Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (FL-25) issued the following statement after voting for H.R. 5, the “Equality Act.”
“Protecting religious freedom has always been a priority for me. I have voted for and co-sponsored numerous bills that protect and promote religious freedom.
I have also dedicated my career to fighting against discrimination in all its forms. This piece of legislation is flawed and amounts to just another messaging bill pushed by Democratic Leadership that has no chance of passing the Senate and becoming law in its current form.
If House Democrats wanted to pass real legislation, they would have included bipartisan language providing legitimate protections for families, individuals, medical professionals, and religious organizations who object based on their deeply held religious beliefs. However, I cannot oppose a bill that seeks to prevent discrimination.”