Washington, D.C. — Today, Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D., alongside Senator John Kennedy (LA) and Congressman Burgess Owens (UT), introduced the Embracing anti-Discrimination, Unbiased Curricula, and Advancing Truth in Education (EDUCATE) Act to ban race-based mandates at medical schools and accrediting institutions.
"American medical schools are the best in the world and should remain free from discrimination, politicization and acceptance of anything other than excellence," said Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. "The EDUCATE Act bans race-based mandates at medical schools, protects the First Amendment and civil rights of students, and promotes objective, science-based medicine. Excluding individuals based on appearance or beliefs in the name of diversity is wrong and debases the integrity of the profession. Doctors must be taught to treat patients and with the highest quality of care, regardless of who they are. This includes dealing with other medical professionals who may not look like they do. I have dedicated my life to serving others as a physician and will not stand for discrimination in our nation’s institutions of medicine."
"Medical schools should be in the business of training our future doctors to save lives—not indoctrinating students with anti-American DEI ideology," said Senator John Kennedy. "The EDUCATE Act would make sure the government isn’t wasting your money on woke struggle sessions and blatant discrimination in medical schools,” said Kennedy."
"I’m proud to support the EDUCATE Act because medical schools should focus on saving lives, not pushing radical DEI agendas," said Congressman Burgess Owens, Higher Education and Workforce Development Subcommittee Chair. "From falling competence to declining standards, we’re already seeing the real-world consequences. Our future doctors, and the American people, deserve an education system that rewards merit, excellence, and accountability, not one built on box-checking."
"Do No Harm applauds Congressman Murphy and Senator Kennedy for their relentless work to end harmful DEI practices and to restore integrity to American medical schools," said Dr. Stanley Goldfarb, Chairman. "For too long, accrediting bodies and medical colleges have prioritized identity politics over merit and expertise – putting patients’ health at serious risk. President Trump’s Administration has taken critical steps to dismantle these political activists’ grip on medical education, even causing some accreditors and schools to suspend their discriminatory practices. But the EDUCATE Act could enshrine the President’s actions into law, thereby eradicating DEI programs from medical education permanently."
"Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives are an offshoot of Critical Race Theory — designed to promote race-stereotyping, race-exclusion, and indoctrination into divisive far-left ideologies," said Michael Shires, Ph.D., Vice Chair of Educational Opportunity at the America First Policy Institute. "When publicly funded universities and medical schools teach students to make snap judgments about each other and our broader society based on skin color, they are conditioning them to reject foundational American commitments, including equal treatment and opportunity for all, administrative impartiality, and due process. Congressman Murphy’s bill is an essential first step toward restoring academic excellence and truth-seeking as the focal points of medical education so that tomorrow’s health professionals are prepared to provide exceptional care to every patient, regardless of their race or sex."
Background
The EDUCATE Act would cut off federal funding to medical schools that force students or faculty to adopt specific beliefs, discriminate based on race or ethnicity, or have diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) offices or any functional equivalent. The bill would also require accreditation agencies to check that their standards do not push these practices, while still allowing instruction about health issues tied to race or collecting data for research.