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H.R. 2498: Freedom from Discrimination in Credit Act of 2017

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H.R. 2498: Freedom from Discrimination in Credit Act of 2017

115th Congress · introduced 2017-05-17 · Finance and Financial Sector · Latest: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2017-05-17 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
  4. Where it stands now: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services. 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

Freedom from Discrimination in Credit Act of 2017

Plain summary

Freedom from Discrimination in Credit Act of 2017 This bill amends the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA) to expand the categories of prohibited discrimination when extending credit to include discrimination on account of sexual orientation or gender identity. (Currently, such discrimination in credit is prohibited only on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex or marital status, or age.) The bill defines: (1) "gender identity" as the gender-related identity, appearance, or mannerisms or other gender-related characteristics of an individual with or without regard to the individual's designated sex at birth; and (2) "sexual orientation" as homosexuality, heterosexuality, or bisexuality. The bill specifies that for purposes of the ECOA's protections against sex discrimination, the term "sex" includes: (1) a sex stereotype; (2) pregnancy, childbirth, or a related medical condition; and (3) sexual orientation or gender identity. The bill also extends ECOA's protections against discrimination to include: (1) an association with another person who is a member of a class protected against discrimination; and (2) a perception or belief, even if inaccurate, that the individual is a member of such a protected class. Under a current provision of the ECOA, a request for the signature of both parties to a marriage for the purpose of creating a valid lien, passing clear title, waiving inchoate rights to property, or assigning earnings does not constitute discrimination. The bill prohibits this provision from being construed to permit a creditor to take sexual orientation or gender identity into account in connection with the evaluation of creditworthiness of an applicant.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House), 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

Freedom from Discrimination in Credit Act of 2017

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

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The strongest published arguments

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Alternatives

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

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5] · 87 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Hakeem S. Jeffries (D-NY), Judy Chu (D-CA), Janice D. Schakowsky (D-IL), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), Scott H. Peters (D-CA), Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY), Brad Sherman (D-CA), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Suzan K. DelBene (D-WA), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), Ted Lieu (D-CA), Chellie Pingree (D-ME), James A. Himes (D-CT), Alma S. Adams (D-NC), Mark Pocan (D-WI), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), André Carson (D-IN), Henry C. "Hank" Johnson, Jr. (D-GA), Mike Quigley (D-IL), Mark Takano (D-CA), Grace Meng (D-NY), Julia Brownley (D-CA), Bradley Scott Schneider (D-IL), James P. McGovern (D-MA), Betty McCollum (D-MN), Ro Khanna (D-CA), Darren Soto (D-FL), Steve Cohen (D-TN), Marcy Kaptur (D-OH) and 27 more.

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5] reported raising $5.8 million (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (1)
Bill
A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong115-hr2498 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong115 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong115