[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 98 (Monday, June 9, 2025)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E542]
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 2025

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON

                      of the district of columbia

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, June 9, 2025

  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, today, I introduce the District of Columbia 
Non-Discrimination Home Rule Act of 2025, which would end the 
applicability of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 (RFRA) 
to the District of Columbia government. This bill would treat the D.C. 
government in the same manner as state governments under RFRA, and 
allow D.C. to protect LGBTQ+ and reproductive rights.
  RFRA, which provides more protection for religious exercise than the 
First Amendment requires, applies to the federal government and the 
D.C. government, but not to state governments.
  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. Republicans in Congress have cited RFRA as a justification for 
trying to overturn D.C. non-discrimination laws. For example, since 
2015, Republicans have repeatedly tried to nullify or block D.C.'s 
Reproductive Health Non-Discrimination Amendment Act of 2014, which 
prohibits employers from discriminating against employees and their 
families based on reproductive health decisions, claiming, in part, 
that it violates RFRA.
  This bill would help ensure that D.C. is able to enact and carry out 
non-discrimination laws. I strongly urge my colleagues to support this 
bill.

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