Freedom from Discrimination in Credit Act of 2017

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.

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Timeline

1. 17 May 2017

   Introduced

   Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

   Source: IntroReferral

2. 17 May 2017

   Introduced

   Introduced in Senate

   Source: IntroReferral

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

• Introduced in Senate · 17 May 2017 · Official file

Documents

3 official files

• Introduced in Senate (text)

  Introduced in Senate · EN · 17 May 2017

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Introduced in Senate (PDF)

  Introduced in Senate · EN · 17 May 2017

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Introduced in Senate

  summary · EN · 17 May 2017

  Open at official source

Sponsors

• Patty Murray · D · Sponsor
• Richard Blumenthal · D · Sponsor
• Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ] · D · Sponsor
• Tammy Duckworth · D · Sponsor
• Sen. Franken, Al [D-MN] · D · Sponsor
• Kirsten Gillibrand · D · Sponsor
• Maggie Hassan · D · Sponsor
• Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI] · D · Sponsor
• Edward Markey · D · Sponsor
• Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ] · D · Sponsor
• Jeff Merkley · D · Sponsor
• Jeanne Shaheen · D · Sponsor
• Elizabeth Warren · D · Sponsor
• Ron Wyden · D · Sponsor
• Catherine Cortez Masto · D · Cosponsor
• Richard Durbin · D · Cosponsor
• Tammy Baldwin · D · Cosponsor
• Susan Collins · R · Cosponsor
• Bernie Sanders · I · Cosponsor
• Rep. Carper, Thomas R. [D-DE-At Large] · D · Cosponsor
• Maria Cantwell · D · Cosponsor
• Sen. Donnelly, Joe [D-IN] · D · Cosponsor
• Rep. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD-3] · D · Cosponsor
• Sen. Harris, Kamala D. [D-CA] · D · Cosponsor
• · sshr00 · Standing

Related records

• related to → Equality Act
• related to → Equality Act
• related to ← Freedom from Discrimination in Credit Act of 2017