FROM CT STATE REP KIMBERLY FIORELLO ON THE PASSING OF THE TERRIFYING SB1…

Please listen to my floor debate https://www.facebook.com/RepFiorello/videos/509893566719165. I went thru the details of this 21 sectioned, 781 lined bill on racism and health equity. For anyone concerned about Critical Race Theory (CRT), please know that CRT is a huge part of SB 1.

This bill states pointblank racism is a public health crisis in our state. No questions need be asked. But when you do ask questions, the proponent of the bill cannot answer them. The rest of this bill stems from this incredible premise; it creates five different commissions, advisory committees and task forces (with biased make-up of members) to collect data and fix racial disparity in various areas the environment, gun laws, ZONING REGULATIONS, maternal mortality, schools, mental health, and more. The stated goal of the bill is "to attain at least 70% reduction in the racial disparities set forth…" (lines 194-195).

One of the most offensive parts of the bill was Section 7 regarding "cultural humility" – "'cultural humility' means a continuing commitment to (1) self-evaluation and critique one's own worldview with regard to differences in cultural traditions and belief systems, and (2) awareness of, and active mitigation, power imbalances between cultures." (lines 245-249)… Then, cultural humility education programs will implemented at CT colleges.

If you are concerned about extensive data gathering by your government, section 11 is troubling as it directs state agencies to ask for greater specificity regarding your race and ethnic categories. For example, Asian will be further broken down to Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, Filipino, Laotian, and more. Why? The proponent said so that government can be more helpful to us.

There is so much of this bill that many of us oppose. This is critical race theory in your state laws. I voted NAY. It passed.