Tag Archives: Employment Non-Discrimination Act

The White House, Washington

Hello, all —

A group of extreme Republicans in Congress have opposed the President’s legislative agenda at every turn. That’s no secret.

But the 113th Congress‘ obstruction is reaching new levels.

Right now, our lawmakers are in a position to take action on multiple national measures that would help our economy and millions of Americans. That’s not an exaggeration: They could vote tomorrow. And they should.

We’ve put together a short list: Things the 113th Congress could vote on right now. Spread the word and pass this on.

Consider this for a second. If our current Congress simply scheduled a vote on pressing national issues, we could:

Fix our broken immigration system. This past June, the Senate passed a bill to ensure everyone plays by the same rules and we grow our economy. Multiple reports confirm that there are enough votes in the House to get it done. And still: No vote.

End workplace discrimination for millions of LGBT Americans once and for all. This isn’t difficult: Nobody should be discriminated against because of who they are or who they love. The Employment Non-Discrimination Act would make it illegal to fire someone based on their sexual orientation or gender identity, and it passed the Senate earlier this year. Once again, no vote in the House.

Confirm a leader of the Federal Housing Finance Agency. The housing market is coming back, but we can do more to help responsible homeowners. Congressman Mel Watt, the President’s nominee, was endorsed by Senators on both sides of the aisle. And yet, at a critical time for the housing industry, when we’re working to implement the rules that will prevent another “too big to fail,” Senate Republicans used the filibuster to block his nomination.

Confirm three well-qualified judges to fill long-standing vacancies on the federal D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals. Cornelia Pillard, Robert Wilkins and Patricia Millett were all selected by the President as nominees for this critical court. Once again, one by one, Senate Republicans blocked each nomination.

And that’s just to name a few.

In the 1940s, President Harry Truman notoriously dubbed the 80th Congress the “Do-Nothing Congress.” And yet, even they managed to enact 906 laws, including the Marshall Plan, and the piece of legislation that created the Department of Defense and the National Security Council. It’s time for the current Congress to match up a little more favorably.

Remember: They can still allow these incredibly important measures to come to a vote.

It’s time for this obstruction to come to an end, and for Republicans in Congress to start doing their jobs:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/share/the-113th-could-vote-right-now

David

David Simas Deputy Senior Advisor The White House @Simas44

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Will the House move into the 21st Century

11/08/2013 Nativegrl77

By CAP Action War Room

Senate Passes Landmark LGBT Rights Bill

Great News: It may have taken nearly two decades, but the Senate finally passed the Employment Non-Discrimination Act today on a strong, bipartisan vote of 64-32 (one supporter was absent). Support was unanimous among Democrats and 10 Republicans, including conservative Senators like Kelly Ayotte (NH), Pat Toomey (PA), and Orrin Hatch (UT), also supported the landmark civil rights legislation.

Only one Republican senator even bothered to speak against the bill.

Good News: Before passing the bill, the Senate also overwhelmingly defeated a very damaging amendment that would’ve negated many of the bill’s protections by dramatically and unnecessarily expanding the bill’s religious exemptions, which are already quite expansive.

Bad News: Even before today’s historic vote, Speaker Boehner (R-OH) and other GOP leaders in the House of Representatives already said they won’t bring up the bill, even though it would almost certainly pass with a combination of Democratic and Republican votes.

Ugly News: Shockingly, 32 Senate Republicans voted today to deny one of the most basic civil rights — the right to earn a living — to LGBT people.

Bonus News: Hawaii is set to pass marriage equality tomorrow, which would make it the 16th such state overall and the 2nd just this week!

Black History

the Senate CONGRESS 11/7 the House

11/07/2013 Nativegrl77

The Senate stands adjourned until 10:00am on Thursday, November 7, 2013. Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of S.815, the Employee Non-Discrimination Act.

During Wednesday’s session of the Senate cloture was filed on S.815. As a result, the first degree amendment filing deadline is 10:30am and the 2^nd degree amendment filing deadline is 11:30am.

At 11:45am, there will be 2 roll call votes in relation to the following:

– Toomey amendment #2013 (broadens the number of groups covered under the religious exemption) (60-vote threshold) and

(the committee-reported substitute amendment will be agreed to by unanimous consent)

– Motion to invoke cloture on S.815, ENDA, as amended If cloture is invoked, there will be a 3^rd roll call vote at 1:45pm on passage of S.815, ENDA, as amended.

11:52am The Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on the Toomey amendment #2013 (broadens the number of groups covered under the religious exemption);

Not Agreed To: 43-55

Next votes:

Immediately following Toomey vote:

– Cloture on S.815, ENDA, as amended.

