Equality Act
Latest action · Jun 21, 2023 Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Education and the Workforce, Financial Services, House Administration, and Oversight and Accountability, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Progress
Where this bill reached, and when. A stage with no date was not reached; one that failed a vote and later carried shows the date it carried.
- IntroducedJun 21, 2023
- Passed HouseNot reached
- Passed SenateNot reached
- To the PresidentNot reached
- Became lawNot reached
Summary
Equality Act
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.)
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.
Cosponsors 219
Members who signed on, in the order they did. Signatures ran from Jun 21, 2023 to Dec 5, 2024; 214 are original cosponsors, there from the day it was introduced.
| Seat | Cosponsor | Signed on | |
|---|---|---|---|
| D-VA | Abigail Davis Spanberger | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-CA | Adam B. Schiff | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-WA | Adam Smith | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-NY | Adriano Espaillat | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-TX | Al Green | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-NY | Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-NC | Alma S. Adams | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-CA | Ami Bera | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-IN | André Carson | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-OR | Andrea Salinas | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-NJ | Andy Kim | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-MN | Angie Craig | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-NH | Ann M. Kuster | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-CA | Anna G. Eshoo | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-MA | Ayanna Pressley | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-CA | Barbara Lee | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-VT | Becca Balint | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-MS | Bennie G. Thompson | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-MN | Betty McCollum | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-IL | Bill Foster | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-NJ | Bill Pascrell, Jr. | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-NJ | Bonnie Watson Coleman | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-CA | Brad Sherman | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-IL | Bradley Scott Schneider | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-PA | Brendan F. Boyle | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-NY | Brian Higgins | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-CO | Brittany Pettersen | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-MD | C. A. Dutch Ruppersberger | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-ME | Chellie Pingree | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-NH | Chris Pappas | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-PA | Chrissy Houlahan | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-PA | Christopher R. Deluzio | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-TX | Colin Z. Allred | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-MO | Cori Bush | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-NY | Daniel S. Goldman | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-MI | Daniel T. Kildee | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-IL | Danny K. Davis | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-FL | Darren Soto | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-MD | David J. Trone | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-GA | David Scott | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-MN | Dean Phillips | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-MI | Debbie Dingell | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-FL | Debbie Wasserman Schultz | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-NC | Deborah K. Ross | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-IL | Delia C. Ramirez | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-WA | Derek Kilmer | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-CO | Diana DeGette | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-NV | Dina Titus | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-NC | Donald G. Davis | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-NJ | Donald M. Payne, Jr. | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-NJ | Donald Norcross | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-VA | Donald S. Beyer, Jr. | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-CA | Doris O. Matsui | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-PA | Dwight Evans | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-OR | Earl Blumenauer | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-HI | Ed Case | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-DC | Eleanor Holmes Norton | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-MI | Elissa Slotkin | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-MO | Emanuel Cleaver | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-OH | Emilia Strong Sykes | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-IL | Eric Sorensen | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-CA | Eric Swalwell | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-IN | Frank J. Mrvan | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-NJ | Frank Pallone, Jr. | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-FL | Frederica S. Wilson | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-NM | Gabe Vasquez | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-VA | Gerald E. Connolly | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-MD | Glenn Ivey | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-CA | Grace F. Napolitano | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-NY | Grace Meng | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-TX | Greg Casar | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-OH | Greg Landsman | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-AZ | Greg Stanton | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-MP | Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-NY | Gregory W. Meeks | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-WI | Gwen Moore | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-NY | Hakeem S. Jeffries | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-MI | Haley M. Stevens | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-GA | Henry C. "Hank" Johnson, Jr. | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-TX | Henry Cuellar | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-MI | Hillary J. Scholten | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-MN | Ilhan Omar | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-CA | J. Luis Correa | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-CT | Jahana Hayes | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-MA | Jake Auchincloss | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-NY | Jamaal Bowman | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-CT | James A. Himes | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-SC | James E. Clyburn | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-MA | James P. McGovern | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-MD | Jamie Raskin | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-IL | Janice D. Schakowsky | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-ME | Jared F. Golden | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-CA | Jared Huffman | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-FL | Jared Moskowitz | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-TX | Jasmine Crockett | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-CO | Jason Crow | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-NC | Jeff Jackson | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-VA | Jennifer L. McClellan | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-VA | Jennifer Wexton | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-NY | Jerrold Nadler | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-IL | Jesús G. "Chuy" García | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-HI | Jill N. Tokuda | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-CA | Jim Costa | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-CA | Jimmy Gomez | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-CA | Jimmy Panetta | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-TX | Joaquin Castro | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-CT | Joe Courtney | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-CO | Joe Neguse | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-CT | John B. Larson | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-CA | John Garamendi | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-MD | John P. Sarbanes | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-IL | Jonathan L. Jackson | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-NY | Joseph D. Morelle | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-NJ | Josh Gottheimer | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-CA | Josh Harder | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-OH | Joyce Beatty | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-CA | Juan Vargas | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-CA | Judy Chu | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-CA | Julia Brownley | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-MA | Katherine M. Clark | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-FL | Kathy Castor | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-NC | Kathy E. Manning | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-CA | Katie Porter | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-CA | Kevin Mullin | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-WA | Kim Schrier | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-MD | Kweisi Mfume | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-IL | Lauren Underwood | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-CA | Linda T. Sánchez | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-DE | Lisa Blunt Rochester | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-TX | Lizzie Fletcher | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-TX | Lloyd Doggett | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-FL | Lois Frankel | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-MA | Lori Trahan | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-GA | Lucy McBath | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-PA | Madeleine Dean | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-TX | Marc A. Veasey | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-OH | Marcy Kaptur | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-WA | Marie Gluesenkamp Perez | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-WA | Marilyn Strickland | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-CA | Mark DeSaulnier | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-WI | Mark Pocan | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-PA | Mary Gay Scanlon | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-AK | Mary Sattler Peltola | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-PA | Matt Cartwright | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-CA | Maxine Waters | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-FL | Maxwell Frost | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-NM | Melanie A. Stansbury | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-CA | Mike Levin | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-IL | Mike Quigley | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-CA | Mike Thompson | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-NJ | Mikie Sherrill | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-KY | Morgan McGarvey | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-CA | Nancy Pelosi | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-CA | Nanette Diaz Barragán | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-GA | Nikema Williams | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-IL | Nikki Budzinski | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-CA | Norma J. Torres | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-NY | Nydia M. Velázquez | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-NY | Patrick Ryan | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-NY | Paul Tonko | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-CA | Pete Aguilar | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-WA | Pramila Jayapal | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-IL | Raja Krishnamoorthi | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-MI | Rashida Tlaib | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-AZ | Raúl M. Grijalva | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-CA | Raul Ruiz | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-MA | Richard E. Neal | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-WA | Rick Larsen | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-NY | Ritchie Torres | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-CA | Ro Khanna | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-VA | Robert C. "Bobby" Scott | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-CA | Robert Garcia | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-NJ | Robert Menendez | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-IL | Robin L. Kelly | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-CT | Rosa L. DeLauro | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-AZ | Ruben Gallego | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-CA | Salud O. Carbajal | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-GA | Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-CA | Sara Jacobs | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-CA | Scott H. Peters | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-IL | Sean Casten | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-RI | Seth Magaziner | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-MA | Seth Moulton | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-KS | Sharice Davids | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-FL | Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-TX | Sheila Jackson Lee | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-OH | Shontel M. Brown | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-MI | Shri Thanedar | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-VI | Stacey E. Plaskett | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-MD | Steny H. Hoyer | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-MA | Stephen F. Lynch | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-TN | Steve Cohen | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-NV | Steven Horsford | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-PA | Summer L. Lee | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-PA | Susan Wild | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-NV | Susie Lee | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-WA | Suzan K. DelBene | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-OR | Suzanne Bonamici | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-CA | Sydney Kamlager-Dove | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-TX | Sylvia R. Garcia | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-CA | Ted Lieu | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-NM | Teresa Leger Fernandez | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-AL | Terri A. Sewell | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-CA | Tony Cárdenas | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-LA | Troy A. Carter | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-OR | Val T. Hoyle | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-NC | Valerie P. Foushee | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-TX | Veronica Escobar | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-TX | Vicente Gonzalez | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-NC | Wiley Nickel | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-MA | William R. Keating | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-CO | Yadira Caraveo | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-NY | Yvette D. Clarke | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-CA | Zoe Lofgren | Original | Jun 21, 2023 |
| D-RI | Gabe Amo | Jan 10, 2024 | |
| D-NY | Thomas R. Suozzi | May 16, 2024 | |
| D-NY | Timothy M. Kennedy | May 28, 2024 | |
| D-NJ | LaMonica McIver | Oct 18, 2024 | |
| D-TX | Erica Lee Carter | Dec 5, 2024 |
Committees 5
Where it was sent and what each committee and subcommittee did with it, in order.
