Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee
Introduced
In Committee
On Floor
Passed Chamber
Enacted
This bill prohibits the use of federal funds to implement, administer, or enforce any rule or policy that requires federal employees or contractors to use another person's preferred pronouns if those pronouns are incompatible with the person's sex, or to use a name other than a person's legal name. The bill defines "sex" specifically as sex recognized solely based on a person's reproductive biology and genetics at birth. The legislation includes an enforcement mechanism, requiring federal agencies to issue a formal response within 30 days to any employee or contractor's written notice of an alleged violation. If the response is unsatisfactory, aggrieved employees or contractors gain a private right of action to commence a civil lawsuit against the responsible federal agency or department. Courts may award various forms of relief, including injunctive relief , compensatory damages , punitive damages up to $100,000, and reasonable attorney fees, with a one-year statute of limitations for such actions.
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
Government Operations and Politics
Safeguarding Honest Speech Act
USA119th CongressS-839| Senate
| Updated: 3/4/2025
This bill prohibits the use of federal funds to implement, administer, or enforce any rule or policy that requires federal employees or contractors to use another person's preferred pronouns if those pronouns are incompatible with the person's sex, or to use a name other than a person's legal name. The bill defines "sex" specifically as sex recognized solely based on a person's reproductive biology and genetics at birth. The legislation includes an enforcement mechanism, requiring federal agencies to issue a formal response within 30 days to any employee or contractor's written notice of an alleged violation. If the response is unsatisfactory, aggrieved employees or contractors gain a private right of action to commence a civil lawsuit against the responsible federal agency or department. Courts may award various forms of relief, including injunctive relief , compensatory damages , punitive damages up to $100,000, and reasonable attorney fees, with a one-year statute of limitations for such actions.