed that the promise of America is big enough for
01:25 everyone to succeed, and that every generation of Americans, we have benefited by opening the doors
01:31 of opportunity just a little bit wider to include those who've been left behind.
01:35 I believe our colleges are stronger when they're racially diverse. Our nation is stronger because
01:41 we use -- because we are tapping into the full range of talent in this nation. We cannot let
01:48 this decision be the last word. I want to emphasize, we cannot let this decision be the last word.
01:53 While the court can render a decision, it cannot change what America stands for.
01:58 America is an idea, an idea, unique in the world, an idea of hope and opportunity,
02:05 of possibilities, of giving everyone a fair shot, of leaving no one behind. We've never
02:11 fully lived up to it, but we've never walked away from it either. We will not walk away from it now.
02:16 We should never allow the country to walk away from the dream upon which it was founded.
02:23 That opportunity is for everyone, not just a few. We need a new path forward,
02:28 a path consistent with a law that protects diversity and expands opportunity. They should
02:34 not abandon -- let me say this again -- they should not abandon their commitment to ensure
02:38 student bodies of diverse backgrounds and experience that reflect all of America.
02:43 What I propose for consideration is a new standard, where colleges take into account
02:50 the adversity a student has overcome when selecting among qualified applicants.
02:55 Let's be clear. Under this new standard, just as was true under the earlier standard,
03:00 students first have to be qualified applicants, because the truth is, we all know it,
03:04 discrimination still exists in America. Discrimination still exists in America.
03:11 Discrimination still exists in America. Today's decision does not change that. It's a simple fact.
03:18 If a student has overcome -- had to overcome adversity
03:22 on their path to education, the college should recognize and value that.
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