On Wednesday, the U.S. House Education and the Workforce Committee rejected an amendment to the Student Success Act that would protect LGBT students, the Washington Blade reports. Rep. John Kline is the chair of that committee.

The Student Success Act is a bill that would replace No Child Left Behind. Rep. Jared Polis, a Democrat from Colorado, moved to amend the bill with the Student Non-Discrimination Act which would prohibit discrimination against LGBT students in public schools and increase anti-bullying measures.

“This is something I think we can all agree on; schools are there to serve all learners,” Polis told the committee noting high levels of reported harassment and suicide among LGBT youth. “I hope we don’t play out our social prejudices and arguments on the kids in school because it truly doesn’t matter in this context whether you think they ought to be able to have their marriages accepted by the government. Here, it’s simply about should they be able to go to school free of the fear of intimidation, and every child has that right as an American.”

But, the Republican dominated committee wasn’t having it. Rep. Virginia Foxx, a Republican from North Carolina, called into question the germaneness of the amendment, and Rep. Kline agreed.

“The chair finds that the amendment is beyond the scope of a bill, which addresses improving elementary and secondary school education,” Kline said. “The amendment is a proposition on a matter different from that under consideration within the meaning of Clause 7 of Rule 16 of the Rules of the House of Representatives, therefore, the amendment is not germane.”

Polis argued that the amendment protecting student in public education was related to the education bill. He noted that his bill had been sent to Kline’s committee specifically because it deals with education and offered an appeal. Republicans on the committee voted that appeal down.

The full exchange can be viewed here: