Freedom from Discrimination in Credit Act of 2017

Bill: 115-hr-2498
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5]
Introduced: 2017-05-17
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Consumer credit

Disability and health-based discrimination

Marriage and family status

Sex, gender, sexual orientation discrimination
Latest action: action_date: 2017-05-17
text: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.

Summaries:
action_date: 2017-05-17
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><strong>Freedom from Discrimination in Credit Act of 2017</strong></p> <p>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.)</p> <p>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.</p> <p>The bill specifies that for purposes of the ECOA's protections against sex discrimination, the term &quot;sex&quot; includes: (1) a sex stereotype; (2) pregnancy, childbirth, or a related medical condition; and (3) sexual orientation or gender identity.</p> <p>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.</p> <p>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.</p>

tv_txt: I 115th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2498 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 17, 2017 Mr. Gottheimer (for himself, Mr. Jeffries , Ms. Judy Chu of California , Mr. Blumenauer , Mr. Swalwell of California , Ms. Schakowsky , Ms. Tsongas , Ms. Wasserman Schultz , Mr. Peters , Mr. Sean Patrick Maloney of New York , Mr. Grijalva , Ms. Clarke of New York , Mrs. Davis of California , Mr. Delaney , Mr. Polis , Mr. Cicilline , Mr. Sherman , Mr. Connolly , Ms. Speier , Ms. Norton , Mr. Cárdenas , Mr. Capuano , Ms. DelBene , Mrs. Watson Coleman , Mr. Ted Lieu of California , Ms. Lee , Mr. Langevin , Ms. Pingree , Mr. Himes , Ms. Adams , Mr. Pocan , Mr. Nadler , Mr. Lowenthal , Mr. Crowley , Mrs. Lowey , Mr. Carson of Indiana , Mr. Johnson of Georgia , Mr. Quigley , Mr. Takano , Mr. Pascrell , Mr. Kildee , Ms. Meng , Ms. Brownley of California , Mr. Schneider , Mr. Crist , and Mr. Coffman ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Financial Services A BILL To amend the Equal Credit Opportunity Act to prohibit discrimination on account of sexual orientation or gender identity when extending credit.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Freedom from Discrimination in Credit Act of 2017 . 2. Prohibition against discrimination on account of sexual orientation or gender identity Subsection (a)(1) of section 701 of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act ( 15 U.S.C. 1691 ) is amended by inserting , sexual orientation, gender identity, after sex . 3. Definitions Section 702 of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act ( 15 U.S.C. 1691a ) is amended— (1) by striking subsections (f) and (g); and (2) by inserting after subsection (e) the following new subsections: (f) The term gender identity means 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. (g) The term person means a natural person, a corporation, government or governmental subdivision or agency, trust, estate, partnership, cooperative, or association. (h) The terms race , color , religion , national origin , sex , sexual orientation , gender identity , marital status , or age , used with respect to an individual, includes— (1) the race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, or age, respectively, of another person with whom the individual is associated or has been associated; and (2) a perception or belief, even if inaccurate, concerning the race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, or age, respectively, of the individual. (i) The term sex includes— (1) a sex stereotype; (2) pregnancy, childbirth, or a related medical condition; and (3) sexual orientation or gender identity. (j) The term sexual orientation means homosexuality, heterosexuality, or bisexuality. (k) Any reference to any requirement imposed under this title or any provision of this title shall be deemed to include a reference to the regulations of the Bureau under this title or the provision of this title in question. . 4. Relation to State laws Section 705(a) of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act ( 15 U.S.C. 1691d(a) ) is amended by inserting , sexual orientation, gender identity, after sex .