[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 15]
[House]
[Page 21397]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       FAIRNESS FOR ALL AMERICANS

  (Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about fairness 
and liberty, two deeply held values that define us as Americans. I am 
proud that our great Nation is moving toward a more inclusive society.
  In a historic ruling this past summer, the Supreme Court of the 
United States determined that our Constitution guarantees marriage 
equality. That ruling is a reflection of human rights. It is also an 
economic and compassionate issue which, as Republicans, we should 
embrace.
  Not sacrificing our values is what the GOP stands for, limited 
government that respects individual liberty. But even with marriage 
equality, everyday LGBT Americans still lack basic legal protections. 
All Americans deserve equal protection and equal rights under the law.
  As a founding member of the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus, I 
will continue to work to ensure that the principles of respect, 
fairness, and justice are enjoyed by all, no matter their sexual 
orientation or their gender identity.

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