A tense exchange at Texas legislative meeting sparks Dei’s debate

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L’Oreal Stepney, chairman of the Texas Water Development Committee, wiped tears from her eyes on Thursday. The home hearing has turned into a tense question about the future of race and national employment practices.

The exchange visibly distraught Stepney, sparking wider debates about political rhetoric and respect in state government, catching Texas’ “Big 3” eye – Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Col. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dustin Burrows.

At the Budget Committee meeting where state agencies present financial demands for the upcoming state budget, R-Midlothian Rep. Brian Harrison sued TWDB officials, including Stepney and another black employee Edna Jackson, reporting on whether the agency’s employment policies prioritized diversity over merit.

Hours after Stepney and Democrats defended her experience and records during the hearing, three top officials in the state also showed weight in favor of Stepney. Each revealed that she broadly supports her qualifications and services, avoiding direct comments about race and employment. In an interview Friday, Harrison said he never challenged Stepney qualifications and defended a series of questions as “perfect.”

The hearing was tense when Harrison pushed Stepney against the Water Committee’s written plan to support a diverse workforce. “I am unaware of laws or regulations that require your institution to engage in racially-based employment decisions that require you to reflect the diversity of society in general,” Harrison said. “…I think this is primary unconstitutional, as this should not be discriminated based on race for employment decisions and certainly not a job subsidized by my taxpayers.”

Harrison cited the language in the board’s strategic plan, which calls for staff to reflect Texas diversity, suggesting that this is unconstitutional and equivalent to racial-based employment. He pointed out Abbott’s executive order last year, raising tensions to state agencies about how to stop considering DEI initiatives in employment and how to make state employment and funding decisions. Diversity, equity, and inclusion policies support groups that have historically been underestimated or discriminated against.

Abbott has been speaking out in his opposition policy on DEI, but on Thursday evening the governor’s public comments simply expressed his support for his appointee Stepney. On social media, Abbott wrote:

“Water is one of the most important issues Texas deals with this session. No one is more confident in leading and implementing our water solutions than TWDB Chairman L’Oreal Stepney, and no one is.”

At the hearing, the exchange attracted Rep. Nicole Collier of D-Fort Worth.

“The need to correct 246 years of systemic racism when slavery is offensive,” Collier said. “It’s offensive to me and offensive to all black people.”

“So, thank you for doing your job based on your qualifications as a person. And I thank you and I will meet you. And I said that I said that for not only myself, but for all black women and all women.

Collier and the subcommittee chairperson, Rep. Armando Walle of D-Houston, stood up and brought tissues to Stepney, who was fighting back tears.

After a while, Stepney realized that she defended her own qualifications and dedication to Texas, as well as her agency work. She pointed to more than 30 years of experience managing the state’s most “valuable resources” twice from UT-Austin in civil and aerospace engineering.

“I’m never emotional. I admire him. I admire him that much,” Stepney said. “But what have I done? I’m protecting the 31 million Texan drinking water supply.”

“Washwater treatment facilities? I was responsible for issuing 600 of them a year. Texas has 3,500. Texas has 7,000 drinking water facilities. It was my responsibility to make sure they were done. They not only protected the environment, but also protected the Texas economy.”

Harrison did not directly accuse Stepney of Day’s employment, but the strength of his questions, particularly for the two black women representing TWDB, crystallized the ongoing political battle over Texas Day policy. The incident also emphasized strengthening the Texas government’s political rhetoric regarding DEI policies.

Harrison has positioned himself in recent months as the main opponent of things related to DEI. For example, even if current state law does not prohibit such courses, they regularly identify and target social media universities for curriculum delivery. The debate, which included a push from Democrats, escalated at the hearing on Thursday.

“We have already reached Goddam limits to attack people’s personalities, their qualifications, based solely on skin color,” Wall said. “We’re proud of Americans… that flag, it belongs to us all… so I’m urging my colleagues to stop attacking them.”

Lt. Colonel Patrick was also published on Thursday evening in praise of Stepney in a social media post calling her “one of the most respected, experienced and talented water experts in the country.”

Harrison’s question raised concerns about how such a discussion was being made.

R-Lubbock’s Burrows similarly weighed, releasing a statement on Twitter/X highlighting the importance of respectful discourse.

“House members are given a great latitude to ask questions about the investigation. But I expect all civil servants to be treated with the utmost respect and decency in their Texas homes,” Burrows said, adding that he personally contacted Stepney to express his gratitude for her service.

Harrison asked other state agencies, including the Texas Department of Transportation, for similar questions about their DEI policies. In an interview with the Texas Tribune on Friday, when asked about the exchange at the hearing, he called his questions “perfect” and “professional.” He said he didn’t question Stepney’s qualifications, but he only asked about the policy.

“There was clearly a decision to coordinate a completely fraudulent smear campaign as it exposes government authorized DEI,” Harrison said. “I’m not retreating. I’m going to keep fighting. The Texans deserve it. The Texans don’t want the hard-earned taxes that will be used in racist employment practices.”

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