Washington, D.C. - Energy and Commerce Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) and Consumer Protection and Commerce Subcommittee Chair Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) announced today that the Consumer Protection and Commerce Subcommittee will hold a hearing on the importance of diversity and inclusion in the technology sector on Wednesday, March 6, at 10:30 am in room 2322 of the Rayburn House Office Building. The hearing will be entitled, “Inclusion in Tech: How Diversity Benefits All Americans." The hearing, initially scheduled for Feb. 14, was postponed due to the funeral service for the late Chairman John D. Dingell.
“People of color, women, and older Americans are largely absent from the workforce of American technology companies," said Pallone and Schakowsky. “Tools like algorithms are being used to make decisions, like who gets a job or a loan, that deeply affect people’s lives. Yet designers of these technologies often don’t take into consideration the full diversity of America. As a result, their products often have biased results that lead to discriminatory outcomes. We look forward to exploring the effects of these biases and need for inclusion in the sector’s workforce."
Information for this hearing, including the Committee Memorandum, witness list and testimony, and a live webcast, will be posted HERE as they become available.
