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118th Congress Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues

S. 5: Equality Act

Introduced

  1. Introduced (completed)Jun 21, 2023
  2. Passed Senate (not reached)
  3. Passed House (not reached)
  4. To the President (not reached)
  5. Became law (not reached)

Summary

Introduced in Senate, Jun 21, 2023

This bill prohibits discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity with respect to businesses, employment, housing, federally funded programs, and other settings.

Specifically, the bill expands Title II and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to prohibit public accommodations and federally funded programs, respectively, from discriminating based on sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity. It also includes stores, transit services, recreational facilities, and establishments that provide health care, accounting, or legal services as public accommodations under Title II.

The bill also expands Title IV (desegregation of public schools) and Title VII (employment discrimination) to specifically include sexual orientation and gender identity. (The Supreme Court held in Bostock v. Clayton County that Title VII's prohibition of employment discrimination based on sex also prohibits employment discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.)

Read the full summary

The bill similarly expands the Fair Housing Act (discrimination in public and private housing) to include sexual orientation and gender identity. It also prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity by creditors and with respect to jury selection.

The bill defines sex for purposes of the aforementioned provisions to include sex stereotypes, pregnancy, childbirth, sexual orientation, gender identity, and sex characteristics.

Written by the Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress.

Roll calls

0 votes on this bill

No roll call votes have been held on this bill.

Amendments

0 offered

No amendments were offered to this bill.

Cosponsors

50

Bipartisan support.

Who scored on this bill

18 points earned
  1. 1Jeff Merkley D-OR SponsorDrew cross-party cosponsors, reached a cosponsor milestone, introduced4 events+18
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Introductions and cosponsorships count toward weekly caps and show no points.

Other bills by Jeff Merkley

History

  1. Jun 21, 2023Introduced in the Senate by Jeff Merkley.
Show the full action history (2 actions)
  1. Jun 21, 2023Introduced in Senate
  2. Jun 21, 2023Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.