Mace introduces bill to bar trans women from Capitol restrooms
Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., introduced on Monday a bill that would bar transgender woman from Capitol Hill facilities that correspond to their gender identity.
This resolution prohibits members, officers, and employees of the House to use single-sex restrooms that match their gender identity comes only a week after Sarah McBride, the newly elected representative from Delaware (D). Sarah McBride (D-Del.) made history by becoming the first transgender person to be elected to Congress.
The Hill has a preview of the measure, which charges William McFarland as the House sergeant at arms with enforcing this ban. However, it’s unclear how The Hill’s chief law officer will decide who is allowed to use Capitol facilities.
Anonymous complaints are often used to enforce state laws that prohibit transgender individuals from using public bathrooms that match their gender identities. This is a notoriously ineffective enforcement method. In May, LGBTQ activists flooded an anonymous tip line intended to alert Utah officials to possible violations to the state’s ban on bathroom use with thousands of false reports.
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McBride stated in a press release that “this is a blatant effort by far-right extremists to divert attention from the fact they have no solutions for what Americans face.” “We should focus on lowering the cost of child care, housing and health care, rather than creating culture wars.”
She said, “Delawareans have sent me to this country so that I can make the American Dream more affordable and accessible. That’s my focus.”
A source familiar with this matter told The Hill that Mace and the leadership are currently discussing how to get the measure on the floor.
Source: The congresswoman originally planned to bring her legislation before the House as a special resolution on Monday night. This would have forced the leadership to vote on the measure in two legislative days.
Mace canceled those plans due to ongoing discussions with the leadership about the best way of passing the legislation, according to the source. Mace wants the measure included in the rules package of the 119th Congress or brought to the floor to be voted as a separate rule.
The source stated that if the bill is not included in 119th Congress’ rules package, or if it is not brought to the floor of the House as a separate rule, Mace will force a vote.
Early in January, the House will vote on a package of rules for the next Congress. This package must be approved by a majority. The Republicans will have a razor thin majority when the new session begins.
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