Tom Harkin

I urge the Senate to take action and pass a fully inclusive ENDA, opposing any motion to weaken this legislation.

I would like to especially thank Chairman Harkin along with Ranking Member Enzi for convening the hearing.

Every year numerous qualified, hard-working Americans are denied job opportunities, are terminated, or experience on-the-job discrimination merely because they are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT).

It is absolutely critical for this committee and Congress to address the issue of workplace fairness, and to act decisively to end employment discrimination by passing ENDA.

This Congress will continue to come back, come back in the future to look at these, and to make sure that we balance these out so that people's civil rights are respected in this country.

I don't believe our country has ever gone wrong when we expand civil rights. Never.

The Employment Non-Discrimination Act would guarantee that America's Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender workforce would never again fear that they might not be hired or keep their jobs, solely because of their sexual orientation or…

Once again, we are proud to testify our support behind the long-overdue Employment Non-Discrimination Act.

I strongly support the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, and I commend Chairman Harkin and the HELP Committee for holding this hearing today on the need for, and importance of, this legislation.

This is not a Democratic or Republican value. It is an American value.

I believe America is ready to tear down the last walls of discrimination in our workplace.

I believe that we're at a point now where the American people understand how important this is to--in the sense of justice, but also in the sense of what's good for our economy.

Qualified workers should not be turned away or have to fear losing their livelihood for reasons that have nothing to do with their capabilities, skills, or performance.

You've just always been in the forefront of that battle, and I appreciate that.

It's long past time to eliminate bigotry in the workplace and ensure equal opportunity for all Americans.

I'm proud that one of our newest members, Senator Merkley, led the effort in his own State of Oregon for full equality for all Americans.

This is not a Democratic or Republican value; this is an American value.

Thank you for your long history of support for civil rights.

The former chair of this committee, Senator Kennedy, worked his entire career to ensure opportunity for all Americans.

They are full and welcome members of our American family, and they deserve the same civil rights protections as all other Americans.

It's time, I believe, at long last for us to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, as well.

It is my intention to move this legislation.

An estimated 3.6 million small businesses nationwide will qualify for a tax credit of up to 50 percent of premiums to make coverage more affordable.

As is well known, our legislation will ban arbitrary limits on benefits and place limits on out-of-pocket expenses.

I know that Senator Harkin has been working very hard on preventative measures.