HRC Releases Scorecard For 109th Congress

To inform the public about where congressional leaders
stand on policies important to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and
transgender community, HRC has compiled a scorecard that outlines how
they have voted on GLBT issues during the 109th Congress.

"This scorecard is a vital tool for rating Members of Congress on votes
important to our community in the last legislative session," said Human
Rights Campaign Legislative Director Allison Herwitt. "With the Federal
Marriage Amendment and other critically important votes to our community
rated in this scorecard, we would encourage all GLBT individuals and
straight supporters to take a careful look and know where your
representative stands on issues of equality and fairness."

The 2006 Human Rights Campaign scorecard rates members of Congress on
important votes and their support of critical legislation taken during
the 109th legislative session.

These Senate bills and votes include: S.J. Res. 1 – the Federal Marriage
Amendment; the confirmation of Judge William Pryor confirmation; the
confirmation of Judge Samuel Alito confirmation; S. 403 – the Lautenberg
Amendment to the Child Custody Protection Act; co-sponsorship of S. 311
– the Early Treatment for HIV Act; co-sponsorship of S. 1278 – the
Uniting American Families Act; and co-sponsorship of S. 1145 – the Local
Law Enforcement Enhancement Act.

The House bills and votes scored include: H.J. Res. 88 – the Federal
Marriage Amendment; H.R. 3132 – the Conyers Hate Crimes Amendment to the
Child Safety Act; co-sponsorship of H.R. 2662 – the Local Law
Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act; co-sponsorship of H.R. 1059 –
the Military Readiness Enhancement Act; and co-sponsorship of H.R. 3006
– the Uniting American Families Act.

There are 11 members of the U.S. Senate (10 Democrats and 1 Republican)
who scored a perfect 100% on this year's scorecard. Additionally, there
are 96 members of the U.S. House (92 Democrats; 3 Republicans and 1
Independent) who also scored a perfect 100%.

This year's scorecard reflects the resounding defeat of the Federal
Marriage Amendment, for the second time. In the Senate, the 49 to 48
vote failed to muster even a majority (67 votes were needed for
passage), but seven Republicans voted against the measure, including two
Senators, Gregg and Specter, who had voted in 2004 to move the amendment
forward. Following the Senate vote, the House again rejected the effort
to put discrimination into the Constitution with a 236 to 187 bipartisan
vote against the Federal Marriage Amendment, with 27 Republicans voting
in opposition to the amendment.

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