02.28.23

Ranking Member Scott Applauds Biden-Harris Administration for Taking Step to Protect Workers’ Civil Rights

WASHINGTON – Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Biden-Harris administration announced that it will rescind a Trump-era rule that gutted anti-discrimination protections for employees of federal contractors and subcontractors.

“I applaud the Biden-Harris administration for rescinding the Trump administration’s religious exemption rule and taking a critical step to protect the civil rights of federal contract and subcontract workers.  The Trump administration’s rule gave religious contractors receiving taxpayer dollars the power to hire and fire employees for discriminatory reasons under the guise of religious freedom.  This is particularly alarming as federal contract and subcontract workers make up one-fifth of our nation’s workforce—putting millions of hard-working Americans at risk of losing their job or being denied job opportunities because of their employer’s religious beliefs or identity.

“Civil rights laws and regulations are intended to protect the victims of discrimination, not empower those who seek to discriminate.  To that end, I will continue working with my colleagues to advance the Do No Harm Act, which would ensure that religious contractors and other individuals cannot undermine civil rights by using religion to discriminate against others in taxpayer-funded programs.”

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