As part of its Data for Black America Project, the Joint Center partnered with the National Opinion Research Center (NORC) at the University of Chicago to survey Americans across race and ethnicity to understand the importance of priorities for members of Congress. 

With the 118th Congress being the most diverse in history — about 25% identify as people of color — the governing body has the power to produce more inclusive legislation that better represents the 41% of the American population who identify as people of color. As Congress works on several priorities through the end of the year, the Joint Center is releasing the survey results to inform members of what Americans say they should be prioritizing.

Respondents evaluated several issue areas in terms of their level of importance. Across racial groups, Black respondents were most likely to rank all the race conscious policies as top priorities for members of Congress, women on average rated racial priorities higher than men, and those with a Bachelor’s degree rated racial priorities higher than those with no high school diploma. 

The racial equity issues include making sure that the laws Congress passes do not discriminate against groups by race; passing legislation that helps to decrease racial inequality; and passing legislation to make sure that every American has the right to vote. On each of these topics, the survey asked respondents to identify whether the issue should be a top priority, an important but lower priority, not too important a priority, or something that should not be done. 

Report topline results:

Over 70% of respondents (73%) believe that passing legislation to make sure that every American has the right to vote should be an important or top priority for Congress. 

Black respondents (80%) and Asian American/Pacific Islander, multiracial, other non-Hispanic respondents (87%) are more likely than White respondents (74%) and Hispanic respondents (61%) to believe that passing legislation to make sure that every American has the right to vote should be an important or top priority for Congress.

Almost three-quarters of respondents (72%) thought that making sure the laws passed by Congress do not discriminate against groups by race should be an important or top priority.

Black respondents (79%) are more likely to believe that making sure the laws passed by Congress do not discriminate against groups by race should be an important or top priority, than White respondents (72%), Asian American/Pacific Islander, multiracial, other non-Hispanic respondents (70%), and Hispanic respondents (63%). 

Over 60% of all respondents say that passing legislation that helps to decrease racial inequality should be an important or top priority for Congress.

Black (73%) and Asian American/Pacific Islander, multiracial, other non-Hispanic respondents (70%) are more likely than Hispanic respondents (63%) and White respondents (57%) to believe that passing legislation that helps to decrease racial inequality should be an important or top priority for Congress.

Half of all respondents say that hiring a staff who reflects the diversity in their community should be an important or top priority for Congress.

Black respondents (76%) are significantly more likely than Asian American/Pacific Islander, multiracial, other non-Hispanic respondents (55%), Hispanic respondents (45%), and White respondents (44%) to believe that hiring a staff who reflects the diversity in their community should be an important or top priority for Congress.