Three Important Messages For Our Congressional Delegation

1. NATIONAL CALL-IN DAYS FOR ENDA:  ACT NOW!

ENDA is on the move! Scores of organizations are encouraging constituents to flood Capitol Hill offices with calls as we move closer to a House vote on the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA). Vermont is fortunate to have a supportive Congressional delegation, including ENDA co-sponsor Rep. Peter Welch. Congress members say that calls and emails from constituents back home are very influential.

Make a difference!  Thank our lawmakers for their support and to urge them to keep the pressure on to move the bill.

- Call Rep. Peter Welch at (888) 605-7270 or click here.

- Call Sen. Patrick Leahy at (800) 642-3193 or click here.

- Call Sen. Bernie Sanders at (800) 339-9834 or click here.

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2. SUPPORT DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIP BENEFITS FOR FEDERAL EMPLOYEES

Another bill making its way through Congress would touch many LGBT people's lives:  The Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act (DPBO), which has been progressing quietly -- and is coming up for a vote.

The DPBO would extend to same-sex couples working for the federal government the same benefits now enjoyed by different-sex married couples. The federal government is the country's largest civilian employer and this law would affect thousands of same-sex couples.

PLEASE THANK VERMONT'S CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION, WHO ARE ALL CO-SPONSORS OF THE DPBO.  Let them know that you support the Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act (S. 1102 and H.R. 2517).

- Call Rep. Peter Welch at (888) 605-7270 or click here.

- Call Sen. Patrick Leahy at (800) 642-3193 or click here.

- Call Sen. Bernie Sanders at (800) 339-9834 or click here.

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3. HEALTH CARE REFORM:  IT'S OUR ISSUE

Many folks don't realize that the health care reform legislation recently passed by Congress includes a provision that would eliminate discrimination in the federal tax code.  This provision would eliminate the federal tax employees have to pay on the value of health insurance provided by their employers to their domestic partners (e.g. - civil union partners or same-sex spouses).  The current system of taxing our domestic partner health insurance benefits makes health insurance even MORE costly for many LGBT citizens then our heterosexual counterparts.

Take action today -- thank our Senators and urge continued support for eliminating tax discrimination for employees:

- Call Sen. Patrick Leahy at (800) 642-3193 or click here.

- Call Sen. Bernie Sanders at (800) 339-9834 or click here.