It got rowdy on the House floor Wednesday night when Rep. Sean Maloney, D-N.Y., took issue with a provision in the fiscal 2017 defense policy bill.
About almost 10 hours into debate on the bill, Maloney spoke against a provision that he says removes protections for gay workers at the Defense Department who were included in President Obama’s fair pay and safe workplaces executive order from July 14.
“This is not about supporting our troops. It’s not about fighting [the Islamic State[. It’s not about religious protections. We can do all that and we should. This is about bigotry, plain and simple,” said Maloney, who is gay. “This is not some procedural vote to be waved away. This is about whether we will affirm equal rights or rationalize discrimination.”
His voice rising, Maloney spoke well past his time amid cheers from some other members and gavel bangs from the podium.
“Mr. Speaker, we are told, we are told, we are to make America great, but you cannot make America great by making America hate,” he shouted, before his microphone was cut.
