The Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987 was an important piece of legislation that sought to overturn the Supreme Court's decision in Grove City College v. Bell, which had severely restricted the reach of civil rights laws in the United States.

The Grove City College case involved a private college in Pennsylvania that was receiving federal financial assistance, but argued that only certain programs within the college were subject to Title IX regulations prohibiting sex discrimination. The Supreme Court ruled in favor of Grove City, leading to a restriction in how civil rights laws were applied to institutions receiving federal funding.

In response to this decision, Congress passed the Civil Rights Restoration Act in 1987. This Act expanded the reach of civil rights laws to cover all programs and activities of institutions or entities receiving federal financial assistance, not just specific programs. It effectively restored the original intent of civil rights laws to combat discrimination in all aspects of society.

The Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987 was a significant victory for civil rights advocates and played a crucial role in strengthening protections against discrimination in the United States. It ensured that federal funds could not be used to support discriminatory practices, and reaffirmed the government's commitment to promoting equality and justice for all.