Last week at a press conference Rep. Barney Frank announced the reintroduction of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act but no bill was formally introduced. The bill was reportedly held up for lack of co-sponsors.
Late today it was formally reintroduced, with 92 less co-sponsors than at the end of the 111th Congress, MetroWeekly reports:
Now called the Committee on Education and the Workforce, Rep. John Kline (R-Minn.) — no supporter of ENDA — is the chair of the committee in the Republican-led House to which ENDA will be assigned.
Today, Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc, pictured) made clear that the committee leadership isn't the only change this Congress. At an evening Immigration Equality event, she told Metro Weekly of ENDA, "It was introduced today, with 111 co-sponsors."
Frank communications director Harry Gural confirmed the bill's introduction and co-sponsorship number with Metro Weekly but said further information would be available on Thursday, April 7.
Gural added that the 111 co-sponsors was "[a] great number considering the heavy loss of Dem seats last election."
Republicans gained 70 seats in the House in the November election.