WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard E. Neal (D-MA) released the following statement regarding a new U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) proposed rule that would allow organizations receiving federal funds to discriminate against certain populations:
“Over the years, one of the most effective ways the federal government has combatted hateful bias in American society has been to require that entities accepting federal funds not discriminate against certain individuals or groups. Instead of strengthening these rules, the Trump Administration is zealously seeking to undo decades’ worth of progress.
“This latest proposal builds on the current Administration’s record of stripping protections from our country’s most vulnerable populations. Not only would this rule prioritize the beliefs of businesses and organizations over the rights of children and families, it could also infringe on the rights of states like Massachusetts and Illinois that worked hard to pass their own anti-discrimination laws.
“The federal government has a responsibility to serve all its citizens, regardless of who they are, what they believe, or who they love. My colleagues and I have voiced our concerns in the past regarding the Trump Administration’s harmful proposals that abandon that fundamental duty. Today’s rule is yet another instance of this President seeking out new opportunities to encourage discrimination. Congress has a mandate to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all Americans, and I strongly condemn this destructive Trump Administration proposal."
