Norton to Praise Employers Who Embrace D.C.’s Anti-Discrimination Laws Despite Congressional Attacks at Press Conference, Today

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) will speak at a press conference, organized by NARAL Pro-Choice America, with national organizations and the District of Columbia business community to oppose congressional action to overturn two landmark District of Columbia non-discrimination laws today, Tuesday, June 23, 2015, at 12:30 p.m. at Cork Market (1805 14^th St. NW).

"Republicans do not understand how united this city is against discrimination, and they do not need to; they just need to let the District be the District," Norton said. "Today's press conference with our business community sends a strong message that even anti-discrimination laws aimed at employers are embraced by employers in this town. Our Republican opponents claim that the Reproductive Health Non-Discrimination Act will allow pro-choice employees of anti-choice organizations to espouse their own personal pro-choice beliefs. That falsehood must be met with the truth that employees must carry out the mission of their employer. However, they now cannot be fired for personal, reproductive health decisions made off the job."

Last week, the House Appropriations Committee approved a rider in the fiscal year 2016 D.C. Appropriations bill blocking D.C. from using its local funds to enforce the Reproductive Health Non-Discrimination Act, which prohibits employers in D.C. from discriminating based on employees' reproductive health decisions. Norton noted that two Republican members voted against the rider, a rare break for Republicans, who almost always vote party-line in committee. Norton said she will force a floor vote to remove the rider when the bill goes before the full U.S. House of Representatives. Norton also said she is actively fighting Members from introducing a rider to block a another recently enacted D.C. anti-discrimination law, the Human Rights Amendment Act, which repealed a congressionally imposed provision that allowed schools in D.C. to deny LGBT students equal access to school facilities and services.

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