Searching for and Cutting Regulations That Are Unnecessarily Burdensome Act of 2015

Floor Speech

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Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Speaker, I have a motion to recommit at the desk.

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Mr. CICILLINE. I am opposed to the bill in its current form.

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Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Speaker, this is the final amendment to the bill. It will not kill the bill or send it back to committee. If adopted, this bill will immediately proceed to final passage here on the floor, as amended.

This amendment is very simple. It would exempt from the requirements of the underlying bill a rule prohibiting discrimination by Federal contractors or subcontractors on the basis of sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity, and require such contractors to take affirmative measures to prevent discrimination on those bases from occurring.

This amendment is consistent with the executive order signed by President Obama on July 21, 2014, that added sexual orientation and gender identity to the list of protected categories covered by Federal contractors--protections that were originally put in place by President Lyndon Johnson, a leader who did so much to advance equality in our country.

Today, while we have made great strides in terms of marriage equality, members of the LGBT community still face significant discrimination in employment as well as a variety of other important areas of life.

As many of my colleagues are aware, it is still legal in most States to fire a qualified person from a job that they are performing well simply because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

Today, in many places across the country, a gay couple can get married on Saturday, post pictures online on Sunday, and get fired from their jobs or kicked out of their apartments on Monday. This is contrary to everything this country stands for, including the principle of equality upon which our country was founded.

I would like to point out, contrary to the sentiments of the American people, a majority of Americans, nearly 70 percent, support antidiscrimination laws to protect LGBT individuals. Unfortunately, there are those who would continue to stand in the way of full equality for all Americans, who think that it is okay that hardworking men and women simply trying to support their families suffer discrimination because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

That is why it is important to support the President in his effort to protect the LGBT community from discrimination in Federal contracting.

Just as businesses should not be able to discriminate based on race, ethnicity, gender, or disability, no entity that benefits from government money should be able to discriminate based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

The underlying bill we are discussing today would hinder the implementation of these nondiscrimination efforts, putting everyday Americans at risk of losing their jobs based on nothing more than who they are.

I am reminded of the story of Carter Brown, a young man from Texas who had built a thriving career in real estate in Dallas, Texas. Carter had received three promotions in 2 years, was earning a great salary and loved his job. But when he was outed as transgender by a colleague, Carter found himself harassed, ostracized, and ultimately fired from his job, and there was absolutely nothing he could do, because he was not protected under the law.

Carter bravely told his story earlier this year in the Lyndon Johnson Room of the Capitol Building as we announced the introduction of the Equality Act, which would place important protections for the LGBT community throughout our Federal Code.

The Equality Act would ensure that members of the LGBT community are protected from discrimination in areas of employment, credit, housing, education, Federal funding, jury service, and public accommodations. I am very proud that 171 of my colleagues in the House have joined in this effort and cosponsored this bill, and I urge the rest of my colleagues to sign on as well.

But until full equality is passed into Federal law, at the minimum, we should ensure that Federal money is not being used to discriminate against LGBT Americans by companies who receive Federal contracts. That is why I urge my colleagues to support this motion to recommit and ensure equality in our Federal contracting. Our Federal Government should not be used to promote or tolerate discrimination. It is contrary to the founding principles of our great country.

Mr. Speaker, I urge you to vote in support of this motion to recommit.

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Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

A recorded vote was ordered.

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