Equality Act

Floor Speech

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Mrs. HARTZLER. Madam Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 5, the so-called Equality Act.

This bill should be called the inequality act as there is nothing equalizing about it. In fact, this bill hijacks the Civil Rights Act, codifying inequality into Federal law. Simply put, this piece of legislation blatantly discriminates against women, girls, parents, people of faith, and many more.

To start, H.R. 5 dismantles Title IX, ending equal opportunity for females in education and sports. Similar policies are already wreaking havoc at the local level. In Connecticut, the State's Interscholastic Athletic Conference accepts boys who identify as females in their competitions. Two of these male athletes have gone on to claim 15 women's track championship titles since 2017.

As someone who enjoyed playing sports and coaching high school track for many years, imagining the damage these policies will cause to women and girls is heartbreaking.

The inequality act further discriminates against a woman's right to privacy and protection, especially while seeking refuge in a domestic violence shelter. We have already seen similar policies in Alaska and California put vulnerable women in danger.

H.R. 5 also discriminates against parents. Parents who dare to oppose doctors performing life-changing surgeries or using hormone-altering drugs on their children will be considered abusive and neglectful. This has already happened in Ohio as a couple lost custody of their daughter after advocating against male testosterone supplements.

This abhorrent destruction of parental rights is why I introduced an amendment that would ensure parents retain their right to make important choices for their children, especially concerning mental and medical care. Predictably, Democrats did not even consider my amendment, highlighting their desire to silence the voices of families across the country.

Faith-minded individuals and organizations would also face discrimination under the inequality act, including adoption agencies and charities. Again, similar policies already exist in New York, Illinois, and Pennsylvania, forcing faith-based adoption agencies to shut down rather than violate their sincerely held religious beliefs. These policies only harm would-be parents and children in need of a forever home.

Shockingly, it doesn't stop there. The inequality act clearly stipulates that religious beliefs and faith no longer matter in the Democrats' new world order. Living by your faith will be viewed as evil instead of good.

Sadly, this bill contains no language to protect businesses or healthcare providers from being forced to pay for abortions. It also may require healthcare providers to facilitate abortion services.

The biggest impact? Hundreds of thousands more innocent, unborn children will tragically perish from abortion, with Americans footing the bill.

This grossly misnamed bill punishes everyday citizens, silences free speech, and instills discrimination. I urge my colleagues to vote ``no.''

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