ENDA [Employment Non-Discrimination Act] Congressional Record 6/10/97

JUL-02-97 09:19 FROM HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN ID:202+6284160 PAGE 2/5 Title E1176 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD Extensions of Remarks June 10, 1997 EMPLOYMENT NON- DISCRIMINATION ACT file HON. RICHARD A. GEPHARDT OF MISSOURI IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Tuesday, June 10. 1997 Mr. GEPHARDT. Mr. Speaker, today. 1 am Cam MALL To Arfort "BNIA" proud to be among 150 of my colleagues in the House of Representatives who have joined to introduce the Employment Non-Discrimina- tion Act [ENDA] of 1997. This legislation will extend to gay and lesbian Americans the same employment protections guaranteed to all other Americans without creating special rights or quotas. It is intolerable that in 39 States hard work- the ing women and men can be fired or turned down for a job just because of their sexual on- and entation. No woman should have to worry about receiving a pink slip because she is gay. No man should be denied a position or copy 8 promotion simply because no is gay. America is blessed with a diverse people and America works best when everyone is at lowed to contribute to his or her fullest poten- tial AS a nation, we take pride in our sense of fairness, and in fairness to all Americans it is time to put an end to all forms of employ- ment discrimination. The time has come for -the Congress of the United States to provide assurance to every American that his or her opportunity to get a job and to keep a job will be based on their abilities, not on their sexual orientation. Almost 70 percent of American voters believe that is the right thing to do and Congress should act accordingly. Last year, ENDA supporters were heartened by the near passage of the bill in the Senate. That the Senate vote on ENDA was 49-50. coupled with the fact that today there are 150 original ENDA cosponsors in the House- compared to 139 cosponsors in the last Con- gress-is proof that progress is indeed being made. Increasing support for and ultimately enact- ing ENDA will build upon our Nation's legacy of ensuring fairness in the workplace. We have outlawed employment discrimination based on race, gender, age, religion, or dis- ability. Let us now take the next important step. I urge my colleagues to lend their sup- port to this legislation so we can make it law in the 105th Congress.