The
Employment Non-Discrimination Act (H.R. 3685) was favorably reported out of the
House Education & Labor committee by a vote of 27 – 21. Four
amendments were offered to the legislation in order to highlight the severe
danger it poses to religious liberty and to illustrate the litigation nightmare
that would ensue if enacted into law.
ENDA will
be voted on soon (most likely early next week) so keep calling your
representative and urging him or her to vote “No” on ENDA (H.R. 3685)!
Also, an amendment will most likely be offered on the House floor which would
add “transgender” people (cross dressers, sex-change recipients, etc.) to the
special privileges and regulations established by this law.
Continue
reading for more information on the amendments offered and some of the
statements made during committee markup today.
Rep. Souder
(R-IN) proposed three amendments:
- The first attempted to strike
the word “perceived” from the legislation as prosecuting employer
discrimination based on “perception” would pose a litigation
nightmare. The amendment was rejected by a vote of 18 - 30.
- The second attempted to protect
the rights of employers to require potential employees to be married in
order to be accepted for certain jobs. Group homes, some of which
require house parents to be married couples, and Christian bookstores (who
do not receive protection under the religious freedom exemption) would be
unable to use marital status as a requirement for employment
otherwise. The amendment also highlighted the threat to
non-denominational para-church organization’s ability to have and enforce
sexual behavior guidelines based on religious conviction. This
amendment also was rejected by a vote of 18 - 30.
- The third attempted to protect
employees with strong religious convictions against homosexuality (or
other preferences) from being discriminated against for refusing to
participate in activities (like certain sensitivity training or “gay pride”
events) that violate their beliefs. This amendment failed by a vote
of 19 - 29.
Rep.
Hoekstra (R-MI) proposed one amendment seeking to exempt Christian schools
(pre-school to university level) from being forced to hire employees who do not
hold to their standards for sexual morality. Rep. Walberg (R-MI)
submitted for the record letters from Christians colleges concerned that ENDA
would endanger their “mission” which is partially religious in nature.
Rep. Hoekstra voiced his concerns with ENDA by saying “the more I hear, the
more I’m disturbed” and concluding that the legislation was a direct “attack on
faith-based institutions.” The Hoekstra amendment failed by a vote of 21
– 27.
Several representatives
in attendance defended ENDA, but liberal members promised to vote against the
bill unless it were amended to include “transgendered” individuals.
Expect a
vote on this dangerous ENDA legislation (H.R. 3685) early next week.