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HR 651 115th Congress House

Unpaid Intern Protection Act of 2017

Official title: To protect unpaid interns from workplace harassment and discrimination.

Introduced: January 24, 2017 See on congress.gov
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues Age discriminationCivil actions and liabilityDisability and health-based discriminationEmployment discrimination and employee rights
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
Government liabilityRacial and ethnic relationsReligionSocial work, volunteer service, charitable organizationsState and local government operationsTemporary and part-time employment
This bill died when the 115th Congress ended
It never became law before the 115th Congress (2017–2018) 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 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jan 24, 2017
Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
Jan 24, 2017
Introduced in House
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 Latest action January 24, 2017

Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Unpaid Intern Protection Act of 2017

This bill prohibits employers from discriminating against unpaid interns on the basis of: (1) race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or age; or (2) disability if such intern can perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.

The bill applies procedures from the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 to claims for a violation of this bill.

Federal courts may grant legal and equitable relief.

The bill prohibits states from being immune under the Eleventh Amendment to the Constitution from an action in a federal court for a violation of this bill.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 651: Unpaid Intern Protection Act of 2017. 115th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-651/
MLA
"H.R. 651: Unpaid Intern Protection Act of 2017." 115th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-651/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 651, 115th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-651/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 651: Unpaid Intern Protection Act of 2017](https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-651/)
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