WASHINGTON, D.C. – Two weeks ago at a press conference, Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) announced the reintroduction of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act but no bill was formally introduced. The bill was reportedly held up for lack of co-sponsors. Late last week it was formally reintroduced, with 92 less co-sponsors than at the end of the 111th Congress.
In the days before a news conference announcing the bill would be reintroduced in the 112th Congress, Frank told Metro Weekly of the reintroduction, “It’s an organizing tool. Obviously, with the Republicans in power, you’re not going to get the bill even considered.”
At the March 30 news conference, it was announced that ENDA would be introduced, but not on that day.
Rep. John Kline (R-Minn.) – not a supporter of ENDA – is now the chair of the committee in the Republican-led House to which ENDA will be assigned, which is now called the Committee on Education and the Workforce.
Frank communications director Harry Gural confirmed the bill’s introduction and co-sponsorship number with Metro Weekly but said no further information was available.
Gural added that the 111 co-sponsors was, “[a] great number considering the heavy loss of Dem seats last election.”
The Human Rights Campaign’s vice president of communications, Fred Sainz, told Metro Weekly, “It’s a start.”
In the 111th Congress, the bill had 117 co-sponsors at introduction.
