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HR 1229 113th Congress House

Security and Financial Empowerment Act

Official title: To promote the economic security and safety of victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking, and for other purposes.

Introduced: May 22, 2013 See on congress.gov
Labor and Employment Assault and harassment offensesCivil actions and liabilityCrime victimsCrimes against women
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
Disability and health-based discriminationDomestic violence and child abuseEmployee leaveEmployment and training programsEmployment discrimination and employee rightsGovernment employee pay, benefits, personnel managementHealth care costs and insuranceHealth care coverage and accessInsurance industry and regulationLawyers and legal servicesLegal fees and court costsLife, casualty, property insurancePoverty and welfare assistanceSex offensesUnemploymentViolent crimeWomen's employment
This bill died when the 113th Congress ended
It never became law before the 113th Congress (2013–2014) 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 23, 2013
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions.
Apr 23, 2013
Referred to the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections.
Apr 15, 2013
Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, And Investigations.
Apr 10, 2013
Referred to the Subcommittee on Human Resources.
Mar 15, 2013
Referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, and in addition to the Committees on Financial Services, Ways and Means, 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.
Mar 15, 2013
Introduced in House
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 Latest action April 23, 2013

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Security and Financial Empowerment Act - Authorizes appropriations for grants for the national resource center on workplace responses to assist victims of domestic and sexual violence for FY2014-FY2018. Establishes limits on the use of funds for administrative costs. Requires the center to provide information and assistance to enable victim service organizations to provide resource materials or other assistance to employers, labor organizations, or employees.

Amends the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) to set forth entitlement standards and implementation guidelines for employee use of emergency leave to address domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking (domestic or sexual violence). Prohibits: (1) any employer from interfering with the exercise of any right provided under this Act; or (2) discrimination against any individual for exercising any such right, opposing any practice made unlawful by this Act, or instituting any proceeding under this Act. Establishes a private right of action to enforce this Act. Directs the Secretary of Labor to receive, investigate, and attempt to resolve complaints of violations of this Act. Permits victims of domestic or sexual violence to substitute existing leave in lieu of emergency leave.

Authorizes state use of funds under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) (TANF) to provide nonrecurrent short-term emergency benefits for victims of domestic or sexual violence on emergency leave.

Adds provisions to VAWA, entitled the Victims' Employment Sustainability Act, to prohibit certain discriminatory practices against victims of domestic or sexual violence by: (1) employers with respect to the terms, conditions, or privileges of employment; or (2) public agencies with respect to the terms or conditions of public assistance. Authorizes civil actions by individuals or the Attorney General to enforce such provisions.

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to prohibit denial of unemployment compensation to individuals separated from employment due to their experience of domestic or sexual violence.

Amends the Social Security Act to require training of unemployment compensation and TANF personnel to provide necessary services to victims of domestic or sexual violence. Authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to award a grant to a national victim services organization to develop and disseminate a model training program.

Victims of Abuse Insurance Protection Act - Prohibits denial or restriction of insurance coverage (including termination of health insurance coverage) or addition of a premium differential based on the status of the applicant or insured as a victim of abuse by a household or family member, intimate partner, or caretaker. Provides for enforcement of such prohibitions by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and by a private cause of action.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 8
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 1229: Security and Financial Empowerment Act. 113th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/113-HR-1229/
MLA
"H.R. 1229: Security and Financial Empowerment Act." 113th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/113-HR-1229/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 1229, 113th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/113-HR-1229/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 1229: Security and Financial Empowerment Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/113-HR-1229/)
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