    [Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 35, Number 25 (Monday, June 28, 1999)]
    [Page 1175]
    [Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    <R04>
    Statement on the Proposed ``Employment Non-Discrimination Act''

    June 24, 1999

        Today Members of the House and Senate will reintroduce, on a
    bipartisan basis, the ``Employment Non-Discrimination Act'' (``ENDA'').
    This important civil rights legislation would extend basic employment
    discrimination protections to gay and lesbian Americans. I strongly
    support this bill, and we will work hard for its passage.
        Americans instinctively believe in fairness. They believe that
    individuals should not be denied a job on the basis of something that
    has no relationship to their ability to perform their work. Yet most
    Americans don't know that men and women in 39 States of this Nation may
    be fired from their jobs solely because of their sexual orientation,
    even when it has no bearing on their job performance. Sadly, as
    congressional hearings have documented, this kind of job discrimination
    is not rare.
        Those who face job discrimination based on sexual orientation
    usually have no legal recourse, in either our State or Federal courts.
    This is wrong. Last year I issued an Executive order making permanent a
    long-standing Federal policy against discrimination based on sexual
    orientation in the civilian Federal workplace. I hope that Congress will
    make that policy a national one by passing this important legislation.
        I applaud the bipartisan efforts of Senators Jeffords, Kennedy, and
    Lieberman and Congressmen Shays and Frank to make the ``Employment Non-
    Discrimination Act'' the law. ``ENDA'' failed to win passage by only one
    vote when the Senate last considered it. My administration will continue
    to work for its passage until it becomes law.

    Note: The statement referred to Executive Order 13087 of May 28, 1999
    (63 FR 30097).