Tammy Baldwin

The Federal Government simply does not effectively compete with these companies for every talented person; we fail to offer comparable job benefits to our employees.

Under current law, the Federal Government cannot offer basic benefits like health insurance, life insurance, dental or vision insurance to domestic partners of our gay and lesbian Federal employees.

The passage of H.R. 2517 is essential to accomplishing both of these goals.

This critical legislation will provide health, life and survivor benefits to same-sex domestic partners of Federal employees.

He went on to say that, as Americans, we are all affected when our promises of equality go unfulfilled.

President Obama recognized and acknowledged that fact when he signed the memorandum calling it just a start.

Mr. Chairman, I appear before you today both as the lead author of this legislation, but also as a lesbian Federal employee who has been in a committed relationship with my partner, Lauren, for over 13 years.

I want to make very clear that this bill contains strong antifraud provisions, requiring employees to file an affidavit of eligibility in order to extend benefits to their domestic partners.

In closing, I wish to urge my colleagues to support this resolution. As we have heard, this bill supports the goals and ideals of National Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month and highlights the need for increased awareness about…

In closing, visual impairments can have lifelong consequences for children. As we have heard, this bill will help identify these impairments early so that our kids can live up to their full potential. This bill and the others that preceded…

I want to state that this bill and its passage will certainly begin to curb the abuse of dextromethorphan. I would like to thank the gentleman also for his leadership on this bill and that of Mr. Rick Larsen's. This will begin a process of…

Diamond-Blackfan anemia is such a serious condition; and because it is such a rare disease, there is a real need for increased awareness and research. I commend my colleague Mrs. McCarthy for her advocacy on this issue, and I urge my…

In closing, as we remember Christopher Reeve just after the third anniversary of his passing, we honor him by having the House consider today and pass one of the truly first comprehensive bills focused on paralysis research and care for…

In closing, I strongly support this bill. As we have heard, this bill would collect data which is urgently needed for ALS research and will go a long way toward moving us closer to treatments and a cure for this devastating illness. Again…

This really is a remarkable bipartisan effort. Mr. Speaker, this is simple, yet sensible legislation to accord equal honor to fathers as to mothers in the statutory guidance on flying our Nation's flag on special days of the year. I urge…

It is clear to me that today, we have only two options. We can send to the Senate the bill before us, with binding language to end the war or, should this bill fail, we will send a bill that gives the President unchecked power to continue…

Again I am proud to join my colleagues in supporting this legislation that will increase awareness and knowledge of women with respect to gynecologic cancers. This bill, as we have heard, will increase the survivability of these cancer…

I must note that the gentleman points out that we are the only industrialized Nation in the world that does not offer health care to all of its citizens. I cannot imagine how anyone believes that a system where 43.6 million people are…

I rise today in the midst of National Cover the Uninsured Week to draw attention to the 43.6 million Americans who do not have health insurance and the millions more who are underinsured.

Terry, as a fellow Madisonian and a fellow Wisconsinite, you have made us very proud. Terry reminds me of what is great about the people of Wisconsin. We are actively involved in our democracy and government, and we have an outstanding…

Last February, when the first case of chronic wasting disease was documented in my district, a quiet panic began to race against south central Wisconsin. People wondered how seriously this disease would affect the health of the deer…

As I read the definition of family fisherman, I feel quite confident that this is limited to commercial fishing enterprises and operations and that the gentleman's concern of individuals trying to protect yachts and other luxury boats not…

I support the Swiss Center of North America not just because it will be located in my district.

I cannot in good conscience vote to grant China Permanent Normal Trade Relations and put profit over labor, environmental and human rights.

It also provides funding for the COPS program which puts more neighborhood police officers in our communities.