WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Tom Udall today issued the following statement after he voted to support the Employment Non-Discrimation Act known as ENDA. The bill, which bans workplace discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity, passed the Senate by a 64-32 vote.
"Today I was proud to join my colleagues in a strong bipartisan vote to approve the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. Our nation was founded on the promise of fairness and equality, and passing this legislation reaffirms the Senate's commitment to those values.
"In New Mexico, we are proud of our diverse people and also our work ethic, and we believe individuals should be judged on their ability to do their job and their performance, not by anything else. We also have a strong history of protecting human rights, which is why we've had a similar state nondiscrimination law on the books for 10 years.
"The private sector also knows how important it is to have anti-discrimination policies in place to attract top talent in the workforce. As we continue growing our economy, we must make sure everyone has an opportunity to earn a living and support their families without fear of being fired, harassed or denied a promotion just because of who they are and who they love. The House of Representatives now has an opportunity to do the same, and I hope they will put politics aside and vote on it soon."
