House passes legislation to remove gendered references to presidents in a US law
WASHINGTON – On Wednesday, the House of Representatives passed legislation to remove gendered references to presidents in a U.S. law.
The bill, H.R. 677, the "21st Century President Act," would amend part of an existing U.S. law making it a crime to threaten the president or the president's family. This law currently defines the spouse as female and the president as male, and states that the president's spouse is "the wife of a former President during his lifetime, the widow of a former President until her death or remarriage."
The new legislation would change that section to be "the spouse of a former President during a former President’s lifetime, the surviving spouse of a former President until the surviving spouse’s death or remarriage."
Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Wisc., who introduced the legislation, noted that it would help clear the way for a female or gay president to be elected. Pocan, who is the co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, is openly gay.
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"The current field of presidential candidates looks more like American society than ever before. We are closer than ever to the possibility that a woman or an LGBT person could hold the country's highest office," said Pocan on the House floor. "Currently federal law does not reflect the reality we could have a female or a gay president as soon as 2021."
Rep. Doug Collins R-Ga., took the floor to implore the House to vote for the bill.
"I think the bill is a good bill that does exactly what it needs to do and then clarifies for the future and would encourage everyone to vote yes," said Collins.
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The bill passed by a simple voice vote, with no members of Congress objecting.
The 2020 Democratic field currently features six women running for president: Sens. Kamala Harris, Amy Klobuchar, Kirsten Gillibrand, and Elizabeth Warren, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, and Marianne Williamson. South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg could be the first openly gay president.
It is unclear what future the bill has in the Republican-controlled Senate, or if President Donald Trump would sign the legislation.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: House passes legislation to remove gendered references to presidents in a US law
