Kathy Castor

Ms. CASTOR

Ms. CASTOR. Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Sessions). All time yielded during consideration of the rule is for debate only. I yield myself such time as I may consume. General Leave

Ms. CASTOR. Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Ms. CASTOR. Then I will reserve the balance of my time. Because I have the right to close, I will wait for the gentleman from Texas to make his closing remarks, and then I will make my closing statement.

Ms. CASTOR. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 802 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Ms. CASTOR

Ms. CASTOR. No, I do not.

Ms. CASTOR. Mr. Speaker, I also ask unanimous consent that all Members be given 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on House Resolution 793.

Ms. CASTOR. Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to my colleague from the Rules Committee, the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Hastings). All time yielded during consideration of the rule is for debate only. I yield myself such time as I may consume. General Leave

Ms. CASTOR. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 793 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Ms. CASTOR. I do not yield.

Ms. CASTOR. Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 793 provides for consideration of H.R. 3685, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2007, under a structured rule. The rule provides for 1 hour of general debate controlled by the Committee on Education and Labor. The rule waives all points of order against consideration of the bill except clauses 9 and 10 of rule XXI. The rule makes in order three amendments that are included in the Rules Committee report. The rule also provides one motion to recommit, with or without instructions. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to rise today in support of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2007 and passage of this rule. By passing this bipartisan legislation today, the House of Representatives will take another step, important step, towards equality for all Americans. During the 230-year-plus history of our great Nation, the march towards equality under the law for all of our citizens has sometimes been slow, but it has been steady. Over time, Congress has outlawed discrimination in the workplace, based upon a person's race, gender, age, national origin, religion and disability, because when it comes to employment and hiring and firing and compensation and promotion, these decisions are rightly based upon a person's qualifications and job performance. Sometimes the fight for equality has been slow in coming indeed. This legislation that outlaws job discrimination based upon sexual orientation that the Congress will pass today was first introduced over 30 years ago. It is long past time to ensure that no one in our country can be discriminated against and fired from their job based upon who they are, whether it is their race, their color, whether they are a man or a woman, or whether they are gay. Private companies across America know this and are way ahead of the politicians here in Washington. Many of our neighbors back home would be shocked to learn that millions of Americans can be fired from their jobs or refused work or paid less and otherwise subjected to employment discrimination without regard for the quality of their work and without any recourse under Federal law. While many States, cities, and counties across the country have outlawed job discrimination on their own, many States and localities have not. I am proud that the cities of Tampa and St. Petersburg that I represent have outlawed job discrimination against gays and lesbians, but our counties have not, unfortunately. The Employment Non-Discrimination Act protects all Americans, no matter where they live, by making it illegal to fire, refuse to hire, and refuse to promote employees based upon a person's sexual orientation. See, in America no person should have to worry about the security of their job because of their sexual orientation. Our country bases employment evaluation on hard work and on a job well done. Making employment decisions on anything else is unacceptable. In fact, 90 percent of Fortune 500 companies in the United States have adopted policies similar to the legislation that the Congress will pass today. And a broad coalition of businesses and community organizations strongly support this landmark civil rights legislation, including the Human Rights Campaign; the Anti-Defamation League; Central Conference of American Rabbis; the National Education Association; the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights; and, I am proud to say, the NAACP. I am proud that this Congress will stand up for equality for all Americans and stand behind our values and understanding that we do not discriminate against our neighbors for any reason, and we should be able to live comfortably with the knowledge that our neighbors will not discriminate against us. The passage of this legislation will remove a legitimate fear that exists among us that we may lose our job and be unable to provide for our families when someone decides to exercise intolerance and prejudices against us and our neighbors in the workplace. Thanks to extraordinary leaders in Congressman Barney Frank, Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin, Chairman George Miller, Congressman Rob Andrews, Congressman Chris Shays, Congresswoman Deborah Pryce, and so many others that will stand up for Americans here in this body today and pass this law, I thank them for their leadership and their commitment to equality for all Americans. And I agree with them that passing this historic nondiscrimination act will bring our Nation closer to our goal and our promise of equality for all Americans. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. CASTOR. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Weiner).

Ms. CASTOR. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Holt), another outspoken advocate of equality for all Americans.

Ms. CASTOR. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Maloney), an outspoken advocate for equality for all Americans.

Ms. CASTOR. Mr. Speaker, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act is sensitive to religious organizations and our fundamental religious beliefs and tenets, and it includes a very broad religious exemption. In fact, we are going to debate later on the Miller amendment that, if adopted, would make clear that ENDA exempts the same group of religious organizations that are currently exempt from prohibition on religious discrimination under title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Now, we know not everyone, not every employer will agree that gay people should be protected from employment discrimination. But for the betterment and advancement of our society as a whole, ENDA would overrule that judgment so that Americans are treated fairly and equally. But nothing in ENDA or in any civil rights law that has come before us in the history of this country affects the ability, the God- given right of a person to hold contrary beliefs based on religion or otherwise. At this time I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Kucinich).

Ms. CASTOR. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Nadler).

Ms. CASTOR. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to yield 2\1/2\ minutes to a Member of Congress that continuously and forcefully speaks out for equality for all Americans, Congresswoman Barbara Lee from California.

Ms. CASTOR. And I do not yield.

Ms. CASTOR. And I object.

Ms. CASTOR. I object.

Ms. CASTOR. Mr. Speaker, I am happy to answer. I do wish Ms. Baldwin would allow a vote on the amendment. I strongly support the amendment, as many of those in the Congress do. But this was her request, and this is the way the rule has been structured.

Ms. CASTOR. I thank my colleague, but I will not yield at this time.

Ms. CASTOR. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 4 minutes to the chairman of the Financial Services Committee, a gentleman who has devoted a large part of his career to fighting discrimination and prejudice in the workplace, Barney Frank from Massachusetts.

Ms. CASTOR

Ms. CASTOR. Mr. Speaker, before the House today is the Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2007 and the rule for debate. This bipartisan legislation from the people's House, the House of Representatives, marks another important step towards equality for all Americans. You see, during the 230-plus-year history of our great country, the march toward equality under the law for all citizens has sometimes been slow, but it has been steady. Over time, this Congress has outlawed discrimination in the workplace based upon a person's race, gender, age, national origin, religion and disability. When it comes to employment and hiring and firing and compensation and promotion, these decisions are rightly based upon a person's qualifications and job performance. Our bill today will extend civil rights protections to sexual orientation. On this proud day of the 110th Congress, we will chart a new direction for civil rights. On this proud day, the Congress will act to ensure that all Americans are granted equal civil rights in the workplace. The underlying value of Americans everywhere is to be treated fairly in our jobs and workplaces. On this hopeful day for America, we will stand up for citizens who previously lived in fear that they will lose their jobs due to their employers' prejudices. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this landmark civil rights act. I urge a ``yes'' vote on the previous question and on the rule.

Ms. CASTOR. Mr. Speaker, I'm the last Member to speak on my side. So I will reserve the balance of my time until my colleague from Washington has made his closing remarks.

Ms. CASTOR. Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.