Final answer:
Congress has used federal mandates to ensure states enforce civil rights laws, supported by the 14th Amendment, like Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, making the statement true.
Step-by-step explanation:
Congress has indeed frequently utilized federal mandates as a mechanism to ensure that states adhere to civil rights laws. This statement is true. Such mandates have been enforced on the basis of the 14th Amendment's equal protection clause.
An example of this is Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which permits the federal government to withdraw federal grants and file lawsuits against authorities engaging in racial discrimination. Furthermore, the Clean Air Act exemplifies a partial preemption regulation, setting national standards but leaving enforcement to the states.