Skip to main content

Politicians make promises on their stump — we watch and hold them accountable.

Help keep the record honest →Create an account
Bills/119th Congress · House

H.R. 9116

Introduced

Equal Remedies Act of 2026

Sponsor
DSuzanne Bonamici· Oregon
Introduced
June 3, 2026
Policy area
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Latest action
Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.June 3, 2026
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9116 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 9116

To amend section 1977A of the Revised Statutes of 1977 to equalize the 
remedies available under that section and to amend the Age 
Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 to provide any legal or 
equitable relief available under title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 
1964.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

June 3, 2026

Ms. Bonamici (for herself, Mr. Scott of Virginia, Ms. Norton, and Ms. 
Jayapal) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committee 
on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the 
Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall 
within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To amend section 1977A of the Revised Statutes of 1977 to equalize the 
remedies available under that section and to amend the Age 
Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 to provide any legal or 
equitable relief available under title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 
1964.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Equal Remedies Act of 2026''.

SEC. 2. EQUALIZATION OF REMEDIES.

Section 1977A of the Revised Statutes (42 U.S.C. 1981a) is 
amended--
(1) by amending (b)(3) to read as follows:
``(3) Losses.--Compensatory damages are available under 
this section for past and future pecuniary losses, emotional 
pain, suffering, inconvenience, mental anguish, loss of 
enjoyment of life, and other non-pecuniary losses.''; and
(2) in subsection (c) by striking ``section--'' and all 
that follows through the period at the end, and inserting 
``section, any party may demand a jury trial.''.

SEC. 3. COMPENSATORY AND PUNITIVE DAMAGES AVAILABLE FOR AGE 
DISCRIMINATION.

Section 7(b) of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 
(29 U.S.C. 626(b)) is amended--
(1) by striking ``The'' and all that follows through the 3d 
sentence and inserting the following:
``Except as otherwise provided in another subsection of this section, 
or section 9 of this Act, the powers, remedies, and procedures set 
forth in sections 705, 706, 707, 709, and 710 of the Civil Rights Act 
of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000e-4, 2000e-5, 2000e-6, 2000e-8, and 2000e-9) 
shall be the powers, remedies, and procedures this Act provides to the 
Commission, to the Attorney General, or to any person alleging 
discrimination on the basis of age in violation of sections 4 and 15 of 
this Act, or regulations promulgated under section 9 of this Act.''; 
and
(2) in the 4th sentence by striking ``or enforcing the 
liability for amounts deemed to be unpaid minimum wages or 
unpaid overtime compensation under this section'' and inserting 
``and including any type of legal or equitable relief available 
under title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 
2000e et seq.)''.
<all>

Plain-language analysis

Not yet analyzed.

A plain-language breakdown — including any hidden or off-intent provisions and whether the bill was fast-tracked — is generated separately and reviewed before publishing. It will appear here once ready. Until then, the verbatim text above and the official source are the record.

StumpWatch is live, and the record is still growing. Many promises and positions aren’t tracked yet, and some features are still in beta. Add a sourced promise and help keep the record honest.

Help keep the record honest →