One Week Later the U.S. House Gets it Right on Anti-Discrimination Employment Language

Press Release

For the second time in the past week, the U.S. House of Representatives considered legislative proposals aimed at protecting federal contractors and their employees from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

The first vote on the protection measure took place on May 19th when an amendment offered by New York Congressman Maloney failed to pass the House. Late Wednesday evening the House approved the Maloney language after it was amended to also include the protection of personal religious beliefs of federal contractors and their employees.

Iowa Congressman David Young, consistent with his position and previous votes on the issue, cast his vote in favor of the amendment Wednesday evening because it contained the additional language protecting the personal religious beliefs of Iowans.

"Every human being deserves to be treated with fairness, respect, and equality under the law," said Congressman Young following his vote for the Maloney amendment. "The language offered this evening offers vital workplace protections from discrimination of both personal religious beliefs and sexual orientation. It is a commonsense solution which furthers policies that adhere to our nation's principles and religious beliefs."

The need for protection of religious organizations arose from guidance from federal agencies following the issuance of executive orders by President Obama dealing with employment protections related to federal contractors. The guidance threatened the work by religious service providers in providing important services to refugees, homeless individuals, veterans, children, prisoners, and many others.

The move to modify the amendment to include the added protections was unanimously accepted by both Democrats and Republicans, including Maloney, earlier Wednesday. The modified amendment was passed by the House by a bipartisan vote of 233-186.

Congressman Young also supported additional language to the bill which provides protection to "any religious corporation, religious association, religious educational institution, or religious society" that receives a federal contract. The amendment also passed in a bipartisan vote of 233-186.

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