Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2020

Floor Speech

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Ms. CLARK of Massachusetts. Mr. Chairman, I join Chairman Price in strong opposition to this amendment. Two years ago, HUD removed guidance that was meant to ensure our transgender community members are able to access emergency housing or homeless shelters.

House Democrats stood up against this assault on LGBTQ Americans, and HUD Secretary Ben Carson assured us that the removal of this guidance was only temporary.

Later this spring, Secretary Carson testified that we should not be pressing for guidance or pressing him on this issue because we wouldn't like the answer that HUD would provide.

In other words, HUD stood ready to explicitly allow or promote LGBTQ discrimination.

Discrimination in any form for any amount of time is reprehensible and unacceptable, and now we have an amendment before us that would make housing discrimination permanent. It would continue the uncertainty around LGBTQ protections and make vulnerable people's lives harder.

Let's remember what is at stake. One in three transgender people have experienced homelessness, and we know that homelessness in the LGBTQ community overwhelmingly impacts our young people.

Right now, there are approximately 350,000 transgender people under the age of 25 in the U.S., and it is estimated that over 20 percent of them lack secure housing.

Through the appropriations process, House Democrats have put in place protections for transgender Americans and have taken the proactive step of protecting the rights of LGBTQ individuals in emergency housing intervention situations.

No American seeking refuge and safety should be kicked to the curb. No one should be discriminated against, especially not in a time of dire need.

Mr. Chairman, I urge every Member of this body to reject this amendment, reject discrimination, and reject the Trump administration's and Secretary Carson's cruel rollback of LGBTQ protections.

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