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Washington, D.C.—The head of the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) today applauded Senate approval of fair employment legislation providing expanded rights for both federal and private sector workers, and called on the House to approve the measure as well.

The NTEU-supported Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) extends and “gives meaning and enforceability” to an existing presidential executive order providing federal employment discrimination protections based on a variety of factors including sexual orientation, said NTEU President Colleen M. Kelley.

The measure, S. 815, was approved by a 64-32 Senate vote. It would extend federal employment discrimination protections currently provided based on race, religion, sex, national origin, age and disability to include sexual orientation and gender identity.

“This is an important step forward in efforts to protect employment rights,” Kelley said. “NTEU will work to secure a vote in the House that will send the measure to President Obama for his signature.”

She added that ENDA fills an important need by capturing in federal law protection for federal employees against employment discrimination based on sexual orientation that currently exists only by presidential executive order. An executive order can be rescinded by a future administration.

“ENDA also would improve the enforcement of current administration policy by providing federal civilian employees with the similar complaint procedures and remedies as are permitted under the 1964 Civil Rights Act,” Kelley said.

The NTEU leader noted that ENDA “is a carefully designed bill of appropriate scope” that has broad exemptions for religious organizations, and exempts small businesses with fewer than 15 employees or uniformed members of the armed forces.

As the nation’s largest independent federal union, NTEU represents 150,000 employees in 31 agencies and departments.