Skip to main content
S. 1705 108th Congress Senate

Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2003

Official title: A bill to prohibit employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

Introduced: October 2, 2003 See on congress.gov
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues Administrative procedureAdministrative remediesApprenticeshipArmed Forces and National Security
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
Arts, Culture, ReligionCivil actions and liabilityCivil rights enforcementCommerceCongressCongressional agenciesCongressional employeesConsent decreesDamagesDisciplining of employeesDiscrimination in employmentDismissal of employeesEmployee rightsEmployment agenciesEqual Employment Opportunity CommissionFederal employeesFederal librariesFederal officialsFines (Penalties)Government Operations and PoliticsGovernment liabilityHomosexualityInjunctionsLabor and EmploymentLabor unionsLabor-management committeesLawLegal feesLibrary of CongressMilitary personnelMinoritiesOccupational retrainingPosition classificationPresidential appointmentsRecruiting of employeesReligionReligious libertyReverse discrimination in employmentSexual orientationSmall businessState employeesUnfair labor practicesWhistle blowing
Sign in to write a letter Sign in to watch
This bill died when the 108th Congress ended
It never became law before the 108th Congress (2003–2004) 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 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Oct 2, 2003
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Oct 2, 2003
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S12382-12383)
Oct 2, 2003
Introduced in Senate
 Ask about this bill AI · grounded in the bill text

Have a question about what this bill does? Ask in plain English; the answer is drawn from the bill's actual text and official record, and it'll tell you when something isn't in the text rather than guess.

AI answers can be imperfect; always confirm against the full bill text.

 Latest action October 2, 2003

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service
Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2003 - Prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation by covered entities (including employment agencies, labor organizations, and training programs). Prohibits related retaliation and coercion.

Declares this Act inapplicable to the provision of employee benefits for the benefit of an employee's domestic partner. Prohibits the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission from: (1) collecting statistics on sexual orientation from covered entities; and (2) compelling covered entities to collect such statistics. Prohibits: (1) quotas and preferential treatment; and (2) an order or consent decree for a violation of this Act that includes a quota or preferential treatment. Declares this Act inapplicable to: (1) religious organizations; (2) the relationship between the United States and members of the armed forces; or (3) laws creating special rights or preferences for veterans.

Prohibits the imposition of affirmative action for a violation of this Act. Disallows State immunity. Makes the United States or a State liable for remedies to the same extent as under the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

 Related & companion bills 1
  • HR 3285 Identical bill Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2003
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
 Cosponsors 7
All 7 Democratic 6 Republican 1
D
Cantwell, Maria
Washington · Oct 2, 2003
 R
Collins, Susan M.
Maine · Oct 2, 2003
 D
Durbin, Richard J.
Illinois · Oct 2, 2003
 D
Murray, Patty
Washington · Oct 2, 2003
 D
Reed, Jack
Rhode Island · Oct 2, 2003
 D
Schumer, Charles E.
New York · Oct 2, 2003
 D
Wyden, Ron
Oregon · Oct 2, 2003
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 1705: Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2003. 108th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/108-S-1705/
MLA
"S. 1705: Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2003." 108th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/108-S-1705/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 1705, 108th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/108-S-1705/.
Markdown link
[S. 1705: Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2003](https://openamerica.io/bill/108-S-1705/)
Report a problem