LGBTQ Business Equal Credit Enforcement and Investment Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. GREEN of Texas. Madam Speaker, it has been a preeminent privilege to serve under Chair Waters' leadership on the Financial Services Committee. I think I can say without question, reservation, hesitation, or equivocation that, under the gentlewoman's leadership, we have seen great change. But I also know this: that under her leadership, there is greater change to come. It is my honor to serve under the gentlewoman's leadership.

And still I rise, Madam Speaker, and I rise today to support H.R. 1443, the LGBTQ Business Equal Credit Enforcement and Investment Act. And I rise to thank the ranking member for his support of this legislation. He has been steadfast, and he has been true to his word.

I am honored to support this legislation, and I think that it is appropriate for me to address, first, the question of whether invidious discrimination exists.

Madam Speaker, if you deny that invidious discrimination exists, then you have to deny the existence of the KKK. To deny the existence of invidious discrimination would necessitate a denial of those who were in Charlottesville screaming: ``Blood and soil,'' ``Jews will not replace us.''

I believe the case is self-evident: invidious discrimination exists.

Currently, we have a system that allows us to collect the empirical evidence necessary to not only identify the invidious discrimination but also help us to prevent the invidious discrimination. This legislation is absolutely necessary to acquire the empirical intelligence so that we may go forward and prevent invidious discrimination.

By acquiring this intelligence, I might add, we will also deter some of the people who have good sense such that they won't commit invidious discrimination because they will be aware of the intelligence acquisition.

How do we do this? Here is how it happens: Currently, when you make your application, Madam Speaker, there is a place for you to indicate whether you are a minority person. If I am filling out the application, I would probably indicate that I am a minority person, although I don't like the term. I use it only to communicate. I do not like the term ``minority.'' But for the purpose of communicating today, I would indicate that I am a minority person.

The only thing this bill will do, as it relates to acquiring the intelligence, is give us another space so that we can now indicate that, if you so choose, Madam Speaker, you are a member of the LGBTQ- plus community.

In filling out this form, if I chose not to indicate I was a minority person, I wouldn't have to. I would just sign it, completing the other aspects of it, and I would be done with it.

It only allows for the placement of additional language on the document so that persons who desire to--and it is important to note, Madam Speaker, that you must have the desire; it is with intentionality, and you voluntarily do this--would indicate, if you choose to, that you are a member of the LGBTQ-plus community.

I must say, candidly, I really don't see how this can become the debate that it has become. At some point in this country, we have to understand that discriminating against people because of who they are is inappropriate. It is unlawful.

I am the son of a segregated South, where I was lawfully discriminated against. I know what it looks like. I know what it smells like. I know what it sounds like. I know what invidious discrimination tastes like. I drank from filthy colored water fountains in my lifetime.

I don't wish any of this type of behavior that I had to endure on anyone else, so I rise today in support of this legislation as a continuation of my mission to do all that I can to help others avoid the horrors of invidious discrimination.

I am so grateful to Chairwoman Waters for all she has done. She has always been a friend, not only to me, but to those who are among the least, the last, and the lost. And I thank the gentlewoman for all that she has done.

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