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A bill to amend the Equal Credit Opportunity Act to prohibit discrimination on account of sexual orientation or gender identity when extending credit.

USA115th CongressS-1143| Senate 
| Updated: 5/17/2017
Patty Murray

Patty Murray

Democratic Senator

Washington

Cosponsors (23)
Jeanne Shaheen (Democratic)Mazie K. Hirono (Democratic)Tammy Duckworth (Democratic)Margaret Wood Hassan (Democratic)Catherine Cortez Masto (Democratic)Richard J. Durbin (Democratic)Edward J. Markey (Democratic)Kirsten E. Gillibrand (Democratic)Elizabeth Warren (Democratic)Kamala D. Harris (Democratic)Thomas R. Carper (Democratic)Joe Donnelly (Democratic)Bernard Sanders (Independent)Al Franken (Democratic)Maria Cantwell (Democratic)Tammy Baldwin (Democratic)Cory A. Booker (Democratic)Benjamin L. Cardin (Democratic)Robert Menendez (Democratic)Jeff Merkley (Democratic)Susan M. Collins (Republican)Ron Wyden (Democratic)Richard Blumenthal (Democratic)

Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Freedom from Discrimination in Credit Act of 2017 This bill amends the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA) to expand the categories of prohibited discrimination when extending credit to include discrimination on account of sexual orientation or gender identity. (Currently, such discrimination in credit is prohibited only on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex or marital status, or age.) The bill defines: (1) "gender identity" as the gender-related identity, appearance, or mannerisms or other gender-related characteristics of an individual with or without regard to the individual's designated sex at birth; and (2) "sexual orientation" as homosexuality, heterosexuality, or bisexuality. The bill specifies that for purposes of the ECOA's protections against sex discrimination, the term "sex" includes: (1) a sex stereotype; (2) pregnancy, childbirth, or a related medical condition; and (3) sexual orientation or gender identity. The bill also extends ECOA's protections against discrimination to include: (1) an association with another person who is a member of a class protected against discrimination; and (2) a perception or belief, even if inaccurate, that the individual is a member of such a protected class. Under a current provision of the ECOA, a request for the signature of both parties to a marriage for the purpose of creating a valid lien, passing clear title, waiving inchoate rights to property, or assigning earnings does not constitute discrimination. The bill prohibits this provision from being construed to permit a creditor to take sexual orientation or gender identity into account in connection with the evaluation of creditworthiness of an applicant.
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Timeline
May 17, 2017

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 115-2498
Introduced in House
May 17, 2017
Introduced in Senate
May 17, 2017
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
  • May 17, 2017

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 115-2498
    Introduced in House


  • May 17, 2017
    Introduced in Senate


  • May 17, 2017
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Finance and Financial Sector

Related Bills

  • HR 115-2498: To amend the Equal Credit Opportunity Act to prohibit discrimination on account of sexual orientation or gender identity when extending credit.
  • HR 115-2282: To prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex, gender identity, and sexual orientation, and for other purposes.
  • S 115-1006: A bill to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex, gender identity, and sexual orientation, and for other purposes.
Consumer creditDisability and health-based discriminationMarriage and family statusSex, gender, sexual orientation discrimination

A bill to amend the Equal Credit Opportunity Act to prohibit discrimination on account of sexual orientation or gender identity when extending credit.

USA115th CongressS-1143| Senate 
| Updated: 5/17/2017
Freedom from Discrimination in Credit Act of 2017 This bill amends the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA) to expand the categories of prohibited discrimination when extending credit to include discrimination on account of sexual orientation or gender identity. (Currently, such discrimination in credit is prohibited only on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex or marital status, or age.) The bill defines: (1) "gender identity" as the gender-related identity, appearance, or mannerisms or other gender-related characteristics of an individual with or without regard to the individual's designated sex at birth; and (2) "sexual orientation" as homosexuality, heterosexuality, or bisexuality. The bill specifies that for purposes of the ECOA's protections against sex discrimination, the term "sex" includes: (1) a sex stereotype; (2) pregnancy, childbirth, or a related medical condition; and (3) sexual orientation or gender identity. The bill also extends ECOA's protections against discrimination to include: (1) an association with another person who is a member of a class protected against discrimination; and (2) a perception or belief, even if inaccurate, that the individual is a member of such a protected class. Under a current provision of the ECOA, a request for the signature of both parties to a marriage for the purpose of creating a valid lien, passing clear title, waiving inchoate rights to property, or assigning earnings does not constitute discrimination. The bill prohibits this provision from being construed to permit a creditor to take sexual orientation or gender identity into account in connection with the evaluation of creditworthiness of an applicant.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline
May 17, 2017

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 115-2498
Introduced in House
May 17, 2017
Introduced in Senate
May 17, 2017
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
  • May 17, 2017

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 115-2498
    Introduced in House


  • May 17, 2017
    Introduced in Senate


  • May 17, 2017
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Patty Murray

Patty Murray

Democratic Senator

Washington

Cosponsors (23)
Jeanne Shaheen (Democratic)Mazie K. Hirono (Democratic)Tammy Duckworth (Democratic)Margaret Wood Hassan (Democratic)Catherine Cortez Masto (Democratic)Richard J. Durbin (Democratic)Edward J. Markey (Democratic)Kirsten E. Gillibrand (Democratic)Elizabeth Warren (Democratic)Kamala D. Harris (Democratic)Thomas R. Carper (Democratic)Joe Donnelly (Democratic)Bernard Sanders (Independent)Al Franken (Democratic)Maria Cantwell (Democratic)Tammy Baldwin (Democratic)Cory A. Booker (Democratic)Benjamin L. Cardin (Democratic)Robert Menendez (Democratic)Jeff Merkley (Democratic)Susan M. Collins (Republican)Ron Wyden (Democratic)Richard Blumenthal (Democratic)

Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee

Finance and Financial Sector

Related Bills

  • HR 115-2498: To amend the Equal Credit Opportunity Act to prohibit discrimination on account of sexual orientation or gender identity when extending credit.
  • HR 115-2282: To prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex, gender identity, and sexual orientation, and for other purposes.
  • S 115-1006: A bill to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex, gender identity, and sexual orientation, and for other purposes.
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Consumer creditDisability and health-based discriminationMarriage and family statusSex, gender, sexual orientation discrimination