U.S. Senator Baldwin Statement on President Trump’s Reported Plans to Sign a License to Discriminate Executive Order

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin released this statement following media reports indicating that President Trump plans to sign a license to discriminate executive order tomorrow:

“I support religious freedom and the freedom of full equality for every American. That is why I am very concerned by reports that President Trump plans to sign a license to discriminate executive order on Thursday.

“After President Trump was elected, he said he wanted to be a President ‘for all Americans,’ but if this discriminatory order is signed, he would be breaking his word to the American people and authorizing taxpayer funded discrimination. This isn’t presidential leadership, this is an attack on our founding principles that all Americans are created equal under the law and that every American deserves the freedom to live their lives free from discrimination.

“The Trump Administration was right to walk away from this executive order months ago. President Trump should do the right thing and work to move America forward, instead of being played as a puppet by Vice President Pence to advance an extreme right agenda that seeks to give individuals and groups a license to discriminate against people because of who they are or who they love.

“Just yesterday, I joined House and Senate colleagues in reintroducing the Equality Act, bipartisan legislation that would ensure all Americans are protected from discrimination. This legislation would make America a fairer and more equal place and is the right path forward for our country.

“I believe that Americans are united in the belief that we have a shared responsibility to hand over to the next generation a country that is more equal, not less equal. The time has come in this country for full, federal equality, and nothing less.  All Americans should have an opportunity to achieve their hopes and dreams. That is the promise of America and we must fight to make sure we keep it by making our voices heard against this taxpayer funded discrimination.”