Civil and Voting Rights
Rep. Chu participated in the "NoH8" campaign to show her support for the LGBT community.
Civil and Voting Rights
Congress must work to end all forms of government-sanctioned discrimination, so every American can be treated equally and has a meaningful opportunity to participate in our democracy. Unfortunately, the Trump administration is attempting to rollback civil rights across the board, and I will continue to fight to uphold and strengthen these protections.
Protecting the Voting Rights of All Americans
All voters deserve equal access to the ballot box and fair representation in our government, which means breaking down anti-democratic barriers to voting designed to disproportionally impact voters of color including Black voters, Hispanic voters, and Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) voters. The 2013 Supreme Court decision in Shelby County v. Holder gutted the Voting Rights Act of 1965’s federal protections against racially discriminatory state voting laws, paving the way for discriminatory laws that make it harder for those with limited English proficiency to vote, shorten the window for voting, restrict mail-in voting, and purge voters from rolls – all making it harder for historically disenfranchised voters to cast their ballots.
I believe Congress must step in to strengthen our voting laws and secure Americans’ right to vote, which is why I was proud to vote for H.R. 1, the For the People Act, when it passed the House under a Democratic majority in the 116th and 117th Congresses. This bill would strengthen voting rights by requiring same-day voter registration for all federal elections, setting nationwide standards for early voting, and implementing same-day voter registration in every state. It would also eliminate gerrymandering, strengthen ethics rules for the President and the Supreme Court, and strengthen our campaign finance laws to take dark money out of politics.
I also voted in favor of the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act to re-stablish the federal government’s ability to conduct oversight of state voting laws that was thrown out by the Shelby County case. This bill would also give the federal government the tools to prevent voter suppression tactics that disproportionately affect communities of color anywhere in the country. These practices include changing election practices in diverse areas; changing documents required to vote or register to vote; and reducing access based on language. I’m also proud to be an original cosponsor of H.R. 14, the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act this Congress, and look forward to seeing this critical bill become law.
Protecting Democracy for All Americans
On January 6, 2021, former President Trump and his supporters attempted to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election in a violent attack on American democracy. Insurrectionists launched an assault on the United States Capitol Complex that resulted in multiple deaths and physical harm to over 140 members of law enforcement. Just days later, I joined a bipartisan majority of the House of Representatives in voting to impeach former President Trump for fomenting this insurrection and attempting to overthrow American democracy using his presidential powers. We must never allow the events of January 6, 2021, to be repeated, which is why I joined my colleagues on a bipartisan basis in the 117th Congress to overhaul the Electoral Count Act of 1887 and decrease the likelihood of another January 6-like attack on our democracy.
Equality Act
Discrimination of any kind is unacceptable, and that includes prejudice against the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning or Queer (LGBTQ+) community that unfortunately still runs rampant nationwide. I know we are better than this, and I know we can do more to ensure a brighter future for everyone, no matter who they love. And that is why I am proud to support the Equality Act, which would amend the Civil Rights Act, Fair Housing Act, the Equal Credit and Opportunity Act, and the Jury Selection Act to create a single national prohibition on discrimination based on gender or sexual orientation in employment, housing, public accommodation, education, and more. Already, my state of California is a leader in promoting LGBTQ rights and our state is better off for it. But we must extend these same protections nationally, and that is what this bill does. I am also proud to serve as a Vice Chair of the House Equality Caucus to ensure Congress does everything in its power to protect our LGBTQ+ friends, family, loved ones, and neighbors from discrimination anywhere and everywhere.
Marriage Equality
The Supreme Court’s 2022 decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization to overturn Roe v. Wade and strip millions of Americans the constitutional right to abortion was devastating on its own. But in a concurring opinion, Justice Clarence Thomas argued that the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision could be applied to potentially overturn other fundamental rights like access to contraception and the right for same-sex couples to marry.
That’s why my colleagues and I acted swiftly to pass the Respect for Marriage Act in the 117th Congress. This legislation, which I also cosponsored, formally repeals the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which prohibited the federal government from formally recognizing same-sex marriage. Importantly, the Respect for Marriage Act would also stipulate that states must recognize marriages legally performed in other states, like same-sex and interracial marriages. By enshrining the right to same-sex and interracial marriages into federal law, equal rights will be bolstered in the face of needless attacks.
Equality in Our Nation’s Tax Codes
As a member of the powerful Ways and Means Committee, which has jurisdiction over our tax code, I believe that it is important that all of our laws provide equal protection and treatment, regardless of your sexual orientation. The LGBTQ+ movement has fought battles on the local and federal level to gain the equal rights that all Americans deserve. To the enormous joy of millions of American families, the Supreme Court ultimately ruled that same-sex marriages are equal. But you would not know it by looking at our tax code.
Today, a same-sex couple filing their taxes is still forced to contend with out-of-date references that no longer reflect what marriage looks like in this country. No family should feel excluded in the process. Most importantly, our tax code should not be defining families in outdated and discriminatory ways.
This is why I am proud to have introduced H.R. 4163 the Promoting Respect for Individuals' Dignity and Equality (PRIDE) Act, which would amend our nation’s tax code to eliminate gendered language like “husband” and “wife” and instead use terms like “spouse” and “married couple” so that same-sex couples can be accommodated and properly recognized. Additionally, the PRIDE Act would amend the tax code to enable same-sex couples who were married before the DOMA was struck down in 2015 to claim and obtain tax refunds they may be entitled to. This bill passed the House unanimously on July 24, 2019, and I am looking forward to the PRIDE Act receiving further consideration in the House and Senate this Congress.