Urged the Supreme Court to overturn the affirmative action policies of the University of Michigan.

 Instead of promoting affirmative action in federal contracting and education, the administration promotes "race neutral alternatives," which are ineffective at maintaining diversity and not applicable in many cases.

The Bush administration did not provide leadership to ensure timely passage and swift implementation of the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) of 2002. As a result, Congress did not appropriate funds for election reform until almost two years into the administration.

Bush's No Child Left Behind Act does not sufficiently address unequal education, a major barrier to closing the achievement gap between minority and white students.

When Congress broke early for the 2004 Martin Luther King Day weekend, Bush installed judicial nominee Charles Pickering on the federal appeals court. Senate Democrats had opposed confirming Pickering due to his long record of hostility toward civil rights. As a state senator, Pickering repeatedly voted against measures that would expand electoral opportunities for African Americans based on the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Civil rights groups have criticized Bush's low number of African American judicial nominees, particularly in states with substantial black populations.

The Bush administration responded to the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks by instituting regulations that encourage profiling rather than prevent it. Immigrants and visitors from Arab and Middle Eastern countries have been subjected to increased scrutiny, including interviews, registration, and in some cases removal.

Under Bush's direction the Environmental Protection Agency has taken few actions to remedy the disproportionate impact of environmental contamination in minority communities.

Voted in favor of expanding the federal hate crimes law to add prohibitions against sex-based, sexual orientation-based and disability-based hate crimes by supporting the Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act.

Voted in favor of making it easier for workers to sue employers for discrimination and allow women, religious minorities and people with disabilities to win compensatory and punitive damages for intentional discrimination.

In 1988, Kerry voted to override President Reagan's veto of a bill which provided broad coverage of four civil rights laws by making clear that, if one entity of an institution receives federal funds, the entire institution must abide by anti-discrimination laws.

  By voting for S. 1173 in 1998, supported affirmative action by setting aside ten percent of highway funds for women and minorities when applying for construction contracts.

Voted in favor of an amendment requiring states to take steps to reduce the disproportionate number of children of color who come in contact with the juvenile justice system.

Voted against a harsh drug control amendment which increased mandatory minimum sentences for cocaine offenses rather than providing cost-effective drug treatment.

Introduced the Women's Business Center Safeguard Act to increase subsidies for non-profit organizations working to help women-owned small businesses.