Mike Honda
On April 28, 2009, Rep. Mike Honda (D-CA) claimed that if the bill were passed it may help prevent the murders of transgender Americans, such as the murder of Angie Zapata. Conversely, Rep. Steve King (R-IA) claimed that the bill was an expansion of a category of "thought crimes" and compared the bill to the book "Nineteen Eighty-Four". That same day, the House Rules Committee allowed one hour and 20 minutes for debate.