Senate braces for anti-LGBTQ attacks with incoming Republican majority

UPDATE: On Wednesday afternoon, the U.S. Senate passed the National Defense Authorization Act by a vote of 85-14. Several Democratic members of Congress voted against the military spending package, many citing opposition to health insurance restrictions for gender-affirming care.. The Human Rights Campaign issued a statement urging President Joe Biden to veto the bill.

The U.S. Senate appears poised to pass the National Defense Authorization Act later this week, with a 63-7 vote on Monday to trigger a shutdown of the annual defense budget, which includes It includes controversial provisions such as a ban on medical insurance coverage. service member.

Now, with all signs pointing to the NDAA being on track to pass, 21 Senate Democrats, led by Sen. Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin, have approved an anti-trans policy rider introduced Monday night. I signed the amendment to remove it.

Sen. Ed Markey (Massachusetts), a co-sponsor of Baldwin’s resolution, held a news conference Tuesday with LGBTQ advocates to raise awareness about the issue, telling reporters, “Politicians… “Using the NDAA to enforce itself between families is unacceptable.” All of their health care providers are pursuing discriminatory objectives. ”

“We cannot stand by and watch these attacks on medical freedoms continue, and we cannot pass the NDAA with this language in place,” the senator said. “Transgender rights are human rights.”

Also on Tuesday, another co-sponsor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin of Illinois, spoke on the Senate floor and said: This “removes the ability of military families to collaborate with medical professionals and make their own decisions about their children’s medical needs.”

Baldwin’s office said the rule would limit health care access to 6,000 to 7,000 children of U.S. military personnel who rely on military tricare providers for medically necessary gender-affirming treatment under the guidelines. He said that there is a possibility that

The rider was first added by Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson (Louisiana), who passed the NDAA by a landslide 281-140 last week, and Democrats including Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (New York). Eighty-one members voted in favor of the bill, while others opposed it. Anti-trans provisions.

Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.), the ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee, said, “Just because there are prejudicial notions about transgender people, we are denying medical care to people who clearly need it.” It would be wrong to deny it.”

U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan, chair of the Congressional Equality Caucus’ gay and lesbian committee, said in a statement, “Congressman Johnson has made a huge difference to the children of military personnel by interfering with their personal medical decisions and overriding their families’ choices.” They are playing a political game over our health.” Our service members and their children will pay the price. ”

All LGBTQ members of the House of Representatives except for Rep. Chris Pappas (D.N.H.) also voted against the bill last week, telling The Advocate: The NDAA would limit insurance coverage for military families, and “I will continue to fight for full equality for all members of the LGBTQ+ community, including transgender Americans. My record in Congress is proof of that. ”

The possibility of passage of the NDAA in the Senate is a sign that 45 Democratic senators last week called on leadership to reject “partisan, discriminatory, and harmful” policy riders that House Republicans would require to pass the spending bill. This was done despite a letter from , most of which noted that spending bills tend to target reproductive and LGBTQ rights.

The Republican caucus ultimately rejected more extreme anti-trans proposals, such as a ban on funding for adult gender reassignment surgeries, but the NDAA included the Tricare rule, as well as “blacklisting conservative news sources.” It also includes a prohibition on contracting with advertising companies. Freeze hiring and hiring for DEI-related roles until investigations into these programs are completed.