Obama calls on House to approve gay protections bill ENDA
Thu. December 5, 2013 9:43 AM by Carlos Santoscoy
Washington, D.C. -
President Barack Obama on Wednesday reiterated his call for Congress to approve the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), which seeks to prohibit workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
Following passage last month in the Senate, House Speaker John Boehner, a Republican from Ohio, said that he sees "no need" for the ENDA when asked whether he would allow a vote on the legislation.
The president made his remarks while addressing a Town Hall Education Arts Recreation Campus (THEARC) audience in Washington, D.C.
"And as we empower our young people for future success, the third part of this middle-class economics is empowering our workers," Obama said. "It's time to ensure our collective bargaining laws function as they're supposed to so unions have a level playing field to organize for a better deal for workers and better wages for the middle class. It's time to pass the Paycheck Fairness Act so that women will have more tools to fight pay discrimination. It's time to pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act so workers can't be fired for who they are or who they love."
Republican House members Charlie Dent, Chris Gibson, Richard Hanna, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and Jon Runyan this week signed on to a bipartisan letter urging Boehner to bring ENDA up for a vote.
Following passage last month in the Senate, House Speaker John Boehner, a Republican from Ohio, said that he sees "no need" for the ENDA when asked whether he would allow a vote on the legislation.
The president made his remarks while addressing a Town Hall Education Arts Recreation Campus (THEARC) audience in Washington, D.C.
"And as we empower our young people for future success, the third part of this middle-class economics is empowering our workers," Obama said. "It's time to ensure our collective bargaining laws function as they're supposed to so unions have a level playing field to organize for a better deal for workers and better wages for the middle class. It's time to pass the Paycheck Fairness Act so that women will have more tools to fight pay discrimination. It's time to pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act so workers can't be fired for who they are or who they love."
Republican House members Charlie Dent, Chris Gibson, Richard Hanna, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and Jon Runyan this week signed on to a bipartisan letter urging Boehner to bring ENDA up for a vote.
Article provided in partnership with On Top Magazine