| Chamber | Committee | What it did |
|---|---|---|
| House | Judiciary Committee | Referred Jun 21, 2023 |
| House | Education and Workforce Committee | Referred Jun 21, 2023 |
| House | Financial Services Committee | Referred Jun 21, 2023 |
| House | Committee on House Administration | Referred Jun 21, 2023 |
| House | Oversight and Government Reform Committee | Referred Jun 21, 2023 |
Actions 2
Everything that happened, newest first.
- Jun 21, 2023Introduced in House
- Jun 21, 2023Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Education and the Workforce, Financial Services, House Administration, and Oversight and Accountability, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
In the Congressional Record 3
Days the Record’s own index lists this bill, newest first, with the pages and the members it names. Pages starting H are the House, S the Senate, E Extensions of Remarks.
| Where | In the Record | Members | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | Debate and remarks H4397, H4400, H4401, H4403, H4404 | Josh Gottheimer D-NJ, Kathy E. Manning D-NC, Mark Takano D-CA, Rashida Tlaib D-MI | Jun 27, 2024 |
| House | Debate and remarks H3571 | Frank J. Mrvan D-IN | Jun 3, 2024 |
| House | Lists H3072H.R. 15 | — | Jun 21, 2023 |
Research
What has been written about this bill: committee reports, cost estimates, the sponsor’s authority statement, printed hearings and the Congressional Research Service’s work.
Constitutional authority
The sponsor’s statement, as printed in the Congressional Record, vol. 169, no. 108, June 21, 2023, page H3072.
CRS reports 1
Congressional Research Service work that CRS links to this bill or the law it became, newest first.
Cite it 1
Products on other subjects that cite it, usually among other measures.
| Product | Title | Kind | Published |
|---|---|---|---|
| R48113 | The Fair Housing Act (FHA): A Legal Overview | Report | Jun 27, 2024 |
Related bills 3
Companion bills and other measures the record links to this one.
| Bill | Title | Relationship | Latest action |
|---|---|---|---|
| S 5 | Equality Act | Identical bill | Jun 21, 2023 |
| HR 4393 | Customer Non-Discrimination Act | Related bill | Jun 27, 2023 |
| HR 4439 | Fair and Equal Housing Act of 2023 | Related bill | Jun 30, 2023 |
Titles 2
Every title it has carried, official and short, at each stage.
- Official Title as Introduced
- To prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex, gender identity, and sexual orientation, and for other purposes.
- Short Title(s) as Introduced
- Equality Act
Subjects
Assigned by the Library of Congress. Policy area: Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues.
- Civil actions and liability
- Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
- Consumer credit
- Due process and equal protection
- Elementary and secondary education
- Employment discrimination and employee rights
- Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
- Higher education
- Housing discrimination
- Judicial procedure and administration
- Museums, exhibitions, cultural centers
- Religion
- Retail and wholesale trades
- Sex, gender, sexual orientation discrimination
- Sports and recreation facilities
Text 1
Each version as it was printed, newest first.
- Jun 21, 2023Introduced in House
Everything here is as published by Congress: the summary is the Congressional Research Service's, the action wording is the clerks', and the subjects are the Library of Congress's. How far it got is read from the actions themselves, taking the most recent one of each kind, so a bill that failed a vote and later passed is shown as having passed. Records come from this bill on Congress.gov and govinfo.gov; cost estimates are the Congressional Budget Office's, and the hearings are the printed hearings GovInfo publishes, which can appear months after the hearing.