Ayotte Votes to Approve Employment Non-Discrimination Act

Press Release

U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) voted today to approve the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) - legislation that takes steps to prevent workplace discrimination. The bill passed the Senate by a vote of xx to xx.

During debate on ENDA, Senator Ayotte worked with Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) to author an amendment, which was passed yesterday, to strengthen protections in the legislation for religious institutions.

"Discrimination has no place in the workplace. I firmly believe that people should be judged based on the quality of their work," said Senator Ayotte.

She continued: "I also believe strongly in protecting the constitutional rights of religious institutions. I was pleased to work with members on both sides of the aisle to strengthen protections in ENDA for religious institutions by passing an amendment that will help ensure that religious organizations cannot be retaliated against for exercising their religious freedoms."

The amendment Ayotte helped author ensures that the government cannot penalize a religious entity because it qualifies as exempt from the non-discrimination requirements of ENDA. The measure protects religious institutions from adverse action by the government on the basis of adhering to its religious tenets. In practical terms, the government may not use activities protected by the religious exemption as a basis to deny a religious institution a government grant or tax-exempt status or any other benefit that may be conferred by the government.

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