Equality Caucus Condemns Passage of Anti-Equality Riders in FY25 Interior Appropriations Bill

WASHINGTON, DC — Today, the Congressional Equality Caucus released the following statement after the House passed H.R. 8998, the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2025:

“Instead of working to protect Americans from the worsening climate crisis, Republicans are using their majority to continuously attack LGBTQI+ rights,” said Rep. Mark Pocan (WI-02), Chair of the Congressional Equality Caucus. “Republicans are using their attacks against the queer community to distract from their inability to deliver on legislation that would safeguard our nation’s environment in any meaningful way."

BACKGROUND
H.R. 8998, the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2025, contains 5 anti-LGBTQI+ policy riders, including three riders that were in the bill when it was reported out of committee and two additional riders that were adopted via amendment on the floor:

Sec. 443: Blocking LGBTQI+ Inclusive DEI Executive Orders
Under this section, funds appropriated by the bill cannot be used to implement, administer, apply, enforce, or carry out:

• Executive Order No. 13985, “Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government”
• Executive Order No. 14035, “Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility in the Federal Workforce”
• Executive Order No. 14091, “Further Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government”

All of these Executive Orders are LGBTQI-inclusive.

Sec. 446: Ban on flying Pride flags.
This section prohibits funds from being used to fly or display the pride flag over covered facilities.

Sec. 447: Creating a license to discriminate against the LGBTQI+ community
This rider creates a license for people and organizations—including those receiving taxpayer funds—to discriminate against LGBTQI+ people under the guise of religious liberty, and it prevents the federal government from adequately responding.

For example, it prohibits the federal government from reducing or terminating a federal contract or grant with an organization that discriminates against LGBTQI+ people if the organization justifies their discrimination based on the belief that marriage should only be between a man and a woman. It similarly prohibits the federal government from reducing or terminating the employment of an employee who discriminates against LGBTQI+ people if the employee justifies their discrimination based on the belief that marriage should only be between a man and a woman.

For example:

• If a National Park Service employee refused to let married same-sex couples into a National Park, the employee could not be properly penalized for this conduct.
• If a security contractor for a Bureau of Indian Education-funded school refused to admit same-sex parents of students into the school for a student play or other event open to parents, BIE could not terminate that contract.

Bice #6: Drag show ban
This amendment prohibits funds from being used by the Smithsonian Institution for any drag show performance.
This amendment was adopted by voice vote on the House floor.

Brecheen #21: Banning IHS from Providing Medically Necessary Care for Transgender People
This amendment prohibits funds from being used “by the Indian Health Service to provide gender-transition services or gender-affirming care.”
This amendment was adopted by voice vote on the House floor.