The words "Negro" and "Oriental" are finally going to be stripped from federal law soon.
The U.S. Senate approved H.R.4238 on Tuesday night, which stipulates that outdated and offensive terms such as "Negro" and "Oriental" that refer to marginalized ethnic and racial groups must be removed from federal law and replaced with terms like "Asian American" and "African American."
The bill was first introduced in December 2015 by Democratic New York Representative Grace Meng, and specifically targets the Department of Energy Organization Act and the Local Public Works Capital Development and Investment Act of 1976.
The former contains the phrase, "a Negro, Puerto Rican, American Indian, Eskimo, Oriental, or Aleut or is a Spanish speaking individual of Spanish descent." The latter has a line that reads, "Negroes, Spanish-speaking, Orientals, Indians, Eskimos, and Aleuts." Both will be updated with "modernized" language, according to the text of the bill.
Meng released a statement on Tuesday explaining why she feels the bill is so important:
The word 'Oriental' is a derogatory and antiquated term and the passage of this legislation will soon force the United States government to finally stop using it. I thank my colleagues in the House and Senate for understanding that the time has come for our government to no longer refer to Asian Americans, or any ethnicity, in such an insulting manner. Repealing this term is long overdue. 'Oriental' no longer deserves a place in federal law, and very shortly it will finally be a thing of the past.
The bill is now on its way to U.S. President Barack Obama for approval.
Meng did not immediately respond to Complex's request for comment.
