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H.R. 3685: Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2007

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H.R. 3685: Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2007

110th Congress · introduced 2007-09-27 · Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues · Latest: Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 479.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2007-09-27 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. Frank, Barney [D-MA-4] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: 4 recorded votes in our records. Latest: House roll call 1054 (2007): On Agreeing to the Amendment, HR3685 (2007-11-07), Agreed to. See all
  4. Where it stands now: Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 479. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
  5. If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2007

Plain summary

Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2007 - (Sec. 4) Makes it an unlawful employment practice for covered entities (employers, employment agencies, labor organizations, or joint labor-management committees) to discriminate against an individual on the basis of actual or perceived sexual orientation, including actions based on the actual or perceived sexual orientation of a person with whom the individual associates or has associated. Prohibits preferential treatment or quotas. Allows only disparate treatment claims. (Sec. 5) Makes it an unlawful employment practice to discriminate against an individual because the individual opposed any practice made an unlawful employment practice by this Act or made a charge, testified, assisted, or participated in any manner in an investigation, proceeding, or hearing under this Act. (Sec. 6) Makes this Act inapplicable to a corporation, association, educational institution, or society that is exempt from religious discrimination provisions under the Civil Rights Act of 1964. (Sec. 7) Makes this Act inapplicable to the relationship between the United States and members of the Armed Forces, including the Coast Guard. Declares that this Act does not repeal or modify any federal, state, territorial, or local law creating a special right or preference concerning employment for a veteran. (Sec. 8) Prohibits construing this Act to prohibit a covered entity from enforcing rules and policies that do not intentionally circumvent this Act's purposes if the rules or policies are designed for, and uniformly applied to, all individuals regardless of actual or perceived sexual orientation. Prohibits construing this Act to limit a covered entity from taking adverse action against an individual because of a charge of sexual harassment against that individual, provided that sexual harassment rules and policies are designed for, and uniformly applied to, all individuals regardless of actual or perceived sexual orientation. Prohibits construing this Act to require a covered entity to treat a couple who are not married in the same manner as the covered entity treats a married couple for purposes of employee benefits. Declares that, in this Act, the terms "married" and "marry" refer to a legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife. (Sec. 9) Prohibits the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) from collecting statistics from covered entities on actual or perceived sexual orientation or compelling the collection by covered entities of such statistics. (Sec. 10) Provides for enforcement, including giving the EEOC, the Librarian of Congress, the Attorney General, and U.S. courts the same enforcement powers as they have under specified provisions of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Government Employee Rights Act of 1991, and other specified laws. (Sec. 11) Allows actions and proceedings against state governments and, subject to limitation, the federal government. (Sec. 12) Allows, in some circumstances, the awarding to the prevailing party of a reasonable attorney's fee as part of the costs. Makes the EEOC and the United States liable for the costs to the same extent as a private person. (Sec. 13) Requires the posting of related notices by covered entities. (Sec. 14) Grants authority to issue regulations to the EEOC, the Librarian of Congress, the Board of Directors of the Office of Compliance in accordance with provisions of the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995, and the President. (Sec. 15) Declares that this Act does not invalidate or limit the rights, remedies, or procedures available under any other federal law or regulation or any law or regulation of a state or political subdivision of a state.

Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House amended), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2007

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House amended)

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The strongest published arguments

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Frank, Barney [D-MA-4] · 9 cosponsors

Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: H.R. 3685, Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2007 (2007-10-22); CBO cost estimate: H.R. 3685, Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2007 (2007-10-22)

Cosponsors on this site

Steve Cohen (D-TN), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL)

Recorded votes

Words on this page, explained (2)
Exemption
A rule that removes certain people, property or activities from a tax or requirement.
Rulemaking
The process agencies use to write regulations that carry out laws passed by Congress or a legislature. Usually an agency publishes a proposed rule, takes public comments, then publishes a final rule.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong110-hr3685 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong110 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong110