2025-15

Attacks On Families and On Equity Programs Threaten Children’s Futures and Undermine Democracy

Sponsored by

Sen. Luz Escamilla (UT)

Reported to the Caucus by the
NHCSL Government, Social Justice and Taxation Task Force

Rep. Leonela Felix (RI), Chair

Unanimously ratified by the Caucus on November 22, 2025

WHEREAS, every child’s ability to succeed, access education, pursue opportunity, and achieve the American Dream is rooted in the history of our nation and the U.S. Constitution; and,

WHEREAS, 50.6% of children in the U.S. and children of color;[1] and,

WHEREAS, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives in schools (K-16), workplaces, and public institutions ensure that students, particularly those from historically marginalized communities, have access to mentorship, leadership pathways, and equitable educational opportunities;[2] and,

WHEREAS, erasing students’ history, lived experiences, and cultural contributions denies them the full truth of their world, narrowing the possibilities they can imagine for themselves and diminishing their ability to participate fully in a diverse democracy; and,

WHEREAS, in the medical field, DEI initiatives are crucial for addressing in a holistic way health disparities, improving patient outcomes, and saving lives;[3] and,

WHEREAS, DEI centers and initiatives have been essential in cultivating leaders from communities historically excluded from positions of leadership and power, including many current and past leaders of the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators (NHCSL), as well as other national and global leaders across politics, business, and academia; and,

WHEREAS, DEI programs help students see themselves reflected in curriculum and leadership, fostering a sense of belonging that improves academic engagement, persistence, and graduation rates;[4] and,

WHEREAS, children and youth face persistent economic and social disparities: 1 in 6 children experiences food insecurity,[5] over 500,000 children experience homelessness nightly,[6] and children of color disproportionately experience poverty, housing instability, and health inequities; and,

WHEREAS, women of color, Native Americans, and other minority groups continue to face pay gaps: Hispanic women earn 57 cents, Black women earn 63 cents, and Native women earn 60 cents for every dollar earned by White non-Hispanic men, impacting family stability and children's futures;[7] and,

WHEREAS, youth mental health crises[8] are at alarming levels: suicide is the second-leading cause of death for ages 10–34, and 20.4% of high school students seriously considered suicide in the past year, with LGBTQ+ youth at 41.0% and female students at 27.1%;[9] and,

WHEREAS, family separation policies,[10] whether through immigration enforcement,[11] punitive social programs, or foster care, create long-term negative outcomes including psychological trauma, educational disruption, and reduced lifetime opportunities; and,

WHEREAS, anti-DEI policies and attacks on family supports suppress students’ and educators’ freedom of speech and inquiry, infringing upon constitutional rights protected under the First Amendment;[12] and,

WHEREAS, the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment mandates that no state shall “deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws,” supporting proactive measures to ensure children and families have access to necessary resources and opportunities; and,

WHEREAS, Latino youth are among the fastest-growing student populations in the United States, and American youth overall will soon comprise the largest share of eligible voters in history;[13] and,

WHEREAS, attacks on family supports, public education, DEI programs, healthcare access, and housing stability represent a coordinated national trend undermining the ability of children to grow, learn, thrive, and fully contribute to society; and,

WHEREAS a democracy cannot survive if it teaches children that their voices and futures do not belong to them, and if it denies them the freedom to learn, to speak their truths, and to dream without limits.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the National Hispanic Council of State Legislators affirms its unwavering commitment to defending the future of our children, the most vulnerable and precious members of our society, and calls on state governments to enact and uphold policies that:

1. Protect children’s constitutional rights, including equal protection under the law and freedom of speech in schools.
2. Support family stability, including protections against separation and access to safe housing.
3. Ensure access to basic needs, including nutritious food, healthcare, and mental health services.
4. Oppose efforts to defund, ban, or censor programs that promote equity and inclusion.
5. Promote leadership and opportunity for all children, particularly minority, Indigenous, and immigrant youth.
6. Safeguard every child’s ability to dream, learn, and thrive, empowering them to pursue a happy and fulfilling life.

IN ITS MEETING OF NOVEMBER 4, 2025, THE NHCSL GOVERNMENT, SOCIAL JUSTICE AND TAXATION TASK FORCE UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDED THIS RESOLUTION TO THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE FOR APPROVAL.

THE NHCSL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THIS RESOLUTION ON NOVEMBER 14, 2025, IN A VIRTUAL MEETING.

THE NATIONAL HISPANIC CAUCUS OF STATE LEGISLATORS UNANIMOUSLY RATIFIED THIS RESOLUTION AT ITS ANNUAL MEETING OF NOVEMBER 22, 2025 IN OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA.

[1] https://www.childrensdefense.org/tools-and-resources/the-state-of-americas-children/soac-child-population/#:~:text=In%202021%2C%2036.3%20million%20children,of%20children%20of%20different%20backg%20rounds

[2] https://journals.library.columbia.edu/index.php/cswr/announcement/view/806; https://theithacan.org/59846/opinion/editorials/dei-programs-are-crucial-for-equitable-education/; https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00091383.2024.2325838

[3] https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/15365042251351965, http://journals.lww.com/jhmonline/citation/2022/08000/dei_in_the_healthcare_workforce              advancing_equi ty.3.aspx?context=latestarticles

[4] https://tll.mit.edu/sense-of-belonging-matters/#:~:text=Importantly%2C%20they%20also%20found%20that,Gopalan%20%26%20Brady%2C%202019)

[5] https://www.feedingamerica.org/hunger-in-america/child-hunger-facts

[6] https://nche.ed.gov/data-and-stats/

[7] https://nwlc.org/resource/wage-gap-state-by-state/

[8] https://www.apa.org/topics/equity-diversity-inclusion

[9] https://www.cdc.gov/yrbs/results/2023-yrbs-results.html, https://jedfoundation.org/mental-health-and-suicide-statistics/

[10] https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/blog/the-impact-of-family-separation-on-children/

[11] Palomino, C., Aponte, G., Soto-Boykins, X., Blevins, D., Meek, S., Park, M., Oppenheim, J., Bucher, E. (May, 2025). The Impacts of Family Separation and Deportation on Children’s Health, Mental Health, Economic Conditions, Development, and Education. The Children’s Equity Project at Arizona State University. https://cep.asu.edu/resources/ImpactsofFamilySeparationandDeportation

[12] https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/constitution-transcript

[13] https://opa.hhs.gov/adolescent-health/adolescent-health-data/americas-diverse-adolescents, https://www.census.gov/newsroom/blogs/random-samplings/2023/05/racial-ethnic-diversity-adults-children.html