“As a consistent supporter of equal rights for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Americans since coming to Congress, I am disappointed with the bill we are marking up today.

“I have been a proud original cosponsor of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act in every session of Congress since the 107th and I was extremely pleased to see that the Employment Non-Discrimination Act in the 110th Congress included discrimination protections for transgender Americans for the first time ever. Unfortunately, that is the not the bill we are marking up today. The bill we are marking up does not include protections for transgender Americans.

“I have met with transgender Americans in my district on many occasions and on each of these occasions they have expressed to me their pride that they live in a country that might finally live up to its founding belief that ‘all men are created equal.’ We have let each and every one of these Americans down today.

Although I will reluctantly vote to report this imperfect bill to the full House today, I hope that my colleagues will join me in supporting an amendment on the House floor to protect our fellow transgender Americans from the cruel effects of employment discrimination.

“It is time, finally, for us to match that lofty ideal enshrined in the Declaration of Independence, not only with our words but also with our deeds.”