Rep. Bonamici Introduces Equal Remedies Act to Remove Damage Caps in Discrimination Lawsuits
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.
This bill was sent to the House Committee on Education and Workforce and the House Committee on the Judiciary on June 3, 2026. It has not moved since that date and remains in the early stages of the legislative process. The committees must review the bill before it can move forward, though most bills do not receive a committee vote.
This bill is led by Democrats and faces significant opposition from business groups that generally fight against removing limits on lawsuit payouts. Without Republican support, it is unlikely to pass the current House.
Scores run from -100 (strongly harmful) to +100 (strongly beneficial) for each group, combining impact, certainty, scope, and duration ratings of 1-5. How impact scoring works
Small business owners currently benefit from lower damage caps tied to employer size (the current cap for employers with 15-100 employees is $50,000). Removing these caps would expose small employers to potentially much larger damage awards in discrimination lawsuits, increasing their legal and insurance costs. However, small businesses that do not discriminate would see no direct financial impact.
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.
Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.
Introduced in House
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
No votes or news coverage recorded for this bill yet.
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
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.
Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.