Human and Civil Rights

This morning, the House Judiciary Committee marked up H.R. 5, the Equality Act.  Now that it has secured Committee approval, I will bring it to the Floor for a vote this month. 

Today, we observe the anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, a tragedy that claimed the lives of 1.5 million people.

This week, the House passed the Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization of 2019, a five-year reauthorization introduced by Rep. Karen Bass (CA-37), with bipartisan support.

This legislation was introduced by Representative Karen Bass. It’s a five-year reauthorization. 

Thank you [Representative] Joe Kennedy. Things come to the Floor because somebody has the courage to sponsor, to push, and to move forward. 

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the resolution, introduced by my friend, the gentleman from Massachusetts, [Representative Joe] Kennedy.

House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (MD) announced today that the House will vote next Thursday, March 28, on a resolution introduced by Congressman Joe Kennedy III (MA-04), Chair of the Equality Caucus’s Transgender Equality Task Force, which rejects President Trump’s ban on transgender Americans serving in the military and urges the Department of Defense to not reinstate a discriminatory policy.  

Exploiting anti-Semitism for partisan advantage is dangerous and wrong. 

Protecting LGBT Americans and their families against discrimination remains a top priority of House Democrats, and our reintroduction of the Equality Act today reflects our commitment to doing so. 

As we celebrate International Women’s Day, I join in paying tribute to the women who have worked hard to advance the causes of justice, equality, and opportunity. 

It is important to call out anti-Semitism in a way that is unmistakable and unambiguous. 

I thank Rep. Bass for introducing legislation today to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act.

“I’m proud to stand with my colleagues and with advocates to introduce this bill, which is long overdue,” said House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer. “

I am pleased to be here. I am pleased to be here with President Reardon [of the National Treasury Employees Union]. Tony, thank you very much for your leadership.

As Americans commemorate Women’s History Month, there is much for us to celebrate.

As we begin the celebration of Black History Month today, we look to the extraordinary story of African Americans in our country, enriching our national life through civic leadership, military service, business, the arts, science, literature, sports, and entertainment. 

Lilly [Ledbetter], thank you for your courage. Adriana [Hutchings], thank you for your courage. Thank you for all those who are wearing the “Ms” on your t-shirts. You make a difference.

Today marks International Holocaust Remembrance Day, set aside by the nations of the world to reflect on the horrors of the Nazis’ program of genocide against Jews, Poles, Roma, LGBT people, and others, which led to the murder of 11 million innocent civilians between 1933 and 1945.

I am very concerned that the Supreme Court is allowing the Trump Administration to continue discriminating against transgender Americans wishing to serve their country as litigation over this issue continues. 

As we join together to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day, let us reaffirm his message of brotherhood and sisterhood as a foundation for our common enterprise of American democracy. 

There can be no room for racist and bigoted language aimed at hate and harm in our national discourse, and I join in the wholehearted condemnation of Rep. Steve King’s comments.

Ninety years ago today, our nation was blessed with the arrival of the most consequential American of the twentieth century and one of the brightest lights in the history of our country. 

Eight years ago today, my friend and colleague former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords was shot and nearly killed in a horrific act of gun violence.

Everyone agrees that our criminal justice system is broken.