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H.R. 1980 106th Congress House

Workplace Fairness Act of 1999

Official title: To prohibit employment discrimination on any basis other than factors pertaining to job performance.

Introduced: May 27, 1999 See on congress.gov
Labor and Employment Administrative procedureAdministrative remediesAffirmative action programsAlcoholism
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This bill died when the 106th Congress ended
It never became law before the 106th Congress (1999–2000) 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 4 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jul 2, 1999
Referred to the Subcommittee on Employer-Employee Relations.
Jun 8, 1999
Referred to the Subcommittee on Civil Service.
May 27, 1999
Introduced in House
May 27, 1999
Referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Government Reform, and House Administration, 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.
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 Latest action July 2, 1999

Referred to the Subcommittee on Employer-Employee Relations.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Workplace Fairness Act of 1999 - Prohibits employment discrimination on any basis other than job performance by covered entities, including entities covered under specified employment discrimination prohibitions of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as well as employing authorities to which specified provisions of the Government Employee Rights Act of 1991 or the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 apply. Grants specified powers to administer and enforce this Act to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Librarian of Congress, the Board of Directors of the Office of Compliance (for the Congress), the Attorney General, and Federal courts.

Prohibits quotas. Declares that this Act does not apply to religious organizations (except in their for-profit activities). Disallows State immunity. Makes the United States liable for all remedies (except punitive damages) to the same extent as a private person. Allows recovery of attorney's fees. Requires posting notices for employees and applicants. Sets forth factors that pertain to job performance, including: (1) ability and willingness to comply with performance requirements (including attendance and procedures); (2) any use of a drug or of alcohol that may adversely affect job performance; (3) any conviction of an offense for which a term of imprisonment exceeding one year could have been imposed; and (4) the ability to work well with others.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 6
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 1980: Workplace Fairness Act of 1999. 106th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/106-HR-1980/
MLA
"H.R. 1980: Workplace Fairness Act of 1999." 106th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/106-HR-1980/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 1980, 106th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/106-HR-1980/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 1980: Workplace Fairness Act of 1999](https://openamerica.io/bill/106-HR-1980/)
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