Freedom To Work Letter To Sen. Majority Leader Harry Reid

June 12, 2012 The Honorable Harry Reid Majority Leader United States Senate Washington, D.C.
20510 Re: Bring ENDA to a Vote on the Floor of the U.S. Senate This Summer. Dear Senator Reid: The Freedom to Work Advocacy Fund writes to thank you for your strong and repeated commitment to passing a fully inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), and to remind you of a promise you made in the fall of 2009 when you gave the following statement at a fundraiser of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Americans: The Senate will soon outlaw discrimination in the workplace by making it illegal to fire, refuse to hire or refuse to promote anyone simply based on his or her sexual orientation or gender identity. Its called the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, and Im committed to passing it out of the Senate and sending it to President Obama for his signature. Almost three years have passed since your promise that ENDA would pass soon, but still no Senate vote has been scheduled on this bi-partisan legislation introduced by Senators Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon) and Mark Kirk (R-Illinois). Thankfully, Chairman Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) today convened a Committee hearing in favor of the legislation, and ENDA could easily pass out of the Committee by a strong bi-partisan margin through a successful mark-up. Thus, we respectfully urge you to bring ENDA to a vote on the floor of the U.S. Senate this summer so that LGBT Americans do not have to wait any longer to know which of their Senators support their freedom to work without harassment or discrimination on the job, and which Senators still find it acceptable for Americans to be unjustly fired simply because of whom they love or their gender identity. After decades of delay on this critically important legislation, LGBT Americans need to know whether our elected officials stand with us. We deserve a vote. Freedom to Work understands that some radical Senator may launch a filibuster to block the ENDA legislation that is supported by super-majorities of the American people, in the same way that your attempt to pass the Paycheck Fairness Act for women was filibustered just last week. However, we commend your strong leadership in bringing forward that legislation to make sure women receive equal pay for equal work, and we believe ENDA deserves the same opportunity to be brought before the full United States Senate for consideration. Indeed, ENDA has more bipartisan support and more Republican sponsors than the bill you brought to the floor last week. We also note that the Obama Administration has stated its position in favor of passing ENDA through the Senate even if passage through the House of Representatives remains unlikely at this
time. Specifically, at the beginning of the current Congress, reporter Chris Johnson of the Washington Blade had the following exchange with President Barack Obamas counselor and press secretary Robert Gibbs at the White House press briefing: Washington Blade: Does the administration see value in passing ENDA in one chamber of Congress to build momentum for complete passage at a later time? White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs: Yeah, I think theres no doubt that whenever you get something done in one [chamber], youre closer to certainly seeing it come to fruition, so, yes, obviously. We agree with the Obama Administration on this point, and we believe the time is now right to build momentum for ENDA. Therefore, the Freedom to Work Advocacy Fund thanks you for your leadership promoting workplace fairness for all Americans, and we urge you to put timely action behind your strong words by scheduling a full Senate vote on ENDA for this summer. Respectfully,
Tico Almeida Founder and President Freedom to Work Advocacy Fund www.freedomtowork.org
cc:
The Honorable Chairman Tom Harkin The Honorable Senator Jeff Merkley The Honorable Senator Mark Kirk Honorable Members of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

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June 12, 2012 The Honorable Harry Reid Majority Leader United States Senate Washington, D.C.

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