House fails to pass bill to promote credit fairness for LGBTQ-owned businesses

The House on Tuesday failed to pass a bill aimed at ensuring that LGBTQ-owned businesses aren’t facing discrimination when applying for credit.

Lawmakers considered the bill, authored by Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.), under an expedited process typically used for noncontroversial bills that requires a two-thirds supermajority for passage.

But while a majority of the House backed the bill in the 248-177 vote, the fact that only 31 Republicans joined Democrats in support meant that it failed to clinch the necessary two-thirds supermajority.

Torres, the first gay Afro-Latino elected to Congress, said it was “shameful” for Republicans to block the bill from quick passage during LGBTQ Pride Month.

“Republicans, despite being ‘pro-business,’ voted against my legislation to make it easier for #LGBTQ small businesses to access credit. No surprise that they rejected efforts to help business owners simply because of who they are & whom they love. Shameful during #Pride,” Torres wrote on Twitter.

The House Financial Services Committee previously advanced Torres’s bill by voice vote last month.

Rep. Patrick McHenry (N.C.), the top Republican on the House Financial Services Committee, expressed support for the legislation.

No other Republicans spoke during House floor debate, which only lasted for 12 minutes.

“I appreciate that my Democrat colleagues have offered a solution to promote diversity and inclusion without imposing new requirements on businesses or business owners that do not effectively measure their success. And so I support this bill,” McHenry said.

The House subsequently attempted to pass the bill by voice vote, but then Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) requested a roll call vote.

“I request the yeas and nays so we can see who — ” Boebert said before her microphone appeared to be cut off, since she wasn’t recognized to speak to engage in debate.

Most Republicans, including Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (Calif.), Minority Whip Steve Scalise (La.) and GOP Conference Chair Elise Stefanik (N.Y.), all voted against the bill.

Financial institutions are already required to report information about the race, ethnicity and sex of credit applicants who own small businesses. The legislation would expand the reporting requirements to include sexual orientation and gender identity.

“It would enable anti-discrimination enforcement where none might exist. Even though the United States has made substantial strides toward LGBTQ equality, the mission is far from accomplished,” Torres said on the House floor.

In addition, the House failed to pass another bill that would allow women receiving health care through the Department of Veterans Affairs to access contraceptive care without copays. The vote was 240-188, with only 22 Republicans joining with Democrats to back the bill. That also fell short of the necessary two-thirds supermajority. 

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) said both bills were scheduled under the expedited process because Democrats were under the impression that Republicans would support them.

Hoyer said both bills will return to the House floor next week under a process only requiring a simple majority for passage.

“I am deeply disappointed that Republicans withdrew their support at the last minute, causing both bills to fail,” Hoyer said.