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H.R. 1858 105th Congress House

Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 1997

Official title: To prohibit employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

Introduced: June 10, 1997 See on congress.gov
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues Administrative procedureAdministrative remediesArmed Forces and National SecurityArts, Culture, Religion
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Civil rights enforcementCongressCongressional agenciesCongressional employeesDamagesDisciplining of employeesDiscrimination in employmentEmployee rightsEqual Employment Opportunity CommissionFederal employeesFederal librariesFines (Penalties)Gay military personnelGay rightsGovernment Operations and PoliticsGovernment liabilityInjunctionsLabor and EmploymentLawLegal feesLibrary of CongressMinoritiesRecruiting of employeesReligionReligious libertyReverse discrimination in employmentSexual orientationWhistle blowing
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This bill died when the 105th Congress ended
It never became law before the 105th Congress (1997–1998) 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 9 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jun 27, 1997
Referred to the Subcommittee on Employer-Employee Relations.
Jun 16, 1997
Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution.
Jun 16, 1997
Referred to the Subcommittee on Civil Service.
Jun 10, 1997
Referred to House Judiciary
Jun 10, 1997
Referred to House Government Reform
Jun 10, 1997
Referred to House Oversight
Jun 10, 1997
Referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, and in addition to the Committees on House Oversight, Government Reform and Oversight, and the Judiciary, 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.
Jun 10, 1997
Referred to House Education and the Workforce
Jun 10, 1997
Introduced in House
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 Latest action June 27, 1997

Referred to the Subcommittee on Employer-Employee Relations.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 1997 - Prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation by covered entities, including an employing authority or office to which specified provisions of the Government Employee Rights Act of 1991 or the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 apply. Prohibits related retaliation and coercion.

Declares that: (1) this Act does not apply to the provision of employee benefits for the benefit of an employee's partner; and (2) a disparate impact does not establish a prima facie violation of this Act. Prohibits: (1) quotas and preferential treatment; and (2) the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission from entering into a consent decree that includes a quota or preferential treatment. Declares that this Act does not apply to: (1) religious organizations (except regarding employment in a position the duties of which pertain solely to activities of the organization that generate unrelated business income subject to taxation under specified Internal Revenue Code provisions); (2) the armed forces; or (3) laws creating special rights or preferences for veterans. Provides for enforcement. Disallows State immunity. Makes the United States or a State liable for all remedies (except punitive damages, with compensatory damages available to the extent specified in certain existing provisions of law) to the same extent as under specified provisions of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Allows recovery of attorney's fees. Requires posting notices for employees and applicants.

 Related & companion bills 1
  • S 869 Identical bill Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 1997
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 7
 Cosponsors 28
All 28 Democratic 20 Independent 1
D
Meeks, Gregory W.
New York · Mar 31, 1998
CHRISTENSEN, DONNA
· Jun 10, 1997
 D
Clyburn, James E.
South Carolina · Jun 10, 1997
 D
Davis, Danny K.
Illinois · Jun 10, 1997
 D
DeGette, Diana
Colorado · Jun 10, 1997
 D
DeLauro, Rosa L.
Connecticut · Jun 10, 1997
DEUTSCH, PETER
· Jun 10, 1997
Faleomavaega, Eni
· Jun 10, 1997
FROST, MARTIN
· Jun 10, 1997
GEPHARDT, RICHARD
· Jun 10, 1997
GREENWOOD, JAMES
· Jun 10, 1997
 D
Hoyer, Steny H.
Maryland · Jun 10, 1997
 D
Lofgren, Zoe
California · Jun 10, 1997
 D
Markey, Edward J.
Massachusetts · Jun 10, 1997
MCCARTHY, KAREN
· Jun 10, 1997
 D
McGovern, James P.
Massachusetts · Jun 10, 1997
 D
Nadler, Jerrold
New York · Jun 10, 1997
 D
Neal, Richard E.
Massachusetts · Jun 10, 1997
 D
Norton, Eleanor Holmes
District of Columbia · Jun 10, 1997
 D
Pallone, Frank
New Jersey · Jun 10, 1997
 D
Pelosi, Nancy
California · Jun 10, 1997
 I
Sanders, Bernard
Vermont · Jun 10, 1997
 D
Schumer, Charles E.
New York · Jun 10, 1997
 D
Sherman, Brad
California · Jun 10, 1997
 D
Smith, Adam
Washington · Jun 10, 1997
 D
Thompson, Bennie G.
Mississippi · Jun 10, 1997
 D
Velázquez, Nydia M.
New York · Jun 10, 1997
 D
Waters, Maxine
California · Jun 10, 1997
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 1858: Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 1997. 105th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-1858/
MLA
"H.R. 1858: Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 1997." 105th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-1858/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 1858, 105th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-1858/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 1858: Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 1997](https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-1858/)
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