Senate Democrats including Brian Schatz of Hawaii have asked Majority Leader Mitch McConnell for an up-or-down vote on the Senate floor on four matters that attracted Republican support when they were considered as non-binding amendments to the budget resolution late last month.

According to Schatz’s office, the legislation concerns providing paid sick leave to workers, protecting pregnant workers from discrimination, ensuring that same-sex couples have equal access to federal benefits, and enacting tax cuts for middle class families

The letter to McConnell, delivered Friday, was signed by the chief Senate sponsors of the legislation, Schatz along with Sens. Dick Durbin (Ill.), Patty Murray (Wash.), Ron Wyden (Ore.), Jeanne Shaheen (N.H.), Sherrod Brown (Ohio), Charles Schumer (N.Y.), Bob Casey Jr. (Pa.) and Al Franken (Minn.).

The U.S. Capitol.

Cory Lum/Civil Beat

On March 26, the Senate endorsed Schatz’s non-binding amendment granting Social Security and veterans benefits to married gay couples in a 57-43 vote . Eleven Republicans joined with every Democrat in the vote.

In the letter, the Democrats said that while they oppose the underlying Senate Republican budget and the “negative impacts it would have on middle-class and working families,” they believe the four amendments represent “important policies that deserve a vote in this Congress.”

The Hill, in its report on the McConnell letter, said, “The amendments, if they come up for a Senate vote, could display division amongst Senate Republicans. Potential and declared GOP presidential candidates including Sens. Ted Cruz (Texas), Rand Paul (Ky.) and Marco Rubio (Fla.) all voted against a sick pay amendment that ultimately passed.”