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Sponsor urges favorable report for DEI resolution affirming Maryland commitment to inclusion
Summary
Delegate Ashanti Martinez presented House Joint Resolution 4 affirming Maryland's commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion; testimony included remarks from a civil‑rights advocacy director emphasizing DEI as nonpartisan and essential to equal opportunity.
Delegate Ashanti Martinez presented House Joint Resolution 4 to reaffirm Maryland’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). Martinez framed the measure as a nonpartisan affirmation that DEI supports a merit-based system by removing barriers that prevent qualified people from competing on a level playing field.
Zainab Jodhry, identified in the transcript as the director for CARES in Maryland, spoke in support and thanked the sponsor. Jodhry told the committee CARES works to protect civil rights and cited federal civil-rights statutes and the Americans with Disabilities Act as part of the historical arc toward inclusion. "This resolution recognizes the essential role that DEI plays in fostering inclusive communities where every individual can thrive," she said.
Sponsor and witnesses said the resolution is a statement of values amid national debates over DEI policies; no committee vote was recorded in the hearing transcript.