1:45pm:

– Passage of S.815, ENDA, as amended

12:21pm The Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on S.815, ENDA, as amended

Invoked: 64-34

2014 Senate Calendar – 113^th Congress, Second Session

Convene – January 6, 2014

January 20 – 24 State Work Period (Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday January 20)

February 17 – 21 State Work Period (Presidents’ Day February 17)

March 17-21 State Work Period

April 14 – 25 State Work Period (Passover begins April 15; Good Friday April 18; Easter April 20)

May 26 – May 30 State Work Period (Memorial Day May 26)

June 30 – July 4 State Work Period (Independence Day July 4)

August 4 – September 5 State Work Period (Labor Day September1)

Target adjournment – TBD

At 1:50pm, the Senate began a roll call vote on passage of S.815, the Employee Non-Discrimination Act, as amended.

Passed: 64-32

Prior to adjourning today, Senator Reid filed cloture on Executive Calendar #346, the nomination of Cornelia T.L. Pillard, of the District of Columbia, to be United States Circuit Judge for the District of Columbia Circuit; and on the motion to proceed to Calendar #236, H.R.3204, a bill to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act with respect to human drug compounding and drug supply chain security.

By consent, the cloture vote on the Pillard nomination will occur at 5:30pm on Tuesday, November 12. If cloture is not invoked, the Senate would proceed immediately to the cloture vote on the motion to proceed to H.R.3204, Drug Quality and Security Act. If cloture is invoked on the nomination, the cloture vote on the motion to proceed to H.R.3204 would occur upon disposition of the nomination.

WRAP UP

ROLL CALL VOTES

1) Toomey amendment #2013 (broadens the number of groups covered under the religious exemption); Not Agreed To: 43-55

2) Motion to invoke cloture on S.815, the Employee Non-Discrimination Act, as amended; Invoked: 64-34

3) Passage of S.815, ENDA, as amended; Passed: 64-32

Additional LEGISLATIVE ITEMS

Discharged Foreign Relations and adopted S.Res.280, recognizing the 40^th anniversary of the withdrawal of U.S. combat troops from the Vietnam War and expressing renewed support for United States veterans of that conflict.

Began the Rule 14 process of S.1661, to require the Secretary of State to offer rewards of up to $5,000,000 for information regarding the attacks on the United States diplomatic mission at Benghazi, Libya that began September 11, 2012.

No EXECUTIVE ITEMS

——————————————————————-

Last Floor Action:
5:11:55 P.M. – The House adjourned
pursuant to a previous special order.

The next meeting is scheduled for 10:00
a.m. on November 12, 2013, unless the House receives a message from the Senate
transmitting its adoption of H. Con. Res. 62, in which case the House shall
stand adjourned pursuant to that concurrent resolution.

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Pass ENDA

05/03/2013 Nativegrl77

Tell Congress: Pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) Now!

discrimination map

It’s way past due that that we, as a country, say no to employment discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

Please take action right now by adding your name to our message to members of Congress telling them to PASS ENDA without delay.

WWW.PFAW.Org

sign the petition

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Video: “It’s a pretty simple proposition” …Jamie Citron, BarackObama.com

10/07/2011 Nativegrl77

I wanted to make sure you heard about this: At the most recent Republican debate, the audience booed a gay service member who asked the candidates if they would try to undo the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” And during the debate not a single one of the Republican candidates stepped up to support him, or even so much as thanked him for his service — even though he is fighting for our country every single day.

No member of our armed forces should face that kind of disrespect. So when President Obama spoke at the Human Rights Campaign‘s annual dinner this past weekend, he called out the Republican candidates for failing to stand up for all of our men and women in uniform. Check it out:

We should be proud of the work we all did to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” pass hate crimes legislation, extend benefits to the same-sex partners of federal employees, and more. And the organizing work we’re doing now for 2012 will help us protect what we’ve won and keep moving our nation forward towards equality. As the President put it, “every single American deserves to be treated equally in the eyes of the law and in the eyes of our society. It’s a pretty simple proposition.”

During his speech, he spoke of his commitment to repealing the Defense of Marriage Act, passing the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, and making our schools safe for every student — just a few examples of the progress he’s been working for since before the 2008 campaign. He also said we have to keep working to ensure our families and our country as a whole prosper — creating jobs, bringing economic security to the middle class, and ensuring everyone has access to an affordable education affect LGBT Americans just as much as everyone else and are our fights, too.

This movement we’re building can break through the gridlock and inaction. We’ve already proved that.

Watch some highlights from the speech here, then ask your friends who care about equality to watch, too, and join up:

http://my.barackobama.com/President-Obama-Dinner-Speech

There’s a lot more to do. It matters that you’re in for the fights ahead.

Thanks,

Jamie

Jamie Citron
Director, LGBT Vote
Obama for America