[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 97 (Monday, June 5, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E517]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 INTRODUCTION OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA NON-DISCRIMINATION HOME RULE 
                              ACT OF 2023

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON

                      of the district of columbia

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, June 5, 2023

  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, today, I introduce the District of Columbia 
Non-Discrimination Home Rule Act of 2023, which would end the unique 
applicability of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 (RFRA) 
to the District of Columbia. My bill would protect the District's right 
to self-government, ensuring the District is treated the same as 
states, and defend LGBTQ+ and reproductive rights in D.C.
  RFRA, which provides more protection for religious exercise than the 
First Amendment requires, applies to the federal government, the D.C. 
government and the territorial governments, but not to state 
governments. As RFRA does not apply to the states, under the principles 
of home rule, it should likewise not apply to the District.
  While RFRA was designed to be a shield to protect religious freedom, 
it is being used, as evidenced by the Supreme Court's 2014 Hobby Lobby 
decision, as a sword to discriminate against the LGBTQ+ community and 
women. Members of Congress have used RFRA as a justification for 
trying--but failing--to overturn D.C. non-discrimination laws. House 
Republicans have repeatedly tried since 2015 to nullify or block the 
District's Reproductive Health Non-Discrimination Act, which prohibits 
employers from discriminating against employees and their families 
based on reproductive health decisions, claiming, in part, that it 
violates RFRA.
  My bill would ensure that District residents are treated the same as 
residents of the states under RFRA. I strongly urge my colleagues to 
support this bill.

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