H.R. 5: Equality Act

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H.R. 5: Equality Act

116th Congress · introduced 2019-03-13 · Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues · Latest: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

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Official title

Equality Act

Plain summary

Equality Act This bill prohibits discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity in a wide variety of areas including public accommodations and facilities, education, federal funding, employment, housing, credit, and the jury system. Specifically, the bill defines and includes sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity among the prohibited categories of discrimination or segregation. The bill expands the definition of public accommodations to include places or establishments that provide (1) exhibitions, recreation, exercise, amusement, gatherings, or displays; (2) goods, services, or programs; and (3) transportation services. The bill allows the Department of Justice to intervene in equal protection actions in federal court on account of sexual orientation or gender identity. Protections against discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin shall include protections against discrimination based on (1) an association with another person who is a member of such a protected class; or (2) a perception or belief, even if inaccurate, that an individual is a member of such a protected class. The bill prohibits the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 from providing a claim, defense, or basis for challenging such protections. The bill prohibits an individual from being denied access to a shared facility, including a restroom, a locker room, and a dressing room, that is in accordance with the individual's gender identity.

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

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Alternatives

Needs sources: no published alternatives yet (for example a different bill, a law instead of an amendment, or keeping current law). We only show items backed by a published source. Suggest one.

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

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Cicilline, David N. [D-RI-1] · 240 cosponsors

Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: H.R. 5, Equality Act (2020-03-13)

Cosponsors on this site

Brian K. Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Angie Craig (D-MN), Sharice Davids (D-KS), Chris Pappas (D-NH), Mark Pocan (D-WI), Mark Takano (D-CA), Alma S. Adams (D-NC), Pete Aguilar (D-CA), Nanette Diaz Barragán (D-CA), Joyce Beatty (D-OH), Ami Bera (D-CA), Donald S. Beyer, Jr. (D-VA), Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (D-GA), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Brendan F. Boyle (D-PA), Julia Brownley (D-CA), Salud O. Carbajal (D-CA), André Carson (D-IN), Ed Case (D-HI), Sean Casten (D-IL), Kathy Castor (D-FL), Joaquin Castro (D-TX), Judy Chu (D-CA), Gilbert Ray Cisneros, Jr. (D-CA), Katherine M. Clark (D-MA), Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY), Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO), James E. Clyburn (D-SC), Steve Cohen (D-TN), J. Luis Correa (D-CA), Jim Costa (D-CA), Joe Courtney (D-CT), Jason Crow (D-CO), Henry Cuellar (D-TX), Danny K. Davis (D-IL), Madeleine Dean (D-PA), Diana DeGette (D-CO), Rosa L. DeLauro (D-CT) and 180 more.

Recorded votes

• House roll call 216 (2019): On Motion to Recommit with Instructions, HR5 (2019-05-17): Failed
• House roll call 217 (2019): On Passage, HR5 (2019-05-17): Passed

Sources

• Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House)
• Congress.gov
• Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-116hr5.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/116/hr>

Record fed-us-cong116-hr5 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong116 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong116