Equality Caucus Condemns Passage of Energy and Water Appropriations Bill
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the Congressional Equality Caucus released the following statement condemning House passage of H.R. 4394, the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024.
"Once again, MAGA Republicans are prioritizing attacking LGBTQI+ people instead of passing bipartisan government funding bills," said Equality Caucus Chair Mark Pocan (WI-02). "Rather than focusing on lowering energy costs or addressing the climate crisis, MAGA Republicans are using this bill to encourage discrimination against the LGBTQI+ community. House Republicans should focus on the needs of the American people, not scoring political points with a small slice of their base by relentlessly attacking LGBTQI+ people."
The Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies bill included the following riders:
"License to Discriminate" Riders – Sec. 607
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. For example:
- If a regional economic development commission, like the Appalachian Regional Commission, funded an organization that discriminates against same-sex couples, the regional commission would not be able to terminate the grant.
DEI EO Riders – Sec. 606
This rider prohibits funds appropriated by the bill from being made available 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;" and
- Executive Order No. 14091, "Further Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through The Federal Government"
All these Executive Orders are LGBTQI-inclusive.
###