The US House of Representatives passed the Equality Act today with a vote of 224–206, breaking largely on party lines. Three Republicans — John Katko and Tom Reed of New York, and Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania — joined the Dems in backing the bill, which would amend the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to federally ban discrimination against LGBTQ people.
Reports USA Today:
Rep. David Cicilline, D-R.I., who introduced the House measure, said “every American deserves respect and dignity,” and the Equality Act, if it became law, would “ensure that LGBTQ Americans can live lives free of discrimination.”
He said it was important to pass the legislation because many Americans thought the protections were already enshrined in law. The idea that Americans could be denied service in a restaurant simply because of their sexual orientation “doesn’t comport with our basic understanding of fairness and equality,” he said.
The House passed a similar version of the bill in May 2019, but it died in the then-Republican-controlled Senate. Eight Republicans voted for it in 2019, though no Republicans co-sponsored this year’s version of the legislation.
The bill faces an uncertain future in the Senate, which is split 50-50 between Republicans and Democratic caucus members, with Vice President Kamala Harris in a tiebreaking role. It would need at least 10 Republicans to vote with all Democrats to advance the bill past a key procedural obstacle called the filibuster.
Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said he would use his powers as majority leader to put the bill on the floor and would dare Republicans to vote against it, though he declined to say when he would bring the legislation up in the Senate.
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