News From Congressman Engel

Engel and House Democrats Win Key Vote to Restrict Confederate Flags in National Cemeteries

    Congressman Eliot Engel, a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce, voted in favor of a Democratic proposal yesterday to limit the display of Confederate Flags in national cemeteries. House Democrats plus a minority of House Republicans joined to approve the measure with a vote of 265-159.

“The Confederate Flag is a symbol of hatred and bigotry that only serves as a reminder of our country’s darkest days,” Congressman Engel said. “Displaying the Confederate Flag is divisive, especially in national cemeteries – sacred ground for Americans of all creeds and colors. It’s time we confined the Confederate Flag to history, where it belongs. I’m disappointed that so many of my Republican colleagues opposed this measure, but the fact that it passed shows that the vast majority of Americans are ready to retire this terrible symbol, and I hope the vote spurs even more jurisdictions across the country to end its use as an official government display.”

Engel Blasts Republicans For Anti-LGBT Vote

    Congressman Eliot Engel, a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, issued the following statement in response to today’s shameful maneuvering by Republicans to defeat a Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney Amendment to a spending bill that would have barred federal contractors from getting government work if they discriminated against the LGBT community:

“The Republican majority should be ashamed of themselves. The House of Representatives stood ready to fight back today against discrimination targeting LGBT workers, but the majority bullied, twisted arms, and used procedural tricks to change the outcome of a fair vote in real time on the House Floor.

“Republicans seem unable to help themselves. At every turn, they go out of their way to strip rights away from LGBT Americans. It’s obvious where their priorities lie. I’m tremendously disappointed they decided to go to such extreme lengths today to make life that much harder for so many Americans.”