Congressman Tim Ryan Calls Out House Republicans for Perpetuating Women's Health Discrimination

Press Release

Congressman Tim Ryan (D-OH) introduced an amendment to the FY 2019 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Bill to protect employees from reproductive health discrimination during yesterday's full committee markup. Congressional Republicans rejected Ryan's amendment in an effort to use this bill to defund a law protecting employees in the District of Columbia from workplace discrimination based on reproductive health decisions.

"No man or woman should be discriminated against by an employer based on reproductive health decisions made outside of work. It is insulting that Congressional Republicans who usually loathe big government feel it is appropriate to interfere with local D.C. matters and undermine local control by burying provisions like this in larger bills. The local government of the District of Columbia understands that and acted on behalf of its citizens to protect them from such workplace discrimination. My amendment would have allowed the District of Columbia to continue funding the enforcement of its non-discrimination ordinance with local funding," said Congressman Tim Ryan.

The amendment was rejected by a voice vote.

Section 818 is a new provision prohibiting Federal and local funds from being used to carry out the Reproductive Health Non-Discrimination Amendment Act, or RHNDA, which was passed by the D.C. Council in 2014. Congressman Ryan's amendment would restore the District of Columbia's ability to use local funds--including local taxes and fees--to carry out its non-discrimination law and the will of its elected representatives.

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