the national Association of Black Counselors

The National Association of Black Counselors (NABC) strongly condemns H.R. 3518, legislation that would prohibit federal funding for graduate medical schools maintaining diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies. [Full bill text available at: https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/3518/text]

This bill represents a dangerous regression in our nation's commitment to health equity and exposes the fragile nature of institutional commitments to racial justice.

The Broken Promise of Equity

The rapid dismantling of DEI initiatives across sectors reveals an uncomfortable truth: these programs were maintained only when required, not because they were valued. We have witnessed:

• DEI offices closing following Supreme Court rulings

• Minority recruitment programs dissolving when public pressure eased

• Support services for marginalized students quietly defunded

This pattern proves what communities of color have long known - when institutions genuinely value something, they fight to preserve it. The disappearance of these initiatives demonstrates they were implemented for compliance rather than conviction.

The Grave Consequences of H.R. 3518

This legislation would:

1. Threaten Healthcare Equity by reducing the pipeline of diverse physicians, despite overwhelming evidence that representation improves patient outcomes in marginalized communities

2. Disproportionately Harm HBCUs that train nearly half of Black doctors while already operating with limited resources

3. Worsen Health Disparities by decreasing culturally competent care for communities facing systemic healthcare neglect

4. Institutionalize Discrimination by punishing schools committed to inclusive learning environments

The Exploitation of Black Goodwill

As Black professionals, we have invested our time, talent, and trust in systems that consistently demonstrate their priorities:

• Our inclusion serves institutional optics rather than our empowerment

• Action comes only when reputations are at stake

• Diversity measures often center majority comfort over minority survival

Our Demands

The NABC calls for:

1. Immediate withdrawal of H.R. 3518

2. Protection of federal funding for HBCU medical programs

3. Accountability measures for institutions abandoning equity commitments

4. Centering of Black health outcomes in medical education policy

The Path Forward

True equity requires more than performative gestures - it demands sustained commitment when inconvenient and unobserved. The counseling community recognizes this legislation as part of a broader retreat from racial justice, and we will mobilize accordingly.

Take Action

1. Contact your congressional representatives

2. Support HBCU medical programs

3. Join NABC's advocacy efforts

#NABC #OpposeHR3518 #ProtectHBCUs #HealthEquityNow