[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 125 (Wednesday, July 25, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1069-E1070]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       DR. BENJY FRANCES BROOKS CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL GME SUPPORT 
                      REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2018

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 23, 2018

  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 4100, 
the Foundation of the Federal Bar Association Charter Amendments Act of 
2017.
  H.R. 4100 amends title 36 of the United States Code to revise the 
Federal charter for the Foundation of the Federal Bar Association, to 
prohibit the use of race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual 
orientation, or national origin in determining eligibility for service 
as an officer or director.
  The Federal Bar Association is the nation's premiere association for 
practitioners of federal law and as such should be open to all 
regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.
  Currently, the FBA recognizes the importance of nondiscrimination and 
has adopted a diversity statement that includes race, gender, 
ethnicity, national origin, religion, age, disability, sexual 
orientation, and gender identity.
  Diversity statements are valuable but they do not carry the weight of 
law.
  The addition of a nondiscrimination provision to the FBA Charter is 
an important action and when gender identity is an enumerated protected 
characteristic in the law, transgender people will be protected from 
discrimination.
  Discrimination on the basis of gender identity is a form of sex 
discrimination, and laws prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sex 
protect transgender people.
  Numerous federal circuit and district courts opinions have held that 
our nation's nondiscrimination laws that prohibit discrimination on the 
basis of sex protect transgender people from discrimination, including 
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Equal Credit Opportunity 
Act, and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972.
  The EEOC determined in Macy v. Holder that Title VII's prohibitions 
on sex discrimination also prohibit discrimination on the basis of 
gender identity.
  This decision is binding on the federal government with respect to 
employment practices.
  Our laws work best when there are clear expectations.
  While gender identity will be covered by the sex nondiscrimination 
provision, it is better to enumerate gender identity.
  Listing out protected characteristics helps those making 
determinations about membership understand their obligations and those 
seeking membership understand their rights.
  By passing H.R. 4100, we can prevent discrimination by ensuring 
gender identity is a protected characteristic.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in voting for H.R. 4100.

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