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S 1085 104th Congress Senate Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues Administrative procedure Congress Congressional reporting requirements Consent decrees Discrimination in employment Federal employees Government Operations and Politics Government contractors Injunctions Labor and Employment Law Legal fees Minorities Racial discrimination Reverse discrimination in employment Sex discrimination in employment Women

Equal Opportunity Act of 1995

Introduced: July 27, 1995 See on congress.gov
This bill died when the 104th Congress ended
It never became law before the 104th Congress (1995–1996) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 6 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Apr 30, 1996
Committee on Labor and Human Resources. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 104-470.
Aug 11, 1995
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S12427)
Jul 28, 1995
Star Print ordered on the bill.
Jul 27, 1995
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Labor and Human Resources.
Jul 27, 1995
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S10828-10832)
Jul 27, 1995
Introduced in Senate
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Equal Opportunity Act of 1995 - Prohibits discrimination or preferences in Federal employment and contracting on the basis of race, color, national origin, or sex, or entering into a consent decree requiring, authorizing, or permitting any such discrimination or preference.

Prohibits construing this Act to prohibit or limit: (1) employment recruiting or encouraging contract bidding or requiring or encouraging Federal contractors to so recruit or encourage, if the recruiting or encouraging does not involve a numerical objective or otherwise granting a preference; (2) any act designed to benefit historically Black colleges or universities; (3) any action under a Federal law or treaty relating to the Indian tribes; or (4) classifications based on sex if sex is a bona fide occupational qualification reasonably necessary to the normal operation of the Government, contractor, or subcontractor, the classification is designed to protect privacy, a U.S. national security interest is involved, or the classification is applied regarding an armed forces member on active duty in a theatre of combat operations.

Allows as remedies only injunctive or equitable relief (including back pay), attorney's fees, and costs.

What's happening now April 30, 1996

Committee on Labor and Human Resources. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 104-470.

 Related & companion bills 1
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 1085: Equal Opportunity Act of 1995. 104th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/104-S-1085/
MLA
"S. 1085: Equal Opportunity Act of 1995." 104th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/104-S-1085/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 1085, 104th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/104-S-1085/.
Markdown link
[S. 1085: Equal Opportunity Act of 1995](https://openamerica.io/bill/104-S-1085/)
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