Senate Republicans used Thursday's vote on legislation to combat anti-Asian hate to renew the fight over affirmative action programs by proposing an amendment to halt federal funding for colleges that factor race into the admissions process. The proposed amendment which failed to pass in a 49-48 vote, would penalize universities for practices that discriminate against Asian Americans. GOP legislators have been pushing to end affirmative action programs in colleges and universities since the Justice Department under former President Donald Trump found it to be discriminatory against Asian American and white applicants.