Thanks to momentous bipartisan support for Maine and the whole country, the U.S. Senate — led by our senators, Susan Collins and Angus King — enacted key support for local communities, workers, and businesses.

This sweeping legislative package will provide Maine with $2 billion to help repair aging bridges, roads, and ports, support broadband development, and help spur job creation in areas across the state. It’s also friendly to taxpayers because public dollars invested in direct infrastructure will also enhance economic productivity.

Washington seemed stuck in a quagmire, where partisan differences got in the way of what’s best for the people, but we saw our leaders roll up their sleeves to deliver real results. And yet, this once-in-a-generation bill cleared this hurdle no doubt thanks to the strong consensus-building skills of Sen. Collins, a critical member of the 10-person negotiating team that worked out the agreement in the weeks that led up to the August vote.

The Senate has since returned to Washington with more work to do, but every American should feel heartened and encouraged by the Senate’s work, as it illustrates the chamber can come to agreement on other policy initiatives that also warrant immediate action, such as the efforts to ensure full dignity and respect for LGBTQ Americans.

The stars are now aligned for lawmakers in Washington to pass clear and comprehensive federal nondiscrimination protections that will make certain every LGBTQ American is fully protected under the law, no matter their zip code. Momentum is building as more than eight in 10 Americans favor a federal LGBTQ nondiscrimination law, including 68% of Republicans.

As Mainers and Republicans, we have been proud to build together broad coalitions to achieve basic equality and protections for LGBTQ Americans. This basic fairness is in line with what makes Maine great, fostering support and creating stronger businesses and communities. We were proud to work with Sen. Collins and champions in Augusta to ensure full protections for LGBTQ individuals from discrimination in housing, employment and public accommodations.

But today, instances of discrimination and harassment remain a very real threat and disruption for countless LGBTQ Americans, as nearly 50% of the population lives in the 29 states that lack explicit protections. Further, LGBTQ Mainers who travel to other states throughout America may find themselves the target of harassment or discrimination.

We can foster a stronger country and economy by updating the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to explicitly protect LGBTQ people from discrimination in their daily lives. A federal law would end the current unsustainable and confusing patchwork of protections that LGBTQ Americans are currently forced to navigate, whether when crossing state lines for work or simply choosing a vacation destination. Additionally, as our nation continues to compete for talent, highly educated workers who are LGBTQ or who have LGBTQ family members can vote with their feet, putting businesses that operate in cities and states without nondiscrimination protections at a comparative disadvantage.

Like many Mainers, history has shown that Sen. Collins doesn’t shirk away from challenges that may seem insurmountable to others. Last year, at a time when Washington seemed rudderless in the course of the COVID-19 economic shutdown, she authored a law — a forgivable loan program known as the Paycheck Protection Program — that kept small businesses across the U.S. afloat. In 2013, in the midst of a 16-day federal shutdown, she led a group of senators to reopen the government.

And when it comes to leadership on issues pertinent to the LGBTQ community, she’s stepped up time and time again. Collins was critical to the repeal of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, and supported passage of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, which would have prohibited most employers from discriminating against employees based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

By putting aside partisanship and building a constructive dialogue, the Senate just followed through on a major update to our nation’s infrastructure, an aspiration that many lawmakers and former presidents hoped to accomplish. It’s time the chamber now follows through on enacting a federal nondiscrimination law, a vital priority that has the support of Americans from all walks of life.

Sen. Collins has repeatedly shown Mainers, and more broadly the American people, what compromise and agreement can accomplish. Now she can help send a powerful message of inclusion by engaging in good-faith negotiations focusing on the values we all have in common. Now is the time to make federal LGBTQ nondiscrimination protections a reality.

Mark Ellis is the former chair of the Maine Republican Party and currently works at the Maine State Chamber of Commerce. Christian Berle is a Republican congressional consultant on LGBTQ issues.

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