Pallone Denounces Republicans for Holding Hearing on Discriminatory Anti-LGBT Legislation

Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) denounced House Republicans for holding a House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing on anti-LGBT legislation, H.R. 2802, the First Amendment Defense Act. The bill would allow any business that is not a publicly traded for-profit entity to discriminate against same-sex couples and their families, undermining critical anti-discrimination provisions for LGBTQ Americans. The hearing is inexplicably taking place on the one month anniversary of the shooting at Pulse night club in Orlando – where victims were targeted in part based on their sexual orientation.

“This bill would set a dangerous precedent by exempting many employers and businesses from providing equal opportunities and basic rights to LGBT individuals,” said Pallone. “This kind of discriminatory language has no place in America. The federal government has an obligation to eliminate unfair and discriminatory practices – not add them – and House Republicans should be ashamed for calling this hearing on the one month anniversary of the Orlando shooting.